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

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

Photo: Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw works during the second inning against the Rockies on Sunday. Credit: Mark J. Terrill / Associated Press

Comments

[smallstuff]

wow, he's another Sandy Spooner, or is it Karl Koufax???

[murph]

Great game from Kershaw...we needed that.
Now...isn't it time that Rick Honeycutt feels the heat?
If it was just one pitcher or two having a rough start
he gets the pass. It's been pretty bad top to bottom with
a few bright spots along the way. This guy makes a visit to the mound...bet your life the next pitch will be laced.
I'm not saying he has to go...but...being held accountable...yep. We can't fire the entire pitching staff.
Why no scrutiny?
Let me throw out two words...Dave Wallace.

[Rick]

A few days ago I tried to comment and the blog wouldn't accept it. Was this a technical error you were aware of or something on my side?

[Steve Dilbeck]

Rick: Sorry to hear about your problem, but this is the first Ive heard about anything like this, so guessing it was on your end. Worked today.

[John]

Honeycutt isn't the one throwing the ball from the mound. The entire pitching staff with the exception of Kuroda has been sub-par. Billingsley and Kershaw need to start delivering on a more consistent basis or this season is over.

[phillydodger]

Stan - any idea or rumors regarding Kemp's dismal stolen base stats? He doesn't look any heavier than last year or seem to be running any slower but his success is rate is terrible. I believe Maury Wills taught Davey Lopes and Lopes has since taught the Phillies very well (they are usually first or second in stolen base percentage) since he joined their coaching staff.

What gives? Kemp or the coaching or both?

[Steve Dilbeck]

Phillydodger: Speaking for Stan, there is no logical explanation for his struggles on the bases. Personally, I just think hes making some less than wise choices. Seems a tad eager. Then Sunday, he had the base stolen, overran it and was tagged out. After a sensational first two weeks, hes struggling in all aspects of his game right now.

[BlueinAZ]

I'm not sure that you can lay the problems of this pitching staff at Rick Honeycutt's feet. Now, ordinarily, I'd be right there saying that by this point in the season, it's time for a veteran pitching coach to assume his share of the responsibility for the way his charges are (or are not) performing. But I'm sorry. In the case of the 2010 Dodger pitching staff, such as it is or may be, I just don't see how Honey can be held accountable for any of it, and I give him a free pass all season. This lays at McCourt's and Colletti's collective feet. The 5 starter is anybody's guess and may be all season. Poor Charlie Haeger was in over his head from the beginning, but was still a better idea than the Flying Ortiz Brothers. I just don't think it's useful to call the poor guy names. As for the 4, the guy whom Torre generously refers to as our "Opening Day starter", we were never going to get 200 innings out of him. And if we only had the money for one mid-level free agent pitcher, it might have been wise to spend it on a guy who was more likely to stay healthy and keep taking the ball. This might have been Jon Garland, he of the 1.71 ERA and the healthy arm (which also would have provided some long-term value, so to speak, in exchange for Tony Abreu, who just keeps hitting baseballs in Arizona (but I shouldn't stir that up again)). At 3, Kuroda appears quite stable. At 2 and 1, though, you're asking your pitching coach to take the responsibility for the performance of one kid who seems to be, by all accounts, a very nice kid, but let's just say, isn't Don Drysdale (mentally) on the hill, no matter how nice he is. And the other kid is even younger and we all expect him to explode into the second coming of Sandy Koufax any minute now -- right down to the left arm and the K in his name. But no pressure, though. And then there's the bullpen...

And we're trying to throw all this on Honeycutt? I say the Dodgers should give Honeycutt a raise for being willing to put up with all this without complaining. But what do I know?