Clayton Kershaw earns 20th win; outduels Tim Lincecum again, 2-1
This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.
The four pitching duels between Clayton Kershaw and Tim Lincecum have been everything advertised this season – everything, aside from being one-sided.
Kershaw did it again Tuesday, winning his fourth close game in as many starts against Lincecum this season and edging the Giants, 2-1, to end San Francisco’s eight-game winning streak and become the Dodgers’ first 20-game winner in 21 years.
Lincecum, the two-time Cy Young Award winner, once again pitched extremely well against the Dodgers. In his four starts against the Dodgers this season, he has a 1.83 earned-run average. Also, he’s 0-3.
As good as Lincecum was, however, Kershaw was once again just a tad better.
Kershaw pitched 7 1/3 innings, holding the Giants to one run, six hits and two walks. He struck out six to increase his National League-leading total to 242.
Kershaw became the first Dodger to win 20 games since Ramon Martinez did it in 1990.
Kershaw has won his four games against Lincecum this season by scores of 2-1, 1-0, 2-1 and 2-1. That can’t exactly hurt his Cy Young candidacy. He was supported Tuesday by two of the hottest-hitting Dodgers. James Loney singled in a run in the first and then Jerry Sands added a solo home run in the second.
Kershaw carried a 2-0 shutout into the eighth inning before seemingly beginning to tire. He gave up a one-out, solo home run to Chris Stewart and then walked consecutive batters.
With Kershaw at 115 pitches, Manager Don Mattingly called on reliever Kenley Jansen. All he did was strike out pinch-hitter Pablo Sandoval and Carlos Beltran on seven total pitches.
Rookie Javy Guerra came on to pitch a scoreless ninth and earn his 19th save in 20 chances.
Kershaw is now 5-0 with an 0.59 ERA against the Giants this season. He became the first Dodger to go 5-0 against the Giants in a single season since Vic Lombardi in 1946.
RELATED:
Bill Plaschke: Paul DePodesta is captured to a tee in ‘Moneyball’
Matt Kemp is voted most inspirational by Dodgers teammates
-- Steve Dilbeck