Clayton Kershaw ends with 301 strikeouts as Dodgers win, 6-3

Dodgers starter Clayton Kershaw fields a ball hit by San Diego's Alexi Amarista in the second inning before making the throw to first base for the out Sunday.

By Steve Dilbeck

Oct. 4, 2015 3:25 PM PT

As final tuneups go, Clayton Kershaw came out of Sunday’s regular-season finale purring like a Lamborghini.

He went only 3 2/3 innings, but he made them count in the Dodgers’ 6-3 victory over the Padres before a Dodger Stadium crowd of 42,863.

Kershaw became the first pitcher in 13 seasons to reach the 300-strikeout mark, fanning seven Padres to finish with 301 strikeouts.

Kershaw ended the regular season having thrown 236 1/3 innings, also best in the majors.

That wrapped up his regular season and final Cy Young Award credentials. He did not go the required five innings to earn the victory, so he ends the season 16-7 with a 2.13 ERA and 0.88 WHIP. If that’s not enough to overcome the efforts of teammate Zack Greinke and the Cubs’ Jake Arrieta for the National League Cy Young Award, it figures to make it close.

Kershaw, the two-time reigning NL Cy Young Award winner, is now 53-19 with a 1.91 ERA and 0.88 WHIP over the last three seasons.

Kershaw became only the second Dodger to reach the 300-strikeout mark, joining Sandy Koufax, who did it three times (1963, ’65, ’66).

Though an announcement has not been made, Kershaw is expected to start in Game 1 of the National League division series against the Mets on Friday at Dodger Stadium.

The Dodgers used three home runs -- two-run homers by Joc Pederson and Chris Heisey, and a solo shot from Corey Seager -- to fuel their offense and finish the season 92-70.

The three homers left them with the most in the NL (187), one ahead of the Rockies.

The Dodgers also led the majors in attendance again. They drew 3,764,815 on the season, third highest in team history and the 10th largest in MLB history.

The Dodgers ended the season with a 55-26 home record, tying the Cardinals for the best in baseball.