Clayton Kershaw dominated last season. Madison Bumgarner dominated last postseason.
When they met on Thursday, the World Series MVP got the better of the reigning NL MVP.
Bumgarner sent a two-out, first-pitch fastball about ten rows deep into the left-field bleachers in the third inning at AT&T Park. The dinger was just Bumgarner’s second hit of the year and the eighth home run of his career.
The blast marks the first home run by a pitcher off Kershaw.
Bumgarner’s no-doubt-about-it solo shot gave him all the run support he needed. Hunter Pence knocked in two insurance runs and Brandon Crawford added another RBI to propel the Giants to a 4-0 win.
The Giants sweep of the Dodgers puts San Francisco just 1.5 games behind Los Angeles for the lead in the AL West.