Hiroki Kuroda AP PHOTO

Hiroki Kuroda acknowledged he was a little nervous before his big league debut.

It sure didn't show.

Kuroda was brilliant in his first start in the United States, holding San Diego to three hits in seven innings and leading the Los Angeles Dodgers to a 7-1 win April 4.

Kuroda frustrated the Padres with a mix of fastballs and sliders, plus an occasional splitter. The former Hiroshima Carp right-hander allowed Brian Giles' first homer of the season, but otherwise limited the Padres to two singles while striking out four and walking none.