San Francisco, CA (Sports Network) - Clayton Kershaw threw his first major league complete game, winning a tremendous pitchers' duel, as the Dodgers beat San Francisco, 1-0, despite collecting just one hit.
The Dodgers scored the only run in the sixth inning thanks to an error by shortstop Juan Uribe.
The slim victory by Los Angeles in the opener of the three-game series left the Giants 1 1/2 games behind division-leading San Diego in the NL West. The Padres squeaked past the Rockies, 7-6, earlier Tuesday.
Kershaw (12-10), who had lost his previous three decisions, scattered four hits and fanned four without walking a batter, as the Dodgers won for the third time in four games.
Barry Zito (8-13) set a career-high by losing his ninth straight decision. The lefty, who dropped his seven straight start and hasn't won since July 16 against the Mets, walked three and fanned five. The only hit the former AL Cy Young Award winner gave up was a single to Matt Kemp in the second inning, but he was caught trying to steal second.
Reed Johnson was hit by a pitch with one out in the sixth. Kershaw then moved the runner with a sacrifice bunt. Rafael Furcal and Andre Ethier walked. Casey Blake grounded a ball up the middle to Uribe, who booted the ball while trying to gather it before flipping to second for a possible force out. The throw to second was late.
Cody Ross doubled in the bottom of the frame, but Freddy Sanchez flied out to end the inning.
Sanchez singled with two outs in the ninth. The chants of "Beat LA!, Beat LA!" intensified as Darren Ford stood on first as a pinch-runner, but Aubrey Huff then struck out to end the game.
"The thing about Clayton was he was getting all his pitches over for strikes," Ross said. "He didn't really make too many mistakes. We just couldn't figure out a way to push one across."
It was the second time this season the Giants one-hit an opponent but lost. It also happened April 20 at San Diego...Kershaw threw 111 pitches, while Zito had 82...The Giants are 1 1/2 games behind Atlanta for the wild card lead.