Yasiel Puig, four-run sixth inning propel Dodgers to 9-1 victory

KEY MOMENT: Yasiel Puig ended a 1-1 stalemate by sending a sixth-inning offering from starter Tim Hudson over the right-field wall for a home run. Later in the inning, Carl Crawford doubled in two runs against left-hander Javier Lopez to extend the Dodgers lead to 4-1. Crawford scored on a single by Juan Uribe against Jean Machi, increasing the advantage to 5-1.

ON THE MOUND: Clayton Kershaw limited the Giants to one run and eight hits over eight innings. He improved to a league-best 21-3 and lowered his earned-run average to 1.77. The latter figure should make Kershaw the first pitcher to lead the major leagues in ERA in four consecutive seasons. Kershaw struck out 11 batters, raising his total to a National League-best 239. Brian Wilson pitched the ninth inning.

AT THE PLATE: Before their four-run explosion in the sixth inning, the Dodgers scored only one run. That came on a triple by Kershaw that drove in Crawford and tied the score, 1-1.

MEDICAL REPORT: Hyun-Jin Ryu pitched on flat ground, continuing his recovery from an irritated shoulder. Manager Don Mattingly said he still doesn’t expect Ryu to pitch before the postseason. “We don’t plan on him pitching in the regular season,” Mattingly said. The next step for Ryu will be to throw off a mound, something that could happen “in a day or two,” Mattingly said. Mattingly was guarded when asked whether Ryu was preparing to pitch the third game of a division series. “He’s got to be able to get off a mound, he’s got to be able to bounce back,” Mattingly said. “Right now, everything’s going good. We feel he’s going to get to where he’s going to be available.”

THE ROTATION: The Dodgers have a day off Thursday. When they resume play Friday, Roberto Hernandez will pitch in the opening game of a three-game series against the Colorado Rockies. The current plan is for Hernandez to be followed in the rotation by Dan Haren and Zack Greinke. Mattingly said the rotation could change, depending on whether the Dodgers have secured the division title.

UP NEXT: Hernandez (8-11, 4.08 ERA) will face Rockies right-hander Jordan Lyles (7-3, 4.15) on Friday at 7 p.m. at Dodger Stadium. On the air: SportsNet LA. Radio: 570, 1020.