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Dodgers clinch NL West, Ryu Hyun-jin likely done for regular season

September 25, 2014

Los Angeles Dodgers’ A.J. Ellis, left, is doused with champagne by Hyun-Jin Ryu, of South Korea after they defeated the San Francisco Giants 9-1 and clinching the National League West Division title in a baseball game, Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2014, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

The Korea Times Los Angeles staff

The Los Angeles Dodgers celebrated winning the National League West Division at home Wednesday night after an incredible display that proved exactly why they deserved the title.

Starting with the Dodgers’ ace, Clayton Kershaw struck out a season-high tying 11 batters to set the tone for a 9-1 victory over the San Francisco Giants. He gave up eight hits and only one run in eight innings.

Kershaw has set such a high standard throughout the season that Dodgers’ fans would mark this outing as expected, but his consistency has accumulated into a statistic that will be forever remembered in the annals of professional baseball history.

Kershaw is the first pitcher to win 21 games with 27 starts in 134 years.

Kershaw also hit his first career triple bringing in one run to contribute to an already-pumping offense.

“It was tiring,” said Kershaw in an ESPN post-game interview. “I don’t want to do that again. I’ll take a double.”

Dodgers’ right-fielder, Yasiel Puig, also illustrated his offensive and defensive prowess. Not only did he hit a two-run homer in the sixth inning, Puig used his rocket of an arm with pinpoint accuracy in the seventh to throw out Giants’ center fielder, Gregor Blanco, at third base.

With a deafening roar from the crowd, it was obvious that any momentum the Giants might have had was smothered.

Additional offensive highlights included, Dodgers’ veteran third baseman, Juan Uribe, who went 2-for-4 with three RBIs and left-fielder Carl Crawford who went 2-for-2 with two RBIs.

With the Dodgers’ offense peaking right before the post season and a strong defense, the only remaining question is how soon Ryu Hyun-jin will return to the mound?

ESPN’s latest report shows that he will start throwing from the mound in the next step of his shoulder rehabilitation, but he will most likely not pitch in any of the remaining regular season games.