SAN DIEGO (AP) — Clayton Kershaw was brilliant on opening day, holding San Diego to one hit in seven innings and striking out nine to lead rookie manager Dave Roberts and the Los Angeles Dodgers to a record-setting 15-0 victory against the Padres on Monday.
It was the most lopsided opening day shutout in major league history. The previous mark was a 14-0 win by the Pittsburgh Pirates over the Cincinnati Reds in 1911, according to STATS.
Kershaw (1-0) allowed Jon Jay’s single with two outs in the third and then retired his last 13 batters. The lefty improved to 4-0 in six opening day starts.
Adrian Gonzalez had three of Los Angeles’ 17 hits and three RBIs, and A.J. Ellis also drove in three runs. Chase Utley had three hits and two RBIs.
It was the worst opening day loss in the Padres’ 48-year history. San Diego had only four hits.
Giants 12, Brewers 3
MILWAUKEE — Denard Span homered and drove in five runs in his San Francisco debut, and the Giants beat Milwaukee in their opener despite a sluggish start from under-the-weather ace Madison Bumgarner.
Span hit a three-run shot in the eighth inning and Joe Panik and Buster Posey followed with home runs off Ariel Pena.
It marked the first time the Giants had connected for three straight homers on opening day. It was the first time any team had done it in an opener since the Padres in 1997, the Giants said in citing the Elias Sports Bureau.
Matt Duffy helped out with a home run and four RBIs. Brandon Belt doubled twice and singled for San Francisco.
The Giants scored quickly against Wily Peralta (0-1) and bailed out the ailing Bumgarner (1-0), who left after the fifth with a four-run lead. The 2014 World Series MVP allowed five hits, five walks and three runs.
Orioles 3, Twins 2
BALTIMORE (AP) — Matt Wieters singled home the winning run with two outs in the ninth inning, and Baltimore withstood two long rain delays in a season-opening victory over Minnesota.
With the score tied at 2, Chris Davis drew a two-out walk from Kevin Jepsen (0-1). After newcomer Mark Trumbo followed with his fourth single, Wieters lined a single up the middle.
Minnesota hasn’t won on opening day since 2008.
Reds 6, Phillies 2
CINCINNATI (AP) — Zack Cozart had three hits and drove in the tying run with a sacrifice fly in the eighth inning, and Joey Votto followed with a bases-loaded single that sent Cincinnati over Philadelphia in an opener matching the majors’ two worst teams from last season.