Kershaw wears familiar crown
ERA title fourth in row; Felix best in A.L.
NEW YORK – Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw became the first pitcher to lead the major leagues in earned-run average in four straight years, and Houston’s Jose Altuve and Colorado’s Justin Morneau won their first batting titles.
Kershaw’s 1.77 ERA was the lowest in the National League since Greg Maddux’s 1.63 for Atlanta in 1995.
Kershaw became the first to lead the N.L. in ERA in four consecutive seasons since the Dodgers’ Sandy Koufax strung together five in a row from 1962 through ’66.
Seattle’s Felix Hernandez won his second A.L. ERA title, pitching 5 1/3 scoreless innings against the Los Angeles Angels.
Hernandez started the weekend with a 2.34 ERA but it dropped to 2.18 Saturday when MLB’s Joe Torre changed a hit to an error in Hernandez’s previous start against Toronto, making four runs unearned. Hernandez finished at 2.14, besting Chris Sale of the Chicago White Sox (2.17).
“I was disappointed in my last start against Toronto,” Hernandez said. “Today I had a different mind to go out there and do what I was capable to do, just throw strikes.”
Originally left out of the starting lineup by the Astros on Sunday, Altuve talked his way in and went 2 for 4 against the New York Mets to win the A.L. batting title at .341. Altuve began the day with a three-point lead over Detroit’s Victor Martinez, who went 0 for 3 and wound up at .335.
“I think this is way better than just sitting on the bench and waiting for something,” Altuve said.
Morneau finished at .319 – the lowest average for a batting champion in either league since Tony Gwynn hit .313 for San Diego in 1988. Nelson Cruz hit 40 home runs for Baltimore and won his first A.L. home run title. Giancarlo Stanton topped the N.L. with 37 despite missing Miami’s last 17 games after he was hit on the face by a pitch.
Mike Trout of the Angels had 111 RBIs. The Dodgers’ Adrian Gonzalez led the N.L. with 116.
Dee Gordon of the Dodgers led the N.L. with 64 steals and Altuve topped the A.L. with 56.
Seattle’s Fernando Rodney had a major league-high 48 saves. Atlanta’s Craig Kimbrel had 47, the fourth straight year he’s topped the N.L. or shared the lead.