Kershaw returns from shoulder surgery, Ohtani hits 31st homer, Dodgers beat Giants 6-4
Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw (22) winds up during the third inning of a baseball game against the San Francisco Giants in Los Angeles, Calif., Thursday, July 25, 2024. Credit: AP/Eric Thayer
LOS ANGELES — Clayton Kershaw allowed two runs over four innings in his return from shoulder surgery, Nick Ahmed and Shohei Ohtani homered on consecutive pitches in the eighth inning and the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the San Francisco Giants 6-4 Thursday.
Kershaw made his first big league appearance since last October's NL Division Series opener against Arizona, when the three-time Cy Young Award winner was chased after one out and allowed six runs. Kershaw had surgery on Nov. 3 to repair ligaments in his shoulder capsule and started a minor league rehab stint in June.
Against the Giants, the 36-year-old left-hander gave up six hits, struck out six and walked two, getting 14 swings and misses, including eight on sliders, while throwing 47 of 72 pitches for strikes. He averaged 90.6 mph with 24 fastballs, threw 32 sliders, 10 curveballs and six changeups.
Tyler Fitzgerald hit a run-scoring triple in the third on an up slider and scored on the next pitch when Heliot Ramos singled on a fastball, part of a string of four consecutive hits.
Kershaw agreed in February to a contract guaranteeing $10 million, a deal that allows him to earn up to $12.5 million this year and $25 million in 2025, In addition to his $5 million salary this year, he would get $1 million for making six starts or relief appearances of three or more innings, $1.5 million each for seven, eight and nine, and $2 million for 10.
Ohtani hit his 31st home run of the season, his second since the All-Star break, and also doubled. He is batting .312 with a 1.034 OPS.
Los Angeles outhit San Francisco 14-11 and took three of four from the Giants. The NL West-leading Dodgers (62-42) are 6-1 following a 3-8 slide.
Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw (22) throws a pitch during the third inning of a baseball game against the San Francisco Giants in Los Angeles, Calif., Thursday, July 25, 2024. Credit: AP/Eric Thayer
Kiké Hernández had three hits and drove in a pair of runs.
Ahmed homered on a 2-2 sinker from Tyler Rogers (1-4) to break a 4-4 tie in the eighth. Ahmed was released by the Giant on July 10 and signed with the Dodgers on Wednesday, going 1 for 3 that night in his Los Angeles debut.
Ohtani drove an inside slider to right.
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.
Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw (22) throws a pitch during the third inning of a baseball game against the San Francisco Giants in Los Angeles, Calif., Thursday, July 25, 2024. Credit: AP/Eric Thayer
Brent Honeywell got his first big league save. After allowing Ramos' leadoff single in the ninth, he got Matt Chapman to ground into a double play and struck out Patrick Bailey.
Giants starter Logan Webb allowed four runs and nine in five innings.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Giants: INF Wilmer Flores (right knee tendinitis) was placed on the 10-day IL, retroactive to Wednesday, and INF David Villar was recalled from Triple-A Sacramento.
Dodgers: OF Chris Taylor (left groin strain) got an X-ray Thursday and was placed on the 10-day IL. The Dodgers recalled OF James Outman from Triple-A Oklahoma City.
UP NEXT
Giants: LHP Kyle Harrison (5-4, 3.86 ERA) starts Friday at Colorado, which goes with LHP Kyle Freeland (2-3, 5.63).
Dodgers: RHP Gavin Stone (9-3, 3.19 ERA) starts Friday at Houston, and LHP Framber Valdez (8-5, 3.63) starts for the Astros.
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