Giants Get Eight Hits off Clayton Kershaw; Still Lose

The San Francisco Giants are finishing off the worst season in over 30 years and Clayton Kershaw sent them home quickly and quietly in a 3-1 win Sunday in Los Angeles.

Kershaw did what he usually does against the Giants, as the lineup was no match for the best pitcher in the National League.

One player who did have a strong day against the Dodgers ace was Mac Williamson. In what has been a forgettable year to this point at the Major League level, Williamson had three hits, including a solo home run to dead center field.

Hunter Pence also had three hits off of Kershaw. Only Buster Posey and Joaquin Arias had ever done that before today. It was about the only positive from a game that did not have many highlights.

The game did have some unusual moments though. Pence, who was trying to make a catch in foul ground in the fourth inning, was interfered with by a fan that seemed more like a violation of his personal space than any attempt to actually catch the ball.

Then in the seventh inning, Brandon Crawford made one of the more interesting bunt attempts you will ever see that ended with him down on the ground half way to the mound.

The following inning, with Gorkys Hernandez at bat, the bat ended up near second base and Kershaw ended up having to leap frog the projectile piece of wood to avoid a collision.

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Chris Stratton, who started the game, went four innings and allowed all three earned runs. The big blow came against Dodgers catcher Yasmani Grandal, who belted a two run home run in the bottom of the fourth inning. Grandal also drove in the first run of the game with a sacrifice fly.

The Giants have six games left before the season comes to a close and everyone can put the 2017 season behind them. As starters get their last start of the year and as young players get their last chances to make an impression on the staff and the front office, it will be refreshing to see everyone get a chance to reflect on a rough season.

Changes are coming and it could be major changes that seem far different than how the team has operated the last several seasons. The Giants may need to sacrifice defense for offense at some key positions. They may have to sacrifice experience for youth. They may have to sacrifice some of the core members of this franchise that helped bring championships to the Bay Area.

Next: Giants Begin Final Road Trip

No matter what happens this off-season, the remaining six games will be important for the players that want to play baseball beyond 2017.