Kershaw strikes out 5 in return, Dodgers beat D-backs 5-1

LOS ANGELES (AP) — With three weeks to go in the regular season and the Los Angeles Dodgers locked in a tight pennant race, Clayton Kershaw is back just in time.

Kershaw struck out five in his first start since July 3 and the Dodgers beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 5-1 on Monday night for their seventh straight home victory.

“I missed it,” Kershaw said. “Not a lot of better feelings in the world than getting to pitch here and getting a win.”

Activated from the injured list earlier in the day, Kershaw had missed 57 games with elbow inflammation.

“He’s been miserable,” manager Dave Roberts said. “He hates not competing and not playing. I know he’s been waiting for this day for quite some time.”

So have his teammates.

“We’re all just excited to see him back out there,” third baseman Justin Turner said.

The 33-year-old left-hander gave up four hits, walked one and didn't figure in the decision after throwing 50 pitches over 4 1/3 innings. Kershaw reached on an infield single in the second and sacrificed in the fourth.

“I was throwing more curveballs today than I have in the past, but that just seemed to work out best. Got to get that slider working," the three-time Cy Young Award winner said. “There’s not a lot of time to work out the kinks.”

Phil Bickford (4-2) got the win with one inning of scoreless relief.

With the second-place Dodgers chasing NL West-leading San Francisco, Kershaw's return gives them another front-line starter to join Walker Buehler, Max Scherzer and Julio Urías, all of whom are strong Cy Young Award contenders.

“For me to be able to be part of it is huge,” Kershaw said. “Maybe I can get through six next time. That would be awesome.”

The defending World Series champion Dodgers remained 2 1/2 games...

source https://www.chron.com/sports/article/Kershaw-strikes-out-5-in-return-Dodgers-beat-16456846.php