Standing atop a blue tarp and surrounded by a green water hose, Kershaw envisioned his night ahead. His sweeping curve, his fastball and his slider were planned.

Exactly 3 hours, 20 minutes before first pitch, Clayton Kershaw first stepped onto the new mound at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark.

Kershaw threw 4 1/3 innings in the first of what is likely two rehab starts Thursday night as the Oklahoma City Dodgers opened their season against the San Antonio Missions.

“It was a good first step,” Kershaw said. “I got through everything I needed to, got up for that fifth inning, got some guys on base, worked out of the stretch and did multiple different things. It was a good day.”

Kershaw allowed two runs on four hits and two walks. He struck out six and threw 61 pitches, 41 of which were strikes. His fastball touched 90 mph. The two runs came in the second — a lead-off home run by Tyrone Taylor on an opening fastball and a run-scoring single by Jacob Nottingham later in the inning.

Now, Kershaw is likely to make another rehab start as he works to build up his pitch count. It has not been announced where, but his next turn in the rotation comes up with OKC on the road.