Clayton Kershaw day by day: A pair of no-decisions

Clayton Kershaw made two career starts on May 3, a pair of no-decisions against the Giants and Padres. Up first was May 3, 2013 in San Francisco, the start of a weekend series against at AT&T Park.

Kershaw took a no-hitter into the sixth inning, but his first hit allowed was a triple by Marco Scutaro, cashed in one out later by Buster Posey single. Posey would win this game in the ninth with a solo home run, but that was off Ronald Belisario.

The paucity of Dodgers runs in the 2-1 loss weren’t due to a lack of chances. From my game recap:

In seven of the first eight innings, the Dodgers put the leadoff runner on base.

In seven of the first eight innings, the Dodgers had at least two runners on base.

They put someone on base via hit or walk at least once in all nine innings, 18 in all. But the Dodgers scored just one run, and that came thanks in large part to Clayton Kershaw himself. In the fifth inning Kershaw doubled, his second extra-base hit against the Giants this season. After he was sacrificed to third, Kershaw scored on a single by Nick Punto through a drawn-in infield for a 1-0 lead.

But the Dodgers’ biggest loss this game was Hanley Ramirez, who left in the sixth inning with a hamstring injury, in just his fourth game back after missing the first four weeks of the season with a torn thumb ligament. With this hamstring injury, Ramirez would miss 28 games.

Kershaw’s next May 3 start was just last year against the Padres in San Diego. He would last six innings, though he fell behind early thanks to an old friend. From Blake Harris’ game recap:

The Padres got on the board first thanks to a familiar face. Facing his former team for the first time since signing with San Diego, Manny Machado took Clayton Kershaw deep for a two-run home run. Kershaw jumped ahead 0-2 in the count, but Machado quickly worked it to a full count. He hit a no-doubter to the upper-pavilion to give the Padres a 2-0 lead.

Kershaw struck out six in his six innings, but left trailing 3-2. But Kershaw was off the hook for a loss thanks to Austin Barnes leading off the seventh with the tying home run. Barnes then doubled in the ninth and scored the winning run on a Max Muncy single.

In his two May 3 starts, Kershaw combined for a 2.77 ERA with 11 strikeouts in 13 innings.

The outings

2013: 7 IP, 3 hits, 1 run, 3 walks, 5 strikeouts

2019: 6 IP, 6 hits, 3 runs, 1 walk, 6 strikeouts

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