SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Clayton Kershaw left his start with low back pain and the Los Angeles Dodgers went on to beat the San Francisco Giants 5-3 on Thursday to complete a four-game sweep.
Kershaw appeared to feel discomfort while he was warming up before the bottom of the fifth inning. The three-time NL Cy Young Award winner winced and pointed to his dugout, and then walked off the field gingerly with a trainer.
Kershaw made 66 pitches through four innings, allowing one earned run and three hits with four strikeouts.
Mookie Betts and Trea Turner homered for Los Angeles, which completed its first four-game sweep in San Francisco since 1977. The majors-leading Dodgers have won eight straight games against the Giants, matching the longest streak in Los Angeles history.
J.D. Davis hit his first home run as a Giants, who fell to a majors-worst 3-12 since the All-Star break.
Gavin Lux singled home Max Muncy in the second inning to give the Dodgers a 1-0 lead. Davis answered with a two-run homer to right in the bottom half.
Betts put Los Angeles back in front with a three-run homer in the fourth, his 25th of the year. Turner added his 18th home run in the seventh.
Brandon Belt doubled off Dodgers closer Craig Kimbrel and scored on a wild pitch in the ninth.
Chris Martin (2-0) was credited with the win after pitching a scoreless sixth inning. Kimbrel earned his 20th save in 23 opportunities.
Jakob Junis (4-3) allowed three runs and five hits in 3 2/3 innings, striking out five and walking two.
KAPLER TOSSED
Giants manager Gabe Kapler was ejected by first base umpire Phil Cuzzi after the top of the sixth inning. San Francisco reliever Jarlin García struck out James Outman to end the inning and had words with Betts, who was on deck. Neither bench cleared, though there was…