Clayton Kershaw makes solid return in Dodgers’ victory over Rockies

LOS ANGELES ― Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw delivered a 90-mph fastball to the first batter he faced, Jurickson Profar, at 7:10 p.m. on Thursday night. He flashed a new pitch before his five innings against the Colorado Rockies were over. Otherwise, Kershaw picked up right where he left off.

The Dodgers’ offense didn’t pick up until Kershaw had thrown his final pitch.

After being shelved for 44 days with a shoulder injury, Kershaw allowed only one run in five innings in the Dodgers’ 2-1 win over the Colorado Rockies. He allowed three hits, did not walk a batter, and struck out four before an announced crowd of 45,933 at Dodger Stadium.

Rockies pitcher Ty Blach was every bit Kershaw’s equal. The veteran lefty threw six innings, allowed three hits, walked two, and took a 1-0 lead into the seventh inning.

Max Muncy’s solo home run in the seventh inning, and his bases-loaded walk in the eighth, provided both of the Dodgers’ runs. In the course of a 162-game season, gaining one game in the standings meant a little. Getting Kershaw back meant a lot.

“Anytime 22’s on the mound you have a good feeling about how the game’s going to turn out,” Muncy said. “I think it’s a boost for everyone in this clubhouse. Hopefully, we can keep it going down the stretch the rest of the way. It’s just fun to be on the same field as that guy.”

The win kicked off a 10-game homestand on the heels of a 5-1 road trip that allowed the Dodgers (67-46) to separate themselves atop the National League West. They have won nine of their past 11 games overall and lead the second-place San Francisco Giants by 6½ games, with the Rockies (45-70) comfortably buried in the division cellar.

Colorado’s underwhelming lineup made for a soft landing for Kershaw, who looked comfortable throughout his efficient 67-pitch outing. Despite not making a minor league rehabilitation appearance after hurting his shoulder on June 27, Kershaw only made one mistake: a hanging slider to Elehuris Montero that the Rockies’ designated hitter planted in the left-center field bleachers for a home run in the fifth inning.

Kershaw complemented his 90-92 fastball, curveball and slider with a seldom-seen changeup. He said he threw the pitch four times and “three were OK.”

Kershaw lowered his ERA to 2.51 in 17 starts.

“I’m excited to be back and hopefully have a good six, seven weeks until playoffs start and get ready to go,” he said.

Muncy led off the seventh inning with his 28th home run of the season, crushing a 90-mph fastball from Blach into the Rockies’ bullpen. That ended a six-pitch at-bat, tied the score at 1-1 and ended Blach’s night after 83 pitches.

Left-hander Ryan Yarbrough (5-5) threw three scoreless innings in relief of Kershaw. He allowed only one runner to reach base, when Ezequiel Tovar singled in the sixth inning, then picked him off first base for the second out of the inning. The decision to throw over was critical: if he hadn’t been picked off, Tovar would have been awarded second base because it was the third time Yarbrough disengaged with the pitching rubber during the plate appearance.

In the eighth inning, the Dodgers loaded the bases against Rockies reliever Tommy Doyle on walks by David Peralta and Freddie Freeman, sandwiched around a Mookie Betts single.

Tovar, the Rockies’ shortstop, made a spectacular catch in left-center field on a Will Smith fly ball for the second out of the inning. But Muncy watched a 3-and-1 fastball from Daniel Bard miss the inner edge of Erich Bacchus’ strike zone, drawing a walk to force in the Dodgers’ second run.

Brusdar Graterol pitched a scoreless ninth inning to record his fifth save of the season.

The Dodgers have an off-day Monday, so Kershaw will get an extra day’s rest before his next start, tentatively scheduled for next Wednesday against the Milwaukee Brewers. Waiting isn’t his strongest skill – “he’s not the most enjoyable guy to be around when he’s not healthy,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said – but Kershaw’s performance against the Rockies justified his decision to come back without the benefit of a minor league rehab start.

“Rehab’s only good to get healthy,” Kershaw said. “It’s not a good indicator of performance. Guys that go down there and like, ‘I wasn’t the same’ – it’s not a relevant situation. I think pitching in the big leagues is its own animal regardless, and it’s good and bad. The performance and the skill level is a lot better here. At the same time, your level gets elevated too. So pitching in sim games, it’s just to make sure you’re healthy. And if you don’t like your stuff, well go figure it out in the game.

“That’s my thought behind all of rehab, is that you figure it out out there. Once you get healthy, go pitch.”

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Clayton Kershaw makes solid return in Dodgers’ victory over Rockies – Daily News

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