Clayton Kershaw day by day: Splitting with the Giants, D-backs

Today’s Clayton Kershaw daily brings us two extremes, with a Dodgers split on this date four years apart.

Our first April 11 game comes from 2011, when Kershaw didn’t allow a run in San Francisco, a phrase that can be said about seven of his 23 career starts at AT&T Park.

From my game recap:

Kershaw allowed six hits and two walks in his 6 2/3 innings, while striking out seven. More importantly, Kershaw didn’t allow a run, again, for the third straight time against the Giants. Kershaw has a streak of 23 2/3 consecutive scoreless innings against San Francisco.

That was Kershaw’s 86th career start, and he lowered his career ERA to 3.10. He reached the 500-inning mark at the conclusion of the fourth inning.

Four years later, the Dodgers were on the road again on April 11, this time in Arizona. This one didn’t go so well, with Kershaw allowing five runs while the Dodgers were blanked. This was Kershaw’s 211th career start, with his career ERA at 2.51.

This was Archie Bradley’s major league debut, and he pitched six shutout innings in a 6-0 D-backs rout. From my game recap:

No matter what happens in Bradley’s career he will always be able to say he got his first major league hit before he allowed his first major league hit, singling to left field against Kershaw in the second inning.

Also on this date

Kershaw was busy starting on April 10, 2012, so he didn’t have time for any pregame shenanigans. But before the game the next night, Kershaw received his 2011 National League Cy Young Award on the field before the game at Dodger Stadium, presented to him by 1981 winner Fernando Valenzuela.

Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images

The outings

2011 (W, 2-1): 6⅔ IP, 6 hits, 2 walks, 7 strikeouts

2015 (L, 0-1): 6⅓ IP, 10 hits, 6 runs (5 earned), 3 walks, 5 strikeouts

Up next: A single-start day, back to 2013.