San Francisco Giants: Defending Champs Shut Down by Clayton Kershaw, Dodgers

San Francisco Giants Fall 2-1 To Arch Rivals in Opener

Let the championship hangover griping begin!

Well, I guess that might be a little premature. But still, the Giants didn't look so hot in their season opener on Thursday night, dropping a game on the road to the Los Angeles Dodgers by the final of 2-1.

Of course, Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw had a lot to do with that. It was obvious as soon as he finished striking out the side in the first inning that he had his best stuff, and he proceeded to baffle the Giants for seven innings. He ended up allowing just four hits and a walk while striking out nine, and he did it using just 96 pitches.

Two-time Cy Young winner Tim Lincecum was on the mound for the defending champs, and he also looked pretty strong. Lincecum went seven, allowing five hits and an unearned run. He walked three and struck out five while throwing 105 pitches.

That one unearned run scored in the sixth inning when Matt Kemp crossed the plate following a throwing error by Buster Posey. It was one of three errors on the night for the Giants, which obviously is not very good.

The Dodgers got their other run in the bottom of the eighth when Kemp scored on an RBI double by James Loney, and it turned out to be a pretty big run. New manager Don Mattingly summoned Jonathan Broxton to close it out in the ninth, and he promptly gave up a home run to Pat Burrell to cut the lead to 2-1.

Nevertheless, Broxton eventually won a lengthy battle with Giants rookie first baseman Brandon Belt, retiring him on a lineout to former Giant Juan Uribe at third base.

Speaking of Belt, he did record his first major league hit on an infield single in the second inning, so I guess there's that for Giants fans.

All in all, it was something of a sloppy game for the Giants. But aside from the defense, there really wasn't all that much to get alarmed about. They got beat by a pitcher who looks like he could emerge as a Cy Young candidate, and there's no shame in that.

For more baseball coverage, check out our list of 8 Teams Whose Hot/Cold Starts Will Be Mirages.