Clayton Kershaw returned from shoulder surgery to allow two runs over four innings, while Nick Ahmed and Shohei Ohtani hit consecutive home runs in the eighth inning, leading the Los Angeles Dodgers to a 6-4 win over the San Francisco Giants on Thursday.
Kershaw made his first big league appearance since last October’s NL Division Series opener against Arizona, where he was pulled after just one out and allowed six runs.
Undergoing shoulder capsule surgery on November 3, Kershaw completed three minor league rehab starts on June 19, July 13, and July 19.
“It meant a lot,” Kershaw said. “From the initial surgery through the rehab process, being back at Dodger Stadium is something I’ve been looking forward to for a long time.”
His wife Ellen and their children were among the 52,291 fans in attendance.
“They were thrilled,” Kershaw said. “So many people have put in a lot of effort to help me get back, both here and back home. It was really special to see how much support I received.”
Kershaw was deeply moved by a pair of custom cleats designed by his four children, which featured the message: “We are so proud of you Dad!!”
In his game against the Giants, the 36-year-old left-hander allowed six hits, struck out six batters, and issued two walks. He induced 14 swings and misses, including eight on sliders, and threw 47 of his 72 pitches for strikes. His fastballs averaged 90.6 mph, and he mixed in 32 sliders, 10 curveballs, and six changeups.