Clayton Kershaw day by day: Zeroes against the Pirates, plus Matt Kemp’s return

We have another two-start date on our hands with the Clayton Kershaw daily, our look back at every appearance in his career one day at a time. His two April 6 starts came in 2013 and 2015.

In 2013, Kershaw was back on the mound on four days rest after his shutout (and home run) on opening day. This was another home game, a Saturday night contest against the Pirates, and it was more of the same from Kershaw.

After a leadoff single by Starling Marte in the first inning, Kershaw retired his next 17 batters, a string ended by another Marte single in the sixth. Those were the only two hits allowed by Kershaw in his seven innings, during which he struck out nine and walked one. He had a season ERA of 0.00 in 16 innings after this start.

From my game recap:

Dating back to 2012 Kershaw has pitched 20 consecutive scoreless frames, two innings shy of the longest streak of his career, set last May 8-19. But it gets better than that for Kershaw, who has allowed one run in his last 34 innings. He has given up zero or one run in each of his last seven starts, with four runs (three earned runs) in 51 innings during that span.

The Dodgers won this game, 1-0.

Two years later, Kershaw’s April 6 start was of the opening day variety, this time against the Padres at Dodger Stadium.

This was Matt Kemp’s first game with the Padres, returning to Dodger Stadium after the December trade that brought Yasmani Grandal to the Dodgers. Amid the salutes for his work with the Dodgers, Kemp made his mark on this game as well, singling home a run in the first inning, then doubling home two more in the fifth inning.

Kemp’s double was the fourth hit off Kershaw, tying a career high allowed. Kershaw left with the game tied. From my game recap:

Kershaw was done after 99 pitches in his six innings, allowing three runs on six hits and two walks while striking out nine. Kershaw allowed three or more runs just 10 times in his 29 starts in 2014, including the playoffs.

The Dodgers prevailed in this game late, thanks to a three-run home run in the eighth inning by Jimmy Rollins in his Dodgers debut.

The outings

2013 (W, 2-0): 7 IP, 2 hits, 1 walk, 9 strikeouts

2015: 6 IP, 6 hits, 3 runs, 2 walks, 9 strikeouts

Up next: The last time a healthy Kershaw didn’t start on opening day