May 17, 2017; San Francisco, CA, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw (22) throws a pitch during the first inning of the game against the San Francisco Giants at AT&T Park. Photo Credit: Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports
SAN FRANCISCO — Los Angeles Dodgers left-hander Clayton Kershaw won his 20th career game against the San Francisco Giants on Wednesday, preventing a three-game sweep with seven innings of shutout ball in a 6-1 triumph in the series finale.
Yasmani Grandal and Yasiel Puig had two-run hits for the Dodgers, who completed a 3-4 trip.
Kershaw once again demonstrated his brilliant form at AT&T Park, winning for the 12th time in 20 career appearances while lowing his ERA there to 1.29.
He is 20-9 overall against the Giants with a 1.62 ERA.
In joining Houston’s Dallas Keuchel as the majors’ only seven-game winners, Kershaw (7-2) allowed singles to Justin Ruggiano, Buster Posey and pinch-hitter Nick Hundley in his seven innings. He struck out five and did not walk a batter.
The Dodgers gave their ace all the support he would need before he even took the mound, scoring twice in the first inning on Grandal’s two-run double that followed a single by Corey Seager and a double by Justin Turner.
Ahead 3-0, the Dodgers broke the game open in the sixth with another two-run uprising that featured Puig’s two-out single against Giants starter Johnny Cueto. Turner, who had singled, and Cody Bellinger, who had doubled, scored the runs that made it a 5-0 game.
Cueto (4-3) was pulled after six innings, having allowed five runs on eight hits. He walked one and struck out six.
Bellinger’s second double of the game plated Seager, who had walked, with the Dodgers’ final run in the seventh inning off Giants reliever Josh Osich.
Seager, Turner and Bellinger had two hits apiece for the Dodgers, who out-hit the Giants 9-4.
The Giants ended the Dodgers’ shutout bid when Eduardo Nunez hit a solo home run off reliever Sergio Romo with one out in the ninth inning. The homer was Nunez’s first of the season.
The loss snapped the Giants’ five-game winning streak. That completed a seven-game homestand with single losses sandwiching the five straight wins.
NOTES: Both benches emptied without incident in the third inning after Giants RHP Johnny Cueto had thrown high and tight to Dodgers C Yasmani Grandal. The pitch eluded Giants C Buster Posey for a wild pitch that scored the Dodgers’ third run. … The Giants reinstated RHP Mark Melancon (strained right pronator) from the disabled list before the game and demoted INF/OF Kelby Tomlinson to Triple-A Sacramento. … The Dodgers open a 10-day homestand Thursday night with the first of four against the Miami Marlins. … The Giants are off Thursday before beginning week-long trip Friday at St. Louis.
