The Dodgers' win over the San Francisco Giants on Tuesday night officially eliminated the World Series champs from the postseason and lifted Los Angeles to their third straight division title.
And who better than to help the Dodgers clinch the NL West than the reigning NL MVP, Clayton Kershaw?
Heading into last night's game Los Angeles was 0-7 in games at San Francisco this season and Kershaw's five-game winless streak against Madison Bumgarner was his longest versus another pitcher in the MLB.
But that all ended when the left-hander and NL Cy Young candidate tossed a complete game one-hitter with 13 strikeouts. The Dodgers won 8-0 after getting on Bumgarner early and Kershaw improved to 16-7 with a 2.16 ERA, 0.89 WHIP and 294 strikeouts in 32 starts.
Kershaw also notched some other milestones in the win.
Via @EliasSports: Kershaw's 13-pitch at-bat tonight is the longest by a MLB pitcher in more than 9 years (Mets' El Duque on 6-8-06, at AZ).
— Andrew Baggarly (@extrabaggs) September 30, 2015
Via @EliasSports: Clayton Kershaw's 13 K are T-2nd most in a shutout by a LAD pitcher vs Giants in team history (Karl Spooner w/15 in 1954)
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) September 30, 2015
It was the first time in Dodgers' franchise history that the team clinched the postseason in three consecutive seasons.
The Dodgers (88-69) will now look to get home-field advantage in the NLDS against the New York Mets, who are 89-68 with remaining games against the Philadelphia Phillies (two) and Washington Nationals (three). Los Angeles has two more games against the Giants and then a three-game set against the San Diego Padres.
Manager Don Mattingly, who has yet to register a losing season in his five years as the club's skipper, pointed out one characteristic about his team that has propelled them to another NL West title.
"A lot more professional this year," Mattingly told Mark Saxon of ESPNLosAngeles.com. "Our guys get ready to play. I never really worried about them being ready to play. I could trust them. They got down to business on the field, and that was a good feeling for me."
Now Los Angeles will look to take the next step in the postseason after falling to the St. Louis Cardinals in each of the previous two years. Kershaw will certainly be eyeing redemption considering the left-hander was handed two out of the team's three losses during the 2014 NLDS.
