Clayton Kershaw day by day: Low scoring in Arizona

Our latest daily look at every Clayton Kershaw start brings us back to 2013, his only career start on April 12. Today’s game was a road game for the Dodgers against the Diamondbacks in Phoenix.

This was Kershaw’s third start of 2013, and the first time he allowed any runs. Arizona didn’t score until the fourth inning on April 12, snapping a 19-inning scoreless streak by Kershaw to start his season.

Kershaw struck out nine in this game and pitched into the eighth inning, when the game was 1-0. He left with the bases loaded and one out after a pair of singles and a walk, and reliever Shawn Tolleson allowed two of those inherited runs to score thanks to a pair of bases-loaded walks.

Aside from the loss, the main Dodgers news that day was news that Zack Greinke would need surgery to repair his broken clavicle and miss eight weeks, stemming from a brawl with the Padres earlier in the week. In addition, news came before this Friday game that Padres outfielder Carlos Quentin was suspended eight games for his role in the fight.

This was the 152nd start of Kershaw’s career, and he ended this start with 999 strikeouts.

The outing (L, 2-1): 7⅓ IP, 6 hits, 3 runs, 3 walks, 9 strikeouts

Up next: A single start on April 13, a decade ago