Giants lose finale but Posey wins

LOS ANGELES — Buster Posey has gone from missing most of last season after a violent collision at home plate to winning the NL batting title.

And the San Francisco Giants are headed to the playoffs as NL West champions.

The 25-year-old catcher went 0 for 2 in a 5-1 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday, finishing with a .336 average to claim the title. He’s the first Giants player to win it since Barry Bonds in 2004 and the first Giants catcher to do so. The previous catcher to win the NL title was Boston’s Ernie Lombardi, who hit .330 in 1942.

“I don’t think it’s something that you ever think about doing,” Posey said. “It’s such a long season, and from day one, you try to grind out at-bats no matter what the situation is. And if you can go up there and are able to make some adjustments, good things will happen.”

In May 2011, Posey broke a bone in his left leg and tore three ankle ligaments on a horrific collision at the plate with the Florida Marlins’ Scott Cousins.

“I give a lot of credit to our entire training staff for all the work they did in the offseason to get me back on the field,” he said. “Even though this is an individual accomplishment, there’s other people who deserve credit.”

Posey credited the 29 starts he made at first base for helping him endure the 162-game season.

“That reprieve you get over there at first base does make a difference because it is a grind,” he said. “You’re going to take foul balls and just sitting back in the crouch for three hours every night wears on you.”

The Giants finished with a 94-68 record, including 46-35 on the road.

“We really didn’t know how much we could play him, and he exceeded our expectations,” Giants manager Bruce Bochy said about Posey. “To do what he did this year and win a batting title after coming off that devastating injury, it’s truly amazing. It shows you what a talent he is and how hard he worked to get back into playing condition.”

Clay Hensley (4-5) gave up one run and two hits in one inning to take the loss for the Giants, who open the NL division series on Saturday against Cincinnati.

Giants starter Ryan Vogelsong allowed one run on two hits in five innings, struck out seven and walked one. He retired his first 10 batters.