Once Dodgers manager Don Mattingly crossed the foul line without Clay Harbor Jerseysignaling 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 1/2 games.

''These guys are http://www.shopjag... hitters,'' Kershaw said. ''They made me work the last inning. It's definitely different than a normal game because you're playing the team behind you.''

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.

''I'm sure they're happy now,'' Giants second baseman Kelby Tomlinson said, ''but hopefully we can put it together and be the ones celebrating at the end.''

The second-place Giants' fifth straight loss left them facing their largest division deficit [url=http://www.shopjaguarsnfljersey.com/Dwayne-Gratz-Jersey]http://www.shopjagu... the season. All three defeats to the Dodgers were by one run and they have scored just 11 runs during their skid.

''Stranger things have happened,'' said Giants manager Bruce Bochy, who was ejected for the second straight game. ''Trust me. There's a lot of baseball left.''

Kershaw (12-6) beat the Giants for the first time in four starts this season. He allowed one run and six hits and walked one on a career high-tying 132 pitches for his third complete game of the season.

''That's what you want to see from one of your horses,'' catcher Yasmani Grandal said. ''He wanted to finish out the game.''

Kershaw leads the National League in strikeouts, surpassing his career-best of 248 set in 2011. His 15 strikeouts tied a career high after having [url=http://www.saintsshopnfl.com/Authentic-Hauoli-Kikaha-Jersey]Hau'oli Kikaha Jersey14 against the Cubs in his previous start.

''He had 15 strikeouts? Wow,'' Mattingly said. ''He laid the gauntlet down in the sense that it's that time of year. If you got these guys down at all you want to keep them there.''

Kershaw created suspense for [url=http://www.saintsshopnfl.com/Authentic-Jahri-Evans-Jersey]http://www.saints... crowd of 41,648 that was on its feet in the ninth. With two outs, the Giants put the tying and go-ahead runs on base after Matt Duffy and Buster Posey had consecutive singles. Kershaw pumped his arms after striking out Byrd.

''We're a good team and we're starting to play like that day in and day out,'' Kershaw said. ''We can't relax, we got to keep our foot on the gas pedal.''

Kershaw became the first NL pitcher to strike out 250 batters in a season since Tim Lincecum of the Giants fanned 261 in 2009.

''He just pounded the strike zone,'' Bochy said. ''We were behind in the count it seemed like every hitter. He's got some weapons out there.''

Mike Leake (9-7) gave up two runs and five hits in seven innings, struck out three and walked none. He is winless in five starts since the Giants acquired him from Cincinnati on July 30.