Post-Game 1 Thread: So This Is How It's Going to Be

Clayton Kershaw: 7.0 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 9 K.

DODGERS 2, GIANTS 1

I usually prefer slugfests to a pitching duels, but today's showdown between Kershaw and Tim Lincecum was eminently watchable. The Dodgers managed nothing but weak singles off Lincecum for the first five innings, but the real highlight was Kershaw's mastery. He just kept mowing Giants down, donating $900 to Arise Africa in the process.

Davey Lopes' impact on the team could be felt &mdash not on Juan Uribe's awkwardly unsuccessful attempt to stretch a single into a double in the second, but when Tony Gwynn Jr. took advantage of a Pat Burrell bobble to do it right in the third.

I think the sixth inning will give us a feel for how this year's offense is going to flow:

• Ethier K
• Kemp BB
• Tejada error, Loney to 1st, Kemp to 3rd
• Uribe HBP, bases loaded
• Posey Oyster Pubes throwing error, Kemp scores
• Barajas lines out to Sandoval
• Carroll IBB
• Kershaw grounds out

Speaking of Kemp, he went 1-for-1, with 3 walks (a career high, according to @dylanohernandez) and a stolen base. I like this version of the Bison. James Loney left five men on base BUT also drove in what turned out to be the game-winning RBI, driving in Kemp with a double in the eighth. Some will hate on Loney, but he sure shook off a rough start at the plate.

Oh, and speaking of rough starts? Will Jonathan Broxton ever throw another 1-2-3 inning in his career? Burrell touched him for a solo homer in the ninth, but Brox still managed to put away the side to get the save. As we say around here, we'll take it.

Credit also to Hong-Chih Kuo for a 22-pitch (ouch!) hold. And congratulations to Don Mattingly on his first victory as a manager!

photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images