Giants Get Shutout by Kershaw, Get Swept

Momentum has just changed in the NL West. The Dodgers, who came in three games back of the Giants in the West, finished off the sweep behind Clayton Kershaw’s complete game shut out on Sunday, 4-0.

Ryan Vogelsong racked up another quality start, going six innings while allowing just one earned run.

Vogelsong worked himself into trouble in the third inning when he allowed back to back hits to Matt Kemp and Juan Rivera. Vogelsong would get Andre Ethier to hit a deep fly ball to center field and Rivera tagged from second, giving Hanley Ramirez a chance to drive in his sixth run of the series. That he did, as he beat out a double play grounder to give the Dodgers the lead in the fourth.

Marco Scutaro didn’t help Vogelsong out by dropping a pop up with two outs, which would lead to an unearned run on a Luis Cruz RBI double.

However, Clayton Kershaw would need nothing more, as he carved up the Giants for a complete game masterpiece. He allowed just five scattered hits throughout the game, while using his sweeping curveball to strikeout seven. More noteworthy, he struck out Melky Cabrera three times.

Even though Kershaw would need nothing more than a 2-0 lead, the Dodgers tacked on two more runs in the eighth on two RBI singles from Cruz and Mark Ellis. The two runs were charged to Jeremy Affeldt, who made some decent pitches but also made some bad pitches and the Dodgers made him pay.

George Kontos came in for one out and give up Affeldt’s second run.

One bright spot was Santiago Casilla who performed well for the second straight outing. Despite allowing a double to Ethier, he managed to work out of the jam by using his off speed pitches to induce outs.

What’s on Tap:

The Giants will start a four game series against the Mets on Monday night.

Posted in: Los Angeles Dodgers,San Francisco Giants