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Giants get swept by Los Angeles, fall into tie for 1st
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SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Ryan Vogelsong thinks his teammates will get a little angry — not shell shocked — from getting swept by the Los Angeles Dodgers.

"We can't afford to think too much about this one," Vogelsong said after the San Francisco Giants lost 4-0 to the Dodgers on Sunday and fell into a virtual first-place tie in the NL West. "If anything, it makes us a little mad and we can take it out on the Mets, the next team coming in."

Clayton Kershaw pitched a five-hitter for his second shutout of the season, continuing his dominance over the Giants, who he has beaten seven times, including five in San Francisco.

"That's what happens when you face one of the best pitchers in the game right now," Vogelsong said. "One mistake, one run, can cost you the game."

The Dodgers (56-47) closed within one percentage point of the Giants (55-46) after returning the favor from being blanked in a three-game series at San Francisco from June 25-27. Los Angeles outscored the Giants 19-3 in this series and didn't give up a run during the final 20 innings.

San Francisco, which has lost four straight, didn't get a runner past second and managed only three hits in the final seven innings. The Giants were swept at home by the Dodgers for the first time since June 28-30, 2010.

"I don't care who you are, sometimes you are just going to get it handed to you," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. "The important thing is how we handle it. We're still in a great situation."

Kershaw (8-6) struck out seven and walked one in his fifth career shutout, beating the Giants for the first time in three starts this season. He lost both previous outings despite allowing just four earned runs in 14 innings.

"He kept the ball down and over the plate," Giants outfielder Angel Pagan said. "He didn't make a lot of mistakes and worked his pitches. When he's on like that it's tough to get runs."

Vogelsong (8-5), who had won both of his prior matchups against Kershaw this year, allowed two runs — one earned — and six hits in six innings with five strikeouts and three walks. He lowered his ERA to a major league-leading 2.22.

Los Angeles went ahead with two runs in the fourth following singles by Juan Rivera and Kemp. With runners at the corners and one out, newly acquired Hanley Ramirez grounded to third and beat second baseman Ryan Theriot's relay throw to avoid a double play as Rivera scored. After Marco Scutaro dropped Loney's popup to third for an error, Luis Cruz hit an RBI double.

Vogelsong struck out Kershaw with the bases loaded to end the sixth. The Dodgers added a pair of runs in the eighth against Jeremy Affeldt following a one-out double by Loney. Cruz and Mark Ellis hit RBI singles.

NOTES: LHP Madison Bumgarner goes for his team-leading 12th win for San Francisco in the series opener against the Mets on Monday. ... The Giants were shut out in back-to-back games by the Dodgers for the first time in San Francisco history.