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Dodgers try to send Giants to another loss at Chavez Ravine

Apr 1, 2011 - 2:45 PM (Sports Network) - Chad Billingsley will try to duplicate Clayton Kershaw's brilliant Opening Day performance when the Los Angeles Dodgers continue their season-opening four-game series against the defending world champion San Francisco Giants this evening at Dodger Stadium.

Kershaw outdueled Tim Lincecum on Thursday as Los Angeles eked out a 2-1 win in Don Mattingly's managerial debut.

With the victory, Mattingly became the first rookie manager to beat a World Series champion on Opening Day since Lou Piniella did it with the New York Yankees on April 8, 1986. Mattingly, of course, was Piniella's first baseman that day.

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.

"It was fun tonight," said Kershaw afterward. "I had a blast. It was a good way to start the season -- a great atmosphere, a sellout, Opening Day, a fun time to compete. {The Giants] are the team to beat, I guess. But a win is a win, as far as I'm concerned."

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.

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."

The Dodgers have a terrific chance to start 2-0, as Billingsley is 4-1 with a 1.30 ERA and two complete games over his last six home games against San Francisco.

Billingsley, who recently inked a three-year, $36 million extension, has recorded a winning record in each of his five major-league seasons. In 2010, the right-hander finished 12-11 with a 3.57 earned-run average. He also racked up a streak of 24 2/3 scoreless innings from July 21-August 5 and did not give up a home run over a 92-inning stretch from May 31-August 28.

As good as Billingsley has been against the Giants, San Francisco starter Jonathan Sanchez had been just as bad against the Dodgers before beating them twice last September. He had been 0-5 with a 6.04 ERA against them before that turnaround.

Sanchez enters the year on the heels of his best year in the majors, as he posted career highs in wins (13), ERA (3.07), strikeouts (205) and innings (193 1/3).

The Giants were 10-8 against the Dodgers last season.