The Dodgers season, on and off the field, has been one to forget this year, but days like today are why fans keep their interest. Clayton Kershaw was stellar, pitching eight shutout innings while striking out a season-high 12, leading the Dodgers to a 1-0 win over the Giants, snapping the Dodgers' four-game losing streak. Dioner Navarro hit a ball into McCovey Cove in the top of the seventh inning off Tim Lincecum for the game's only run.
Kershaw has now gone three straight starts without allowing an earned run (he did allow four unearned runs in his last outing, in Arizona), spanning 23 innings. The 12 strikeouts were one off his career high, set against the Giants in April 2009. Kershaw in his career has a 1.41 ERA in 10 games (nine starts) against San Francisco, the lowest ERA against the Giants in baseball history.
Navarro by all accounts has had a miserable season. Even after the home run today, the catcher is hitting .200/.246/.320 this year after hitting a combined .212/.263/.306 his last two years with Tampa Bay. Yet, there is this: the Dodgers have won four games by a 1-0 score this season, and Navarro has the lone RBI in three of them, including two home runs. In addition, Navarro is one of just two Dodgers to hit a ball into McCovey Cove in San Francisco, along with Todd Hundley, who did so in 2000. Sometimes in baseball, you never know.
The Dodgers are off Thursday, then open a nine-game homestand Friday against the Nationals.
WP - Clayton Kershaw (11-4): 8 IP, 3 hits, 1 walk, 12 strikeouts
LP - Tim Lincecum (8-8): 7+ IP, 5 hits, 1 run, 4 walks, 7 strikeouts
Sv - Javy Guerra (6): 1 IP, 1 strikeout
For more news and information on the Dodgers, or on today's game, be sure to read the SB Nation blog True Blue LA.