Clayton Kershaw day by day: A dominant May 20

Clayton Kershaw has excelled in his two May 20 starts, allowing two total runs on this day in 2010 and 2013.

The first of these games was a Thursday in 2010 at Petco Park in San Diego, against Kevin Correia and the Padres.

San Diego scratched cross a run in the third inning against Kershaw in a perfect time capsule of 2020, with a double by Everth Cabrera and a single by Will Venable. The Padres continually threatened after this, even putting multiple runners on base in two different later innings. But Kershaw was able to escape those jams, and got out of another potential trouble spot in the sixth by picking off Chris Denorfia.

Limiting the damage allowed Kershaw to pitch into the eighth inning. He putting even more distance from that #howcanbradpennybebetterthanboth drubbing. From my game recap:

Kershaw was brilliant for his third straight start, allowing just one run while pitching into the eighth inning. Since the worst start of his young career, on May 4, Kershaw has won three straight starts, allowing just two runs in 22 1/3 innings. Kershaw, who threw 106 pitches tonight, left no doubt as to who should start the opening game of the road trip at Wrigley Field next Tuesday.

In 2013, Kershaw toed the rubber again on May 20, the Monday night start of a series against the Brewers in Milwaukee.

Andre Ethier tripled home an early run for the Dodgers, though the Brewers scratched across the tying run in the third inning with a walk, single, sacrifice bunt, and ground out against Kershaw. Ethier almost immediately gave the Dodgers the lead again with a solo home run, and LA never trailed again.

Thanks to Kershaw needing only 107 pitched to pitched his second complete game of the season, and ninth of his career. The only one of Kershaw’s final 11 batters faced to reach base did so by error.

Kershaw’s numbers were getting ridiculous that year, which I noted in my game recap:

We are watching something special in Kershaw, the best pitcher in baseball at the peak of his powers. Sometimes its fun just to peak at some of his stats, and how mind-blowing some of them are.

Kershaw led the majors in ERA in 2011 and 2012. His ERA in 2013 is 1.35, and again leads the major leagues.

Kershaw has allowed 11 earned runs in 10 starts in 2013.

Kershaw has allowed four total runs, three earned, in his last five starts.

Kershaw’s ERA over his last 58 starts is 1.97.

That’s two runs in two starts on May 20 for Kershaw, a 1.10 ERA and 12 strikeouts.

The outings

2010 (W, 4-2): 7⅓ IP, 7 hits, 1 run, 2 walks, 7 strikeouts

2013 (W, 5-2): 9 IP, 3 hits, 1 run, 1 walk, 5 strikeouts

Up next: A two-start split for May 21