Clayton Kershaw hits home run and pitches shutout in Opening Day win (Video)

Clayton Kershaw had an Opening Day to remember. The two-time All-Star and 2011 Cy Young Award winner homered and pitched a complete game shutout in the Los Angeles Dodgers’ 4-0 win over the defending World Series champion San Francisco Giants on Monday at Dodger Stadium.

Kershaw broke a scoreless game in the eighth with a solo home run to center field off reliever George Kontos. The homer was thrilling because there was no sign of offense, and then out of nowhere, Kershaw, leading off the inning, hammered the first pitch out to center for his first career home run. After Kershaw led off the inning with the dinger, the Dodgers scored three more runs to go up 4-0.

On the pitching side, Kershaw allowed just four hits, no walks, and struck out seven over the nine scoreless innings for the win. He became the first pitcher since Cleveland’s Bob Lemon in 1953 to hit a home run and pitch a shutout on Opening Day.

It was like a Little League game for Kershaw — hitting a home run and throwing a shutout. Only he did it against the defending World Series champs.