Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani hits a home run in right field during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the San Francisco Giants in Los Angeles, Thursday, July 25, 2024.
10:45 JST, July 26, 2024
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Clayton Kershaw allowed two runs in four innings in his return from shoulder surgery, Nick Ahmed and Shohei Ohtani hit home runs on consecutive pitches in the eighth inning and the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the San Francisco Giants 6-4 on Thursday.
Kershaw was making his first major-league appearance since the NL Division Series opener against Arizona last October, when the three-time Cy Young Award winner was chased down on one out and allowed six runs. Kershaw underwent surgery on Nov. 3 to repair ligaments in his shoulder capsule and made three minor-league rehab starts, on June 19, July 13 and July 19.
It meant a lot, Kershaw said. “From the first time I had surgery to the rehab process to be able to get back to Dodger Stadium, it’s something I’ve been thinking about for a long time.”
His wife Ellen and children were present in the crowd of 52,291.
They were so excited, Kershaw said. “There’s a lot of people here that spent a lot of time with me to help me get back. People back home to help, too. It was really cool that a lot of people cared enough to help me.”
Kershaw was wearing shoes designed by his four children, who surprised him with the gift, which caused him to tear. One of the shoes read, “We are so proud of you, Dad!!”
Against the Giants, the 36-year-old left-handed pitcher allowed six hits, struck out six and walked two, and had 14 swings and misses, including eight on sliders, while throwing 47 of 72 pitches for strikes. He averaged 90.6 mph on 24 fastballs, throwing 32 sliders, 10 curveballs and six changeups.
Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani prepares to strike out during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the San Francisco Giants in Los Angeles, Thursday, July 25, 2024.
Ohtani and Kershaw played together for the first time.
That’s a dream scenario, right? You get two of the best players of our generation finally playing together, Dave Roberts said. “Shohei always talked about playing with Clayton. Clayton got to watch Shohei from the sidelines for a couple of months. It worked out great.”
Tyler Fitzgerald hit a run-leading triple in the third inning on an upslider and scored on the next pitch when Heliot Ramos singled on a fastball, part of a string of four consecutive hits.
Kershaw agreed to a contract in February that guaranteed him $10 million. The deal 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 six starts or substitutions of three or more innings, $1.5 million for seven, eight and nine innings, 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 hitting .312 with a 1.034 OPS.
Los Angeles outhit San Francisco 14-11 and won three of four against the Giants. The NL West-leading Dodgers (62-42) are 6-1 after a 3-8 slide.
Kiké Hernández had three hits and drove in two runs.
Ahmed hit a home run on a 2-2 sinker by Tyler Rogers (1-4) to break a 4-4 tie in the eighth. Ahmed was released by the Giants on July 10 and signed with the Dodgers on Wednesday, going 1-for-3 in his Los Angeles debut that night.
Right before the Giants let me go, I felt like I was in a good spot after being injured, Ahmed said. “I made some adjustments the day before I got let go and carried that into the two weeks I was out. I feel like my swing is in a good place. I’m always kind of in a midseason rhythm and summer is usually my best month.”
Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani (17) celebrates his single during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the San Francisco Giants in Los Angeles, Thursday, July 25, 2024.
Ohtani made a slider to the inside right.
Blake Treinen (5-2) allowed a two-out RBI single to Jorge Soler to tie the score in the eighth inning, then struck out Fitzgerald.
Brent Honeywell earned his first save in the majors. After allowing a leadoff single to Ramos in the ninth inning, he doubled Matt Chapman and retired Patrick Bailey to become the ninth Dodgers pitcher to earn a save this season.
Giants starter Logan Webb allowed four runs and nine in five innings.
“I’ve had two strikes mostly and they’ve gone the other way and hit places where nobody was playing,” Webb said. “The three walks are what piss me off the most. Finding holes.”
