SAN DIEGO - Clayton Kershaw was brilliant on opening day, holding San Diego to one hit in seven innings and striking out nine to lead rookie manager Dave Roberts and the Los Angeles Dodgers to a record-setting 15-0 victory against the Padres.

It was the most lopsided opening day shutout in major league history. The previous mark was a 14-0 win by the Pittsburgh Pirates over the Cincinnati Reds in 1911, according to STATS.

Kershaw (1-0) allowed Jon Jay's single to left field with two outs in the third and then retired his last 13 batters. The lefty improved to 4-0 in six opening day starts.

Adrian Gonzalez had three of Los Angeles' 17 hits and three RBIs, and A.J. Ellis also drove in three runs. Chase Utley had three hits and two RBIs.

Roberts, who played for both the Dodgers and Padres, and San Diego first-year manager Andy Green exchanged lineup cards at the plate before the game. It was the first opening day meeting of two rookie skippers since Fredi Gonzalez of Florida and Manny Acta of Washington in 2007.

Roberts was on San Diego's coaching staff the past five seasons, including the last two as bench coach, but couldn't get an interview for the team's managerial vacancy.

It was the worst opening day loss in the Padres' 48-year history. San Diego had only four hits.

Five straight Dodgers reached against Tyson Ross (0-1) with one out in the five-run sixth, with Kershaw's single to centre chasing the tall right-hander. Joc Pederson hit an RBI double and Ellis a two-run single.

The Dodgers hit Ross right away. Utley doubled past a diving Jay in left field on Ross' sixth pitch and scored when Corey Seager followed with a double to the gap. Gonzalez brought him in on a single to centre. Gonzalez also hit an RBI single in the third and drew a leadoff walk in the seventh and scored on Trayce Thompson's double to left.

Yasiel Puig tripled in the eighth and scored on second baseman Cory Spangenberg's throwing error.

Ross allowed eight runs, seven earned, and nine hits in 5 1-3 innings. He struck out five and walked one.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Dodgers: LHP Hyun-Jin Ryu, on the disabled list with a shoulder injury, will throw a batting practice session later this week, Roberts said. Second baseman Howie Kendrick, on the DL with a calf injury, will take batting practice this week.

UP NEXT

Dodgers: LHP Scott Kazmir is scheduled to make his first start for the Dodgers after going 7-11 with a 3.10 ERA with the Athletics and Astros last year.

Padres: RHP James Shields is scheduled to make his season debut. He was 13-7 with a 3.91 ERA last year.