Dodgers seem to have promising hurler in this kid Clayton Kershaw

News flash: This Clayton Kershaw kid of the Dodgers just might have a future.

Kershaw appeared ready to start the season Wednesday night in Goodyear, Ariz., shutting out the Reds in his four innings of a 9-1 exhibition victory.

Kershaw allowed just one hit, two walks and struck out six. In just his second outing of the spring, he became the first Dodger to throw four innings.

In seven innings overall, the reigning National League Cy Young winner has not allowed a run.

Meanwhile, despite bringing only three projected starters – Juan Uribe, Mark Ellis and A.J. Ellis – to Goodyear, the Dodgers jumped all over Reds starter Homer Bailey. They scored their first six runs against the right-hander, with three in the first, one in the second and two in the third.

Tony Gwynn Jr. opened the game with a single and a Mark Ellis ground-rule double advanced him to third. After a one-out walk to Jerry Sands, a Bailey wild pitch allowed the first run to score. Trent Oeltjen then tripled in two more but was out at the plate going for an inside-the-park home run. No better time to go for it than spring training.

In the second, A.J. Ellis homered. The light-hitting Ellis, projected to be the Dodgers starting catcher, hit the first two home runs of his career last season.

In the third, a Mark Ellis walk preceded a two-run homer by Adam Kennedy and the Dodgers had a quick 6-0 lead.

The Dodgers’ reserves scored three more in the seventh off Kanekoa Texeira. A Matt Angle walk and steal of second and a Josh Fields single set up hot-hitting Alex Castellanos (one double, triple and two homers in 16 at-bats) for a run-scoring double. Oeltjen then walked before Luis Cruz hit a two-run single. It was an official spring rout.

The Reds scored their run off Jamey Wright in the fifth on a double by Paul Janish and single by Joey Votto.

For the Dodgers, Josh Lindblom, Josh Wall, Mike Antonini and Will Savage all threw a scoreless inning in relief.

The Dodgers are now 7-2-2 this spring, best record in the National League.

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Dodgers seem to have promising hurler in this kid Clayton Kershaw