Clayton Kershaw in control as Dodgers down Rockies, 4-1

They’re knocking them off one at a time now, each victory bringing them closer to the postseason.

The Dodgers drew one step closer Monday night, riding the pitching of Clayton Kershaw and the bats of Justin Turner and Scott Schebler to down the Rockies, 4-1, before a Dodgers Stadium crowd of 43,731.

The victory lowered their magic number to clinching the National League West to 12, while maintaining their 7½-game lead over the Giants, who won but had little to show for it.

If Kershaw was not at his absolute dominating best, he was plenty close enough. He went seven innings, holding the Rockies to a first-inning run on three hits, with two walks and five strikeouts. The five strikeouts actually equaled his season low.

The victory raised his record to 14-6 and lowered his ERA to 2.12. Since May 26, he has a baseball-best 1.26 ERA.

After he walked DJ LeMahieu with one out in the first inning, he gave up a double to Nolan Arenado and then a run-scoring groundout to Carlos Gonzalez. After that, he was the one in control all night.

It did mean using a few more pitches than he’d probably like, Kershaw exiting with a 2-1 lead after throwing 105 pitches in seven innings.

The Dodgers tied the score with a run in the second inning. Andre Ethier singled and took third base on a double by rookie Corey Seager. It was Seager’s first at-bat at Dodger Stadium. Yasmani Grandal’s fly to the wall in left sacrificed Ethier home.

The Dodgers took the lead with a run in the fifth inning. Chase Utley walked and was singled to third base by Adrian Gonzalez. Justin Turner doubled in Utley.

It remained a 2-1 game into the eighth inning, when Schebler followed a Seager hit with a two-run homer. For Schebler, a September call-up, it was his third home run.

With Kenley Jansen unavailable after throwing 33 pitches Sunday, Chris Hatcher closed in the ninth and held Colorado scoreless. It was his third save of the season and first since May 2.