Clayton Kershaw Home Run Shutout Performance Lifts Dodgers Over Giants (VIDEO)

LOS ANGELES — Hall of Famer Sandy Koufax threw out the ceremonial first pitch. Then another Dodgers left-hander with a great curveball dominated. Clayton Kershaw launched his first career home run to break a scoreless tie in the eighth inning before finishing off a four-hitter Monday that led Los Angeles over the defending champion San Francisco Giants 4-0 on opening day. "He gave us seven chances to take care of it, and finally he said, `That's enough. I'm going to take care of it,'" catcher A.J. Ellis said.Kershaw became the first pitcher in the majors to homer on opening day since Joe Magrane of St. Louis in 1988, and the first Dodgers pitcher to do it since Don Drysdale in 1965.I never knew what that felt like,” Kershaw said.Dodgers Hall of Famer Sandy Koufax, wearing his vintage No. 32 jersey, threw out the ceremonial first ball. In 1964, Koufax pitched the first opening-day shutout at Dodger Stadium.The Dodgers and Giants have been discussing a long-term contract extension in recent weeks, and it's easy to understand why. The 2011 NL Cy Young Award winner is pretty clearly the best left-handed pitcher in baseball at this point, and at his age he should still have many more years of elite production ahead of him. Justin Verlander just signed a record $180 million contract, but Kershaw figures to push $200 million. What a monster.