Dodgers Clinch Division Behind Clayton Kershaw’s Complete Game

But the defending champion Giants miss the playoffs in another odd year following a World Series win for the third time in six years – after their 2010, ’12 and ’14 titles.

Ask Kershaw how comforting it is to have another starter of his caliber. They were joined on the mound by teammates, as the capacity crowd at AT&T Park watched the celebration in silence.

Kershaw’s 16-7 pitching masterclass was the first time he had outperformed Bumgarner in eight attempts this year.

Bumgarner is having a tremendous season. He knocked in the Giants’ first two runs in the second to secure Peavy’s eighth win. Instead, he’s gone just 1-5 while seeing his ERA rise from 3.56 to 3.89.

Bumgarner had won five consecutive decisions against Kershaw.

Steven Matz awoke with a sore back Tuesday, but the Mets insist they aren’t losing sleep over the matter. Only Kevin Frandsen’s single in the third – his first hit as a Giant since 2009 – separated Kershaw from his second no-hitter in two seasons. He ended an 0-for-15 funk with a ninth-inning single. He retired the final 19 batters.

Bolsinger (6-5, 3.48) appears to have hit a wall after providing a lift to the Dodgers’ injury-plagued rotation most of the season. Of the Giants 11 hits, seven of them were by rookies that didn’t start the season in a Giants uniform. The last to do it was Randy Johnson in 2002. Kershaw also issued his only walk that inning. Then in the third, Hernandez hit a long solo home run to left center to make it 2-0. “Obviously, it was a bad time to do it right there”, Bumgarner said. Kershaw had a 13-pitch at-bat.

But even in September with expanded rosters, Bochy had so many injured position players that he couldn’t pinch run for Buster Posey in the late innings Monday night. The Dodgers turn to Clayton Kershaw on Tuesday, which is a fairly substantial security blanket, but he’ll be opposed by Madison Bumgarner in what could be his final chance to pitch a big game in 2015.

The victory broke the Mariners’ six-game losing streak. “Bumgarner”™s 111th pitch was deposited into the left-field stands by Justin Ruggiano.

“The Dodgers were ahead, 4-0, and Bumgarner”™s night was over.

Phillies 4, Mets 3: Darin Ruf hit a three-run homer, Odubel Herrera had four hits and Philadelphia snapped New York’s franchise-record 11-game road winning streak.

The Giants took a 2-1 lead into the top of the ninth, but the Dodgers rallied to tie after shortstop Corey Seager and first baseman Adrian Gonzalez led off with singles off left-hander Josh Osich. Led by their pitching with Kershaw and Zach Greinke who combined for a 1.93 ERA this season, the Dodgers seemed like a lock for the postseason and they finally wrapped it all up.

Of course, the Dodgers hope this was only the start. “We might have clinched the division, but they still are in a better spot than we are”.

Dodgers: 2B Howie Kendrick returned to the starting lineup a day after sitting most of the night with tightness in his hamstring.

The only other time in the ballpark’s 16-year history that a visiting team clinched a playoff berth or series here was the Dodgers when they captured the NL wild card on the second-to-last day in 2006.