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Kershaw outduels Lincecum as Dodgers hold off reigning champs

Apr 1, 2011 - 5:52 AM Los Angeles, CA (Sports Network) - Clayton Kershaw outdueled Tim Lincecum and the Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the reigning World Series champion San Francisco Giants, 2-1, in Don Mattingly's managerial debut.

Kershaw (1-0), the youngest Opening Day starter for the Dodgers since 1983, struck out nine and scattered four hits and a walk in seven scoreless innings, while Jonathan Broxton survived Pat Burrell's solo homer in the ninth to secure the save.

Lincecum (0-1) worked around several jams in his seven frames, but gave up an unearned run when Buster Posey's throwing error scored Matt Kemp in the sixth. The two-time Cy Young Award winner allowed five hits and three walks while fanning five.

The crowd at Dodger Stadium was treated to 85-degree weather and a pitching duel between young aces that did not disappoint.

Kershaw only allowed one runner to reach second base, getting out of a two-on, one-out situation in the fifth by retiring Lincecum and Andres Torres on ground balls.

"Every time he goes out there, you expect to win," Mattingly said of his 23- year-old lefty. "He keeps getting better, keeps working ... He's going to be tough."

Lincecum faced more adversity, but wiggled out of it until the Giants' defense betrayed him in the sixth. Miguel Tejada threw away a potential inning-ending double-play ball off the bat of James Loney, leaving runners on the corners with one out.

Juan Uribe, who was part of San Francisco's surprising run through the 2010 postseason, was then hit by a pitch to load the bases. With Rod Barajas at the plate, Posey blocked a ball in the dirt and tried to catch a sleeping Kemp off third. However, the ball got away from Pablo Sandoval, and Kemp scored the game's first run.

"We kicked the ball around a little bit," Giants outfielder Aubrey Huff said. "In a game like that you can't make errors."

Lincecum got out of the inning and gave way to Santiago Casilla in the eighth. The Dodgers got a much-needed insurance run off the reliever, as Kemp walked, stole second and scored on Loney's double off the base of the wall in right- center.

Broxton, coming off a difficult season last year with seven blown saves, served up a long ball to Burrell with one out in the ninth to make things interesting. But the flame-thrower shut down Tejada and rookie Brandon Belt to give Mattingly and the hosts the season-opening victory.

Game Notes

The Giants went 10-8 against the Dodgers last year en route to a National League West title with a 92-70 record. They then got through the Braves and Phillies in the playoffs before knocking off the Texas Rangers in the World Series in five games, sealing their first title since 1954...Lincecum was on the mound to start Game 5 of the Fall Classic...Mattingly took over for legendary manager Joe Torre, who piloted the Dodgers to an 80-82 record last year...The Dodgers have had five different pitchers toe the rubber on Opening Day in as many years...At 23, Kershaw was the Dodgers' youngest Opening Day starter since Fernando Valenzuela, who was 22 when he opened the 1983 season..Loney's double in the eighth was LA's only hit in 11 chances with runners in scoring position...Hong-Chih Kuo tossed a scoreless eighth for LA.