Clayton Kershaw pitches complete game in win over San Francisco Giants
In a battle of brilliant pitching, the Los Angeles Dodgers squeaked by the San Francisco Giants on Tuesday 1-0 to begin a three-game series at AT&T Park. The victory by the Dodgers left
the Giants 1 ½ games behind the resurgent San Diego Padres in the National League West division after they defeated the Colorado Rockies on Tuesday 7-6.
Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw, who improved his record to 12-10, threw his first major league complete game. Kershaw, who had been struggling recently by losing his last three decisions,
allowed only four hits and did not walk a single batter. He also struck out four in the shutout victory.
"The thing about Clayton was he was getting all his pitches over for strikes," Giants right fielder Cody Ross said. "He didn't really make too many mistakes. We just couldn't figure out
a way to push one across."
Barry Zito, who dropped his record to 8-13 was also impressive, but just can’t seem to catch a break lately. Despite giving up only one hit, Zito set a career-high by losing his ninth-straight
decision. In fact, Zito has not won since July 16 in a victory over the New York Mets. The former American League Cy Young Award winner lasted just over five innings giving up one run, three walks and striking out five. Matt Kemp got the lone hit off Zito
and the only Dodgers hit in the game in the second inning, but was eventually thrown out trying to steal second.
The Dodgers were able to score the only run in the game in the sixth inning.
With one out in the sixth, Reed Johnson was hit by a pitch and eventually made it to second base after Kershaw helped his own cause with a sacrifice bunt. After Zito gave up walks to Rafael
Furcal and Andre Ethier to load the bases, Casey Blake then grounded a ball up the middle to Juan Uribe. Uribe then mishandled the grounder and was too late after trying to flip the ball to second for a force out, with Johnson scoring on the error.
The Giants had a chance to get on the board the home half of the sixth after a Ross double, but could not bring him home with Freddy Sanchez eventually flying out to end the inning.
With two outs in the ninth, Sanchez then made things interesting with a single. Darren Ford entered the game as a pinch-runner and represented the tying run, but Kershaw then struck out
Aubrey Huff to win the game.
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