Clayton Kershaw makes season debut, Shohei Ohtani homers as Dodgers beat Giants

Clayton Kershaw made his 2024 season debut for the Los Angeles Dodgers on Thursday, getting a matinee start against the rival San Francisco Giants.

The three-time National League Cy Young Award winner pitched four innings (throwing 72 pitches), allowing two runs with six hits, two walks and six strikeouts in the Dodgers' 6-4 win. He became the first Dodgers pitcher to play in 17 seasons for the team, according to the Los Angeles Times.

"He threw the ball really well," Dodgers catcher Austin Barnes said after the game. "Got us in trouble in the third inning but came back with three punchouts, and I thought it was real encouraging."

The score was tied 4-4 going into the eighth inning before the Dodgers hit back-to-back homers off Giants reliever Tyler Rogers.

Nick Ahmed, who was released by San Francisco earlier this week, went deep for his second home run of the season. The Dodgers signed Ahmed after placing Miguel Rojas on the injured list due to a right flexor strain.

Shohei Ohtani followed with his 31st homer of the year.

With the win, the Dodgers improved to 62–42, holding a 7.5-game lead over the San Diego Padres in the NL West. The Giants dropped to 49-55, 13 games behind the Dodgers for fourth in the division.

Kershaw, 36, hadn't pitched for the Dodgers this season after recovering from surgery in November to repair his left shoulder capsule and the ligaments around the ball-and-socket joint. His first attempt to rejoin the Dodgers began in June, but he felt lingering soreness after a rehab start and was shut down.

His latest rehab assignment was more successful, with three starts for the Dodgers' Triple-A affiliate in Oklahoma City. After what was essentially a spring training ramp-up, Kershaw was finally added to the Dodgers' rotation.

Last season, Kershaw started 24 games, striking out 137 in 131 2/3 innings and compiling a 2.46 ERA.