Clayton Kershaw’s opening-day homer is a real rarity

It had been awhile

Clayton Kershaw’s go-ahead eighth-inning home run was the first home run in his five-year career.

It was also . . .

The first home run hit by a pitcher on opening day since Joe Magrane’s in 1988.

The first home run by a Dodgers pitcher on opening day since Don Drysdale’s in 1965.

It was also . . .

The sixth shutout of Kershaw’s career.

The first opening-day shutout by a Dodger since Hideo Nomo’s in 2003.

And . . .

Kershaw is the first pitcher to throw a shutout and hit a home run on opening day since Bob Lemon did it for the Cleveland Indians in 1953.