Dodgers beat Giants 5-1 to end season

By Beth Harris

Associated Press

Published: Wednesday, Oct. 3 2012 8:00 p.m. MDT

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Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw throws to the plate during the first inning of the Dodgers' baseball game against the San Francisco Giants, Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2012, in Los Angeles.

Mark J. Terrill, Associated Press

Summary

Clayton Kershaw finished with a major league-leading 2.53 ERA, Adrian Gonzalez singled in the go-ahead run in the sixth inning, and the Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the San Francisco Giants 5-1 to end their season on Wednesday, a day after being eliminated from playoff contention for the third straight year by the NL West champions.

LOS ANGELES — Clayton Kershaw finished with a major league-leading 2.53 ERA, Adrian Gonzalez singled in the go-ahead run in the sixth inning, and the Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the San Francisco Giants 5-1 to end their season on Wednesday, a day after being eliminated from playoff contention for the third straight year by the NL West champions.

Kershaw (14-9) allowed one run and three hits in eight innings, struck out eight and walked three in his 33rd start, tying a career high. The reigning NL Cy Young Award winner recorded 229 strikeouts, one behind NL leader R.A. Dickey of the New York Mets. The left-hander became the first pitcher to lead the league in ERA in consecutive seasons since Arizona's Randy Johnson in 2001-02.

Kershaw became the first Dodgers pitcher to do so since Sandy Koufax accomplished the feat from 1962-66.

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