Published : Sept. 25, 2014 - 20:33
LOS ANGELES (AP) ― Clayton Kershaw strode into the Los Angeles Dodgers clubhouse with a rare demand.
“Give me some,” he yelled, making a beeline for an icy tub of champagne and beer.
The probable NL Cy Young Award winner and MVP candidate grabbed a bottle of bubbly and began pouring in celebration of the Dodgers’ NL West title after a 9-1 victory over second-place San Francisco on Wednesday night.
“You can’t take lightly what we did,” a soaked Kershaw said. “You got to celebrate accomplishments and that’s what we did. It’s really fun to celebrate with these guys.”
Yasiel Puig hopped on a bicycle for a ride in the clubhouse after aggressively soaking everyone in sight. Tubs full of melting ice got knocked over, soaking the blue carpet as the misty stench of champagne hung in the humid air.
“We want to win a world championship but the first step in that is winning your division,” said manager Don Mattingly, his brown hair matted.
Los Angeles Dodgers’ A.J. Ellis (left) is doused with champagne by Ryu Hyun-jin after they defeated the San Francisco Giants and clinched the National League West Division title on Wednesday. (AP-Yonhap)
Kershaw tied a career high with his 21st victory and Puig homered to highlight a four-run sixth inning as the Dodgers claimed their second straight division title behind their ace Kershaw (21-3), who has been the catalyst behind their success this season.
“Awesome, competitor, leader,” second baseman Dee Gordon said describing Kershaw.
Kershaw didn’t pitch lights out ― getting called for a balk and wild pitch ― and he committed a throwing error in the seventh but he did a little bit of everything, including hitting and fielding to ensure the Dodgers’ celebrated in front of their longtime rivals.
“He probably wasn’t at his best, but him at 80 percent is pretty good,” Giants starter Tim Hudson said. “It’s better than most people.”
Kershaw allowed one run and eight hits in eight innings, struck out 11 and walked none in his last start of the regular season, having won his final seven starts. He is trying to become the first player to lead the major leagues in ERA (1.77) in four consecutive seasons.
“He’s so tough, what a year he’s had,” Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. “You’ve got to play perfect ball to beat him and hope you get a timely hit and we didn’t do it.”
Kershaw tied his career high in wins from 2011. The Dodgers are 23-4 in his 27 starts this season.
“MVP” chants directed at Kershaw from the sellout crowd of 53,387 broke out throughout the game, but grew loudest after he retired the side in the eighth, striking out two.
“It’s cool,” Kershaw said of the chants. “These fans obviously want a World Series.”
Juan Uribe went 2 for 4 and drove in three runs, and Carl Crawford was 2 for 2 with three runs scored and two RBI for Los Angeles.
Angels hold off playoff-hopeful A’s
OAKLAND, California (AP) ― Howie Kendrick doubled and drove in three runs, and the AL West champion Los Angeles Angels held off the playoff-hopeful Oakland Athletics 5-4 on Wednesday.
The A’s dropped a half-game back of Kansas City for the top AL wild card with the Royals set to play a night game at Cleveland. Seattle began the day three games behind for the second wild-card spot.
Los Angeles (98-61) maintained its lead over Baltimore (95-63) for the best record in baseball and home-field advantage for the AL playoffs.
The Angels beat their Northern California rival for the seventh time in the last eight meetings to capture the season series 10-9 for the first time in four years. The Angels won at the Coliseum for just the third time in nine games.
Angels star Mike Trout left the game before the top of the fifth with a stomach illness.
This stretch for Oakland can be best defined as one of wasted pitching performances and devoid of clutch hitting.
The A’s rallied with four runs in the seventh, including Josh Reddick’s two-run double and an RBI triple by Nick Punto. Adam Dunn struck out as a pinch-hitter to end the inning with runners on first and second.
San Diego 4, Colorado 3
LA Dodgers 9, San Francisco 1
Boston 11, Tampa Bay 3
Cleveland 6, Kansas City 4
Atlanta 6, Pittsburgh 2
Texas 5, Houston 1
Chicago Cubs 3, St. Louis 1
Baltimore 9, NY Yankees 5
Detroit 6, Chicago White Sox 1
Minnesota 2, Arizona 1
LA Angels 5, Oakland 4
Toronto 1, Seattle 0
Milwaukee 5, Cincinnati 0
Philadelphia 2, Miami 1