Something good from Dodgers’ 2010 season: Clayton Kershaw continues to develop in 3-1 win

This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.

Bright spots on a dismal season. So hard to find, so easy to ignore.

Yet not everything about the Dodgers has been a complete disaster this season. And perhaps the best part of their season was on display Friday night in Phoenix.

Clayton Kershaw, still checking in at only 22, continues to evolve into the pitcher who could fill that great void of the Dodgers’ rotation: a staff ace.

Kershaw was brilliant against the Arizona Diamondbacks, giving the Dodgers one of the best starts of his still oh-so-young career. At least his best since one-hitting the San Francisco Giants on Sept. 14.

He often has been plagued by high pitch counts, but he was dealing Friday in the Dodgers’ 3-1 victory over the Diamondbacks.

Until wobbling and giving up a run in the ninth, Kershaw (13-10) was in firm control. He gave up four hits -- two to Kelly Johnson -- struck out nine and did not walk a batter.

He was the model of economy, throwing 102 pitches, 72 for strikes.

Kershaw surpassed the 200-inning mark for the first time in his three-year career. In his last start he surpassed the 200 mark in strikeouts, joining Sandy Koufax and Fernando Valenzuela as the only left-handers to manage that feat in L.A. Dodgers history.

Consistency can still be a challenge for Kershaw. He struggled in his last start against the Colorado Rockies (four runs in four innings), but before that pitched the first shutout of his career with that one-hitter against the Giants.

The Dodgers needed Kershaw to be on top of his game Friday, because rookie Barry Enright (6-6) held the Dodgers to two runs on five hits in eight innings.

The Dodgers scored once in the third on an A.J. Ellis walk and Trent Oeltjen triple and again in the fourth on an Andre Ethier triple and Jay Gibbons sacrifice fly.

Reed Johnson added a solo home run off Jordan Norberto in the ninth.

And the rest was all Kershaw. He looked like a calm veteran, a bright spot giving the Dodgers reason to hope.

The Diamondbacks finally got to Kershaw in the bottom of the ninth when Chris Young led off with a single and scored on a Tony Abreu double.

Kenley Jensen, another promising young arm, came on to get the final three outs and earn his second save.

-- Steve Dilbeck