We’ve seen it before. In fact, we saw it on opening day 2013 against these very same Giants. Clayton Kershaw was pitching a shutout, but so too was Giants ace Matt Cain who was relieved by right-hander George Kontos in the bottom of the eighth inning. The Dodgers had managed only four hits off of Cain. Enough, thought Kershaw, who promptly deposited Kontos’s very first pitch over the center field fence for a home run and a 1-0 lead. Although it would be the only run that Kershaw would need to win, Kershaw’s home run opened the floodgates to a four-run inning and the eventual 4-0 win.

On Wednesday night Kershaw had staked the Giants to a 1-0 lead after an uncharacteristic balk in the third inning putting runners at second and third with no outs. Even though Kershaw managed to escape the inning allowing only one run to score after making an impossible behind-the-back play to limit the damage, his teammates had collected only two hits off of Giants right-hander Tim Hudson through four innings. Enough, thought Kershaw, who promptly lined Hudson’s third pitch into the right field gap for a stand-up triple in the fifth inning, the first of his career, driving in Carl Crawford who had been hit by a pitch earlier in the inning. Although Kershaw was left stranded at third, his triple woke up the Dodgers bats for the eventual 9-1 win over the Giants, thereby clinching the NL West title for the second consecutive season.

Everyone pretty much expected Kershaw to be his normal self on the mound on Wednesday night, but little did they know that it would be Kershaw’s bat that would fire up his teammates in the eventual 9-1 win over the hated Giants. (Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)

The win was Kershaw’s MLB-leading 21st against only three losses. But what makes this even more incredible is that Kershaw started only 27 games, having missed five starts earlier in the season while on the disabled list for inflammation of the teres major.

“It’s great to win the division but it really doesn’t mean anything unless you win it all, win the World Series” said a Champagne-drenched Kershaw after the game.

Even though Kershaw was excited to clinch the NL West title, he made it very clear that it means nothing unless you win the World Series. (Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)

Kershaw, who is often referred to as ‘the best pitcher on the planet’, finished the regular season with a 21-3 record (first in the MLB), a 1.77 ERA (first in the MLB), 239 strikeouts (first in the NL, although this will likely change), a 0.86 WHIP (first in the MLB) and a .197 BAA (second in the MLB to Cincinnati’s Johnny Cueto at .193). But it is the many other things that Kershaw does that should put him at the top of the list as a potential 2014 NL MVP candidate, such as the impossible defensive play he made on Wednesday night that saved two runs.

Kershaw made an incredible behind-the-back grab of Giants pitcher Tim Hudson’s grounder that would have easily scored two runs had it gone through. (Video capture courtesy of SportsNet LA)

After a day off on Thursday, the Dodgers will conclude the 2014 regular season with a three-game series against the Rockies at Dodger Stadium. As such, Kershaw will get a much-needed and well-deserved eight days off before he starts Game-1 of the 2014 NLDS against the St. Louis Cardinals at Dodger Stadium on October 3.

Well done, sir. Well done indeed.