Clayton Kershaw reminds Dodgers what a terrific start looks like in 2-0 victory over Rockies

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And that’s what a great starting pitching performance looks like.

Dominating. Frustrating and heartbreaking to an opponent. Completely uplifting to your own team.

Clayton Kershaw, who had been about as bad as he’d ever been in his last start, was about as good as he’s ever been this afternoon in the Dodgers’ 2-0 victory over the Colorado Rockies.

This had not been a great start to 2010 for Kershaw, who entered the afternoon game with a 1-2 record and 4.99 earned-run average in his first six starts.

For a pitcher of so much talent, of so much promise, it had to be frustrating. Particularly given the Dodgers’ poor start this season and their inability to count on their rotation.

Then he got off to a puzzling first inning Sunday, loading the bases on a pair of walks and a bunt single. In that inning alone, he threw 30 pitches.

Nothing to indicate what was to come.

Kershaw would allow only two other baserunners his next seven innings, one an infield single and the other a walk. He struck out nine. It was like the pitcher from the first inning never existed.

Matched against Colorado’s sensational Ubaldo Jimenez, it made for a classic pitching duel. Jimenez threw the franchise’s first no-hitter earlier this season and entered the game 6-0.

That’s not something you would expect the Dodgers to come out on top of this season, but Kershaw was completely dominant.

At age 22, he showed again why many consider him a pitching superstar in the waiting.

He is still young and prone to being erratic -- he gave up seven runs in only 1 1/3 innings of his last start -- but his ability is unquestioned.

And for a team ending a homestand at 6-4 and trying hard to believe in its rotation, so was his timing.

-- Steve Dilbeck