Clayton Kershaw day by day: The 2012 home opener

Welcome again to our Clayton Kershaw daily project, where we are reviewing every major league appearance of the Dodgers star pitcher’s career, one day at a time. For today, April 10, there is one Kershaw start.

This was April 10, 2012, the Dodgers’ home opener, and four days after Kershaw pitched three scoreless innings on opening day despite the stomach flu in San Diego. Back home, the Dodgers hosted the Pirates to start a mid-week series, a Tuesday afternoon in Los Angeles.

Vin Scully was sick and missed the game.

Kershaw was stingy, though he did allow a single to Pirates pitcher Kevin Correia, but recovered to pick him off. Kershaw retired 11 straight before back-to-back singles to open the seventh, and a ground out to shortstop brought home the tying run.

From my game recap:

Kershaw was great in his seven innings. He allowed just one run, which didn’t come until his final frame, and four hits, with no walks and seven strikeouts on the day. In his last 11 starts at Dodger Stadium, Kershaw has allowed nine runs in 85 innings (a 0.95 ERA) with 13 walks and 83 strikeouts.

Kershaw left with a no-decision. It was his 120th game, and his 118th career start. Andre Ethier homered in the eighth inning to give the Dodgers a win.

The outing: 7 IP, 4 hits, 1 run, 7 strikeouts

Up next: A two-start April 11, with polar opposite results