Kuhl cools Kershaw: Play at plate crucial

"You gotta love the kid going in head-first with the ball and the glove, too," Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said. "I mean, that's backyard baseball at it's finest."

Kuhl kept his emotions in check through a close five innings, allowing three runs on four hits, while walking four and striking out five. After the putout at home, Kuhl had no reason not to celebrate, but he kept his focus and bounced back from mistakes throughout the game.

Kuhl earns win in MLB debut

LAD@PIT: Kuhl impressive, earns first career win

Chad Kuhl fans five and holds the Dodgers to three runs, while making a tremendous play at the plate, to earn his first career win

After two walks and a Howie Kendrick single loaded the bases in the first inning, Yasiel Puig grounded into a forceout off a 96 mph fastball, stranding three on base. Kuhl escaped the first inning and could breathe again.

"The first inning was a little shaky," Kuhl said. "I really tried to kind of ease my way into it, not be overexcited or anything like that. I did my best."

Kuhl works out of trouble

LAD@PIT: Kuhl escapes bases-loaded jam in the 1st

Chad Kuhl gets Yasiel Puig to ground out with the bases loaded, working out of trouble without surrendering a run in the 1st inning

He gave up a two-run homer to Turner in the third inning and a double to Turner in the fifth. The double put Turner on base and set up the putout at home later in the inning.

"There was probably a lot going on inside," Hurdle said. "And I thought he channeled his emotions well. The home run stung him a little bit. But it's like, it's the big leagues. That guy's hit a couple before. You're alright. Keep moving around. They score runs up here."

Not only did Kuhl earn the win against the National League Cy Young winner and 2014 NL MVP, he also battled him at the plate, taking full advantage of the matchup.

In the second inning, Kuhl struck out on the eighth pitch of his at-bat, and a tired Kershaw then allowed Adam Frazier an RBI single and David Freese a three-run double, putting Pittsburgh up, 4-0.

Kuhl battles Kershaw in first AB

LAD@PIT: Kuhl battles Kershaw in first career at-bat

Chad Kuhl steps in against Clayton Kershaw in his first career at-bat and battles him for eight pitches before striking out

"You go up against him, and that's something you can dream about," Kuhl said. "My first debut was against Kershaw."

You can't ask for much more than that.

Sarah K. Spencer is a reporter for MLB.com based in Pittsburgh. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

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Kuhl cools Kershaw: Play at plate crucial