Clayton Kershaw returns, Shohei Ohtani homers, Dodgers grab series win over Giants

Clayton Kershaw struck out six and gave up two runs in four innings in his first start of the season for the Dodgers on Thursday afternoon. In fact, the 36-year-old left-hander described a start in which he gave up two runs and six hits in four innings, striking out six and walking two, as just “OK.” But it was more than OK for the Dodgers, who aren’t expecting the three-time National League Cy Young Award winner to regain his 2014 NL most-valuable-player form but need him to pitch well enough to shore up an injury-ravaged rotation as they push toward another division title. It shows that he’s strong, he’s healthy.” A 32-pitch third inning, in which Kershaw gave up two runs but struck out three straight batters with runners on first and second, prevented Kershaw from pitching the fifth, and six relievers — Joe Kelly, Daniel Hudson, Evan Phillips, Alex Vesia, Blake Treinen and Brent Honeywell — had to cover the final five innings. “To have essentially a Gold Glove shortstop fall in our lap, and we lose Chris Taylor the same night we acquire him, and for him to hit the go-ahead homer against his old team … I’m sure that felt good for him.” Ohtani then hit a first-pitch slider that left his bat at 112.6 mph with a launch angle of 46 degrees, producing a towering drive that seemed to hang in the air forever, his 31st homer of the season traveling only 360 feet, tied for the fourth-shortest of his career. “They spent all this time helping me get back, and they want to see me back out there so all the work isn’t for nothing.” Kershaw, who made his major league debut as a 20-year-old in 2008, also became the first Dodgers pitcher to play in 17 different seasons, a milestone of longevity that came after a grueling, 8 ½-month rehabilitation process.