Clayton Kershaw day by day: An opening day blowout

Today’s look back at Clayton Kershaw games remembers a blowout win by the Dodgers, 15-0 to open the 2016 season against the Padres in San Diego. It was Kershaw’s sixth opening day start, and his only start so far on April 4.

The 15 runs scored by the Dodgers were their fourth-most in a Kershaw start, set a major league record for the biggest shutout win in opening day history, and tied the National League mark for largest opening day margin of victory.

Kershaw allowed only a walk and a single early on, and retired his final 13 batters faced in his seven scoreless innings, striking out nine. He was pulled for a pinch hitter in the top of the eighth, after 96 pitches, and after the Dodgers scored all 15 of their runs.

From my game recap:

“It was vintage opening day Clayton. Hew as focused and ready to go. He comes to spring training ready for opening day, it seems like,” catcher A.J. Ellis said. “He had a good idea of what he wanted to do, knowing a lot of these guys already. He had a great game plan going in, and it was just about execution.”

This was the 11th of Kershaw’s 16 career starts at Petco Park, of which he allowed two or fewer runs 14 times. Kershaw has a 1.68 ERA in San Diego, and has a scoreless start at Petco Park in each of the last four seasons.

At the plate, Kershaw was 1-for-4 and scored a run. All nine Dodgers starters scored in this blowout. This 2016 game was chronicled by SB Nation last year for its lopsidedness.

The outing (W, 1-0): 7 IP, 1 hit, 1 walk, 9 strikeouts

Up next: Another two-start day, April 5