Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw acknowledges fans as he departs his final regular-season start at Dodger Stadium RONALD MARTINEZ

Los Angeles Dodgers pitching great Clayton Kershaw savored his last regular-season start at Dodger Stadium on Friday, basking in an outpouring of affection -- and a Dodgers win.

"It was such a special night, such a special night," Kershaw said. "I can't even put into words how special tonight was to me."

One day after announcing that he would retire after his 18th Major League Baseball campaign -- all of them with the Dodgers -- Kershaw pitched four and one-third innings in a 6-3 victory over the San Francisco Giants that saw the Dodgers secure a post-season berth.

He wasn't at his sharpest, but he did enough to keep the Dodgers in touch before

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