LA Dodgers dominate San Diego Padres in Opening Day shutout

SAN DIEGO >> Prior to his first game as the Dodgers’ manager, Dave Roberts reserved 13 tickets for friends and family to attend Opening Day at Petco Park. Roberts grew up in north San Diego County, so a gambling man might have taken the over on Roberts’ traveling contingent.

Thirteen is a lucky number in some circles, but other than avoiding the white chalk foul lines whenever he steps on the field, Roberts insisted Monday that he is not a superstitious man.

Whatever he did, whatever he said, it worked. The Dodgers beat the Padres 15-0 in their first game of the season ‑ the largest margin of victory in an Opening Day shutout by any team since at least 1913, and the most runs the Dodgers have scored on Opening Day since 1983, when they beat the Houston Astros 16-7.

Clayton Kershaw provided the pitching. He allowed only one hit, a harmless single by Jon Jay that faded into the afteoon sunshine, and walked one batter in seven iings. He struck out nine.

Kershaw also provided a touch of offense. Actually, everyone did: All nine Dodger starters collected at least one hit and scored one run. Adrian Gonzalez and Chase Utley each contributed three hits to the Dodgers’ total of 17; Gonzalez drove in three runs and Utley drove in two.

Joc Pederson and Justin Tuer each had two doubles in the victory. Yasiel Puig added salt to an open wound when he tripled into the right-center field gap then scored from third base on an errant throw by Corey Spangenberg.

The Padres committed two errors.

Louis Coleman and Yimi Garcia preserved the shutout by pitching a scoreless eighth and ninth iing, respectively.