Clayton Kershaw added to his long list of strong outings against the San Francisco Giants, and Yasmani Grandal led the Los Angeles Dodgers by driving in each of their runs in a 3-1 win on Fan Appreciation Day at Dodger Stadium.
Curtis Granderson led off the second inning with a looping single into right field, then went first to third base on Logan Forsythe’s double. Grandal lifted a fly ball to left field that resulted in a sacrifice fly thanks in part to Mac Williamson’s throw to home plate going to the first-base side.
Granderson was able to slide under Nick Hundley’s tag attempt, giving the Dodgers a 1-0 lead. Grandal then provided insurance in the fourth inning with a two-run home run to center field.
The homer was the Dodgers’ 212th this season, which broke the franchise record for most in a single year. The home run was Grandal’s 21st this season and ultimately proved to be the difference.
While Kershaw limited the Giants to just one run in eight innings, it was not without spending much of the afternoon navigating traffic on the bases. After the first inning, he never retired the side in order.
Prior to Mac Williamson’s solo home run in the eighth, no Giants player had advanced beyond second base on any of their seven hits. Hunter Pence and Williamson each went 3-for-3 on the afternoon.
Kershaw was the benefactor of four double plays, three of which ended an inning. He finished with six strikeouts to reach 200 on the season.
Kershaw became the first Dodgers pitcher to ever produce seven seasons with least 200 strikeouts. He entered the year tied with Sandy Koufax and Don Drysdale as the only pitchers in Dodgers franchise history with six seasons of 200 or more strikeouts.
Brandon Morrow set the Giants down in order to covert his second save of the season. The win helped the Dodgers keep pace with and remain ahead of the Washington Nationals by 4.5 games for best record in the National League.
