Clayton Kershaw earns first career shutout in 1-0 victory over Giants

In a season filled with demoralizing defeats, the Dodgers celebrated a victory worth remembering Tuesday night.

The 1-0 win over the San Francisco Giants wasn’t important to the Dodgers because of its implications in the standings, but because of what it signified.

Clayton Kershaw pitched his first career shutout.

“Hopefully, the first of many,” the 22-year-old said.

While most of his teammates have remained stuck in neutral or taken a step back, Kershaw has moved forward, his season-long emphasis on reducing pitch counts and walks culminating in a 111-pitch masterpiece that silenced the full house at AT&T Park.

“What about that one, guys?” Manager Joe Torre asked. “It was an absolute gem.”

Kershaw didn’t walk a batter. He struck out only four, enough to put him over 200 for the season but well under his normal output.

“He was pitching,” Torre said.

Kershaw changed speeds. He threw his four pitches for strikes. He was poised.

That the Dodgers were held to a solitary hit — a leadoff single by Matt Kemp in a scoreless second inning — was of no consequence.

“Unbelievable,” catcher Rod Barajas said.

Showing that he might have a future in the Dodgers’ public relations department, Barajas said the Dodgers’ lack of offense might have helped Kershaw.

“He didn’t have to spend much time on the bench,” Barajas said. “He was able to keep a rhythm.”

Kershaw, who snapped a four-start winless streak that was more a reflection of the Dodgers’ slumping lineup than of his performance, was in rhythm with Barajas most of the night.

“Rod was awesome back there,” Kershaw said. “I think I shook him off two or three times tonight.”

Asked if he could recall such an instance, Barajas laughed.

“The last pitch,” he said.

Barajas initially called for a fastball. Kershaw wanted a slider, which he threw to get Aubrey Huff to swing and miss for the final out.

Kershaw was initially scheduled to pitch Sunday in Houston, but Torre pushed back his start for two reasons — to preserve Kershaw’s arm, and because the manager felt he had an obligation not to cheapen the pennant race.

Because the Giants were in playoff contention and the Astros weren’t, they had the privilege of facing Kershaw — and, as a result, fell 1½ games back of the San Diego Padres in the National League West, and 1½ behind the Atlanta Braves in the wild-card race.

Podsednik done?

The Dodgers said they shipped Manny Ramirez to the Chicago White Sox because he could no longer play in the outfield every day. It turns out Ramirez’s replacement couldn’t, either.

Scott Podsednik will likely miss the remainder of the season because of a foot injury.

Podsednik underwent a MRI exam Monday, got a second opinion in San Francisco on Tuesday and is scheduled to travel to Dallas for a third opinion on Thursday.

“We don’t expect anything surgical,” trainer Stan Conte said.

Conte said Podsednik played with plantar fasciitis for three to four weeks and that the Dodgers had to force him out of the lineup in Houston last week.

Podsednik can become a free agent this winter, as the $2-million option on his contract for 2011 is a mutual option.

Schedule unveiled

The Dodgers will open next season against the Giants at Dodger Stadium on April Fool’s Day, which falls on a Friday. The season starts slightly earlier so the playoffs can be completed in October.

The Dodgers will play host to the Detroit Tigers (June 20-22) and Angels (June 24-26) as part of their interleague schedule. They will have three interleague series on the road: against the Chicago White Sox (May 20-22), Minnesota Twins (June 28-30) and Angels (July 1-3).

White, Watson up for job

Two of the Dodgers’ assistant general managers are being considered for the Arizona Diamondbacks general manager’s position, according to baseball sources who spoke under the condition of anonymity because the hiring process hasn’t been completed.

Scouting director Logan White interviewed with the Diamondbacks on Monday and player development director De Jon Watson will do the same on Tuesday, the sources said.

dylan.hernandez@latimes.com