LOS ANGELES — He jogged briefly then strolled to the mound. It seemed like any other afternoon that could be found among his 17 years of baseball.
This one, though, was slightly different for Clayton Kershaw, the Dodgers’ future Hall of Fame pitcher. Never had the right-hander missed the first 103 games of a season, had surgery on his shoulder, been the subject of a social media hashtag (#KershawDay) or worn cleats designed by his children.
So, it was understandable if his emotions in taking the mound for the first time this season ran higher than normal before Thursday’s afternoon game at Dodger Stadium.
“From the first time of having shoulder surgery to getting back out there at Dodger Stadium is something I’ve thought about for a long time,” said Kershaw, who had surgery on Nov. 3 to repair ligaments in his shoulder capsule and started a minor league rehab stint in June. “It meant a lot.”
The 36-year-old left-hander worked four innings in a 6-4 victory over the San Francisco Giants that was capped by back-to-back home runs from Nick Ahmed and Shohei Otani in the eighth inning.
Kershaw allowed two runs (both earned) on six hits with six strikeouts and two walks in an uneven outing. The three-time National League Cy Young Award winner received a rousing ovation from the less-than-full afternoon crowd to begin his day then exited the series finale with the Dodgers leading 3-2.
His wife Ellen and children were on hand in the crowd of 52,291.
“They were so excited,” Kershaw said. “There’s a lot of people in here that spent a lot of time with me to help me get back. People back home as well to help. It was really cool that a lot of people cared so much to help me.”
Manager Dave Roberts had hoped to get Kershaw through five innings but said before the game that he would be content with four or even three innings if he came out of it healthy enough to make his next scheduled outing. Kershaw threw 72 pitches (47 strikes), induced 14 swings and misses (eight on sliders), averaged 90.6 mph with 24 fastballs, threw 32 sliders, 10 curveballs and six changeups.
It was Kershaw’s first major league appearance since last October’s NL Division Series opener against Arizona, when he was chased after one out and allowed six runs.
“It looked right to have him back out there,” Roberts said. “Hearing his (walkout) song come on, watching him sweat, compete, punch guys out – I thought it was great.
“I thought we pushed him enough to get him ready for the next (start) next week and now we have a nice foundation to build on. It’s been such a long road for him back. I’m just happy for him and his family and for the fans to see one of the greats.”
Kershaw retired the first two batters of the game, then allowed a double to Heliot Ramos and walked Matt Chapman. He struck out Patrick Bailey to end a scoreless inning then allowed a single to Mike Yastrzemski in a scoreless second.
Kershaw ran into trouble in the third, allowing four consecutive hits, including a run-scoring triple by Tyler Fitzgerald that caromed off the left field wall, eventually tracked down by Teoscar Hernandez. Heliot Ramos knocked in the go-ahead run with an infield single before Kershaw regained his command and struck out Patrick Bailey, David Villar and Thairo Estrada to end the inning. Kershaw used a 73-mph curveball and an 88-mph slider to get the final two outs of the frame.
After throwing another scoreless inning – a pair of pop-ups sandwiched around a walk before he struck out Yastrzemski – Kershaw was done for the day with the Dodgers trailing by one run.
Kershaw said he was excited for his kids to watch him pitch, but he was less excited about his performance, calling it “OK.”
“There’s some stuff I can get better at but I felt overall my breaking ball was good,” he said. “The fastball is still something to be desired, but overall, first time back out, I will take it.”
The Dodgers regained the lead in the bottom of the fourth.
Kiké Hernandez (3 for 4) tied the score at 2-2 with a sharp line drive double to right, scoring Gavin Lux (2 for 3), who opened the inning with a double.
After Jason Heyward struck out, Austin Barnes’ grounder to left was deflected off Matt Chapman’s glove, enabling Hernandez to score from second for a 3-2 lead. Barnes is riding a team-best 11-game hitting streak.
The Dodgers added another run for a 4-2 lead in the fifth but it didn’t hold up.
Blake Treinen (5-2) allowed Jorge Soler’s two-out RBI single that tied the score in a two-run eighth, then struck out Fitzgerald.
Ahmed homered on a 2-and-2 sinker from Tyler Rogers in the bottom of the inning. Ahmed was released by the Giants on July 10 and signed with the Dodgers on Wednesday.
“Right before the Giants left me go, I felt I was in a good spot back from injury,” Ahmed said. “Made some adjustments right away the day before I let go and carried that into the two weeks I was down. Feel the swing is in a good spot. I always kind of hit a midseason stride I feel like and summer is usually my best months.”
Ohtani drove an inside slider to right for his NL-leading 31st home run, then Brent Honeywell earned his first major league save, completing a 6-1 homestand and putting a positive finish on “Kershaw Day.”
“Over the last few years, he has realized that he is more vulnerable and there’s an appreciation of every moment,” Roberts said of Kershaw.
This was one of those moments.
“To be doing what you’re meant to be doing is a good thing,” Kershaw said.
Ahmed and Ohtani both homer! Dodgers lead by 2! pic.twitter.com/dvO81knsbW
— SportsNet LA (@SportsNetLA) July 25, 2024
Clayton Kershaw talks about returning to the mound and how important it was to him. pic.twitter.com/R1aTc3s0JU
— SportsNet LA (@SportsNetLA) July 25, 2024
— SportsNet LA (@SportsNetLA) July 25, 2024
We’ve missed this.
pic.twitter.com/uWkzc2uaxZ
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) July 25, 2024
Dave Roberts discusses what he saw from Clayton Kershaw and the Dodgers 6-1 record since the break. pic.twitter.com/AQ4rYqgdZ0
— SportsNet LA (@SportsNetLA) July 25, 2024
Austin Barnes discusses Clayton Kershaw’s performance and his success at the plate. pic.twitter.com/6xZ9987k5w
— SportsNet LA (@SportsNetLA) July 25, 2024
Nick Ahmed speaks on his performance today and what has been working well for him. pic.twitter.com/eZFdKsuzMX
— SportsNet LA (@SportsNetLA) July 25, 2024
Austin Barnes brings in Kiké Hernández and the Dodgers lead 3-2! pic.twitter.com/aiU9ZBb9Ne
— SportsNet LA (@SportsNetLA) July 25, 2024