Brett Anderson took a shutout into the eighth inning in his final start of the regular season, and the NL West Champion Los Angeles Dodgers hung on to defeat the San Francisco Giants 3-2 on Thursday afternoon at AT&T Park.
Anderson (10-9) solidified himself as the Dodgers third starter, throwing seven innings of two-hit ball before running into trouble in the eighth inning.
"I think I should pitch in the postseason, I'll pitch wherever they tell me to pitch. I ended the season on a positive note and I'll be ready to pitch when they tell me to," Anderson said. "Overall, this is the most efficient I've been. Hopefully, it carries over to the postseason."
Anderson started a career-high 31 games and allowed two runs on four hits in 7.2 innings, as he outshined Giants' starter Tim Hudson in his final appearance on the mound.
Hudson (8-9) got the loss in his last career start as the 40-year-old pitcher has decided to hang up his cleats after 17 seasons in the big leagues.
"I was surprised how good I was able to hold it together there," Hudson said. "The last couple weeks have been a little bit of an emotioinal rollercoaster for me. I've had so much fun over there the last 17 years and today was a really special day for me."
In a classy move, manager Bruce Bochy took Hudson out of the game in the third inning to a standing ovation from the hometown crowd. Hudson tipped his cap, and was greeted by his teammates in the dugout who offered hugs and handshakes.
Tim Hudson says goodbye. pic.twitter.com/JllMvekjIr — John Shea (@JohnSheaHey) October 1, 2015
Hudson allowed three runs on three hits in 2.1 innings in his final appearance on the mound. He heads into the final weekend of the season, as MLB's active leader in career wins with 222.
Bochy replaced Hudson with reliever Jeremy Affeldt who announced earlier in the day that he was also retiring after the season.
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Overshadowed by the retirement news was the performance of Anderson who was excellent on the day. Anderson got 15 ground ball outs, allowing only three balls to leave the infield as he retired 14 straight batters at one point in the game.
Anderson did it with his bat as well, singling up the middle off Hudson to start the third inning, and scoring the first run of his career three batters later on a single to left field by Adrian Gonzalez.
"I want to congratulate Hudson on a phenomenal career. It was pretty special to be a part of this game I felt like an ass getting a hit, but at least I wasn't the last hit of his career," Anderson said. "I think the last time I scored a run was my senior year in high school. I've never crossed home plate, I should have taken it with me."
Dodgers manager Don Mattingly allowed Anderson to head back to the mound in the bottom of the eighth needing two outs to reach the 180 innings pitched plateau earning Anderson a $400,000 bonus. After a bunt single and an error by Jarrett Parker, Anderson got the next two outs to reach the bonus.
"I would have liked to finish the eighth, but all things considered this was the best I've thrown in a while," Anderson said. "Our defense was phenomenal."
Andre Ethier hit a leadoff triple in the second inning and scored two batters later on a sacrifice fly by veteran Chase Utley.
Utley started at third base for just the third time in his career, and the neophyte looked like he'd been playing the hot corner all his life. Utley made multiple highlight worthy plays including a charging bare-handed snag and throw in the sixth inning.
Hands team. 4th inning: https://t.co/gJlgl2LJLq 6th inning: https://t.co/Cfa2bYukY8 pic.twitter.com/pJxOk7fBiv — Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) October 1, 2015
Howie Kendrick went 2-for-4 with a run scored and appears to be close to 100 percent since returning from a hamstring injury last week.
The Giants scored two off of Anderson in the eighth before Chris Hatcher got Matt Duffy to fly out to right field with the tying run on second base.
Kenley Jansen pitched a perfect ninth inning for his 35th save of the season, moving the Dodgers into a tie with the New York Mets at (89-70) for home field advantage in the NLDS series, which starts next Friday.
"You hope to get that home field advantage," Dodgers' catcher Yasmani Grandal said after the game. "You don't want to go to New York more than once. Hopefully we can sweep the Padres this weekend and stay home."
Los Angeles will end their season this weekend with a three-game series at Chavez Ravine against the San Diego Padres.
FULL HOUSE
An entire episode of the Netflix show, "Fuller House," a reincarnation of the hit 90s show "Full House" was filmed at AT&T Park during the game. Actresses Jodie Sweetin and Candace Cameron-Bure were shown on the screen between innings.
"I was a Full House fan growing up, but I've never watched it when I was pitching," Anderson said of the filming of the show while he was warming up on the mound. "It added some spice to my start."
Stephanie Tanner breaks up with Hunter Pence �� #FullerHouse #DodgersvsGiants pic.twitter.com/8FoBbP6BvJ — Michael J. Duarte (@michaeljduarte) October 1, 2015
Which one did you want growing up? #FullerHouse #FullHouse #DodgersvsGiants pic.twitter.com/j4vwTASxOc — Michael J. Duarte (@michaeljduarte) October 1, 2015
Game Notes:
With the win, the Dodgers avoided their worst record in San Francisco since 1958. Los Angeles finishes the season 2-8 at AT&T Park and has never won less than two games by the Bay in franchise history.
The Giants won the season series over the Dodgers 11-8, the fourth time in the last six years they have taken the season series from Los Angeles.
Tim Hudson and Jeremy Affeeldt will be honored by the San Francisco Giants later this weekend as the wrap up their season at home against the Colorado Rockies.
Brett Anderson's 180 IP this season is a new career-high, eclipsing his previous high of 175.1 IP in 2009.
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