Clayton Kershaw day by day: A split with the Giants & Marlins

Two starts on the docket for April 25 for Clayton Kershaw, both in recent years, with a start in San Francisco in 2017 and home against the Marlins in 2018.

The first of these, from three years ago, was most notable for Cody Bellinger making his major league debut against the Giants, starting in left field. Kershaw pitched seven innings in this one, but it looked early make he might get pulled. From my game recap:

The third inning was especially frustrating for Kershaw, starting in the top of the frame. Kershaw grounded out but while running to first base almost immediate pulled up lame, appearing to favor his right leg. He winced walking back to the dugout but stayed in the game.

This stemmed from the first play of the game, when Kershaw was hit by a Hunter Pence comebacker before recovering to throw him out.

Kershaw allowed a run on three hits in the third inning alone, but after a Buster Posey RBI single, Kershaw retired 13 of his final 15 batters faced. That was enough for the Dodgers to hold on, 2-1.

One year later, Kershaw was uncharacteristically wild against Don Mattingly’s Marlins at Dodger Stadium. Kershaw walked six in this one, matching a career high, and threw a wild pitch. But from the second through fourth innings he stranded eight runners, keeping the game scoreless into the fifth. From my game recap:

Kershaw didn’t face a single batter with the bases loaded through his first five starts of the season, but on Wednesday the Marlins had plenty of opportunities. They were 0-for-5 with two strikeouts though with the bases juiced, which allowed Kershaw to keep the game scoreless into the fifth inning.

“I just wasn’t very good. A lot of guys on base,” Kershaw said. “I almost skated out of it. I probably should have given up more than that.”

It didn’t stay scoreless for long. Kershaw walked two more in the fifth inning, then old friend Miguel Rojas slammed a ball off the left field foul pole for a three-run home run. The game ended 8-6 in favor of Miami, with those three runs enough to hang Kershaw with the loss.

The outings

2017 (W, 4-1): 7 IP, 6 hits, 1 run, 1 walk, 7 strikeouts

2018 (L, 1-4): 5 IP, 5 hits, 3 runs, 6 walks, 7 strikeouts

Up next: Three starts on April 26