Kershaw finishes with MLB-leading 2.53 ERA

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

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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