Clayton Kershaw day by day: 10 strikeouts against the Rockies

Clayton Kershaw’s lone career start on April 19 came three years ago, when the Dodgers took a three-game losing streak into their homestand finale against the Rockies.

This was 11 days after Kershaw allowed three home runs in a loss at Coors Field, but he was able to keep the Rockies in the park on this night. Kershaw allowed a pair of runs in his seven innings, both of which were notable.

From my game recap:

Those two plate appearances pushed Kershaw’s total with the bases loaded since the start of the 2014 season all the way up to ... just 20. He faced the bases loaded in just three plate appearances in all of 2014, then nine in 2015 and six times last year. Those batters are just 3-for-18 (.167) with a double, a walk, and six strikeouts.

Those two outs were the first of 12 straight retired by Kershaw, who settled down quite nicely. He struck out a season-high 10 in his seven innings, and to put in perspective how great Kershaw has been at home, his second run allowed made Wednesday the first time in 358 days that Kershaw allowed at least two earned runs at Dodger Stadium.

This was the 52nd double-digit strikeout game in Kershaw’s career, seven against the Rockies. Seven strikeouts were swinging, three looking.

The Dodgers got offense in the form of a Scott Van Slyke home run, and two extra-base hits each from Kiké Hernandez and Chris Taylor, producing a 4-2 victory.

This was the 267th career start for Kershaw, and his 129th win.

The outing (W, 3-1): 7 IP, 5 hits, 2 runs, 1 walk, 10 strikeouts

Up next: Moving ahead to 2018