LOS ANGELES (AP) — Once Dodgers manager Don Mattingly crossed the foul line without signaling the bullpen in the ninth inning, Clayton Kershaw knew he was safe to finish off the San Francisco Giants. Mattingly wanted to check on his ace, who after rolling through the first five innings, gave up two two-out hits. Kershaw assured Mattingly he was just fine and he proved it, striking out Marlon Byrd to close out a 2-1 victory Wednesday night that increased the Dodgers' NL West lead to 6 ½ games. Kershaw struck out 15 to set a season career high with 251 and Chase Utley hit a go-ahead homer in the sixth to complete a three-game sweep of the Giants. The second-place Giants' fifth straight loss left them facing their largest division deficit of the season. "Stranger things have happened," said Giants manager Bruce Bochy, who was ejected for the second straight game. The Giants tied the game 1-all in the sixth on a RBI single by Angel Pagan. Giants: RHP Matt Cain (elbow nerve irritation) will pitch a couple of rehab innings Friday at Triple A-Sacramento.