Dodgers' Kershaw departs after four rocky frames in his rough opening game outing
The Return of Clayton Kershaw: A Rocky Start
Clayton Kershaw, the three-time Cy Young Award winner, took the mound for the Dodgers in their game against the Angels on the 17th of May, marking his comeback after a nine-month absence due to toe and knee surgeries. Although the outing wasn't a victory, it was a much-anticipated return for the 37-year-old left-hander.
Kershaw, the club's career strikeout leader, wasn't at his best. He lasted only four innings, allowing five runs and five hits, walking three times, and striking out just twice. Despite his struggles, he managed to keep the game close, with the Angels edging out a narrow 11-9 win.
However, Kershaw was relieved that he was finally back pitching at Dodger Stadium, expressing his desire to do better in future games. He acknowledged that his command was off-target on this occasion, a problem he planned to address moving forward.
In the first inning, Kershaw faced some difficulties, giving up three runs on three hits and two walks. But he settled down slightly in the second before allowing two more runs in the third and fourth innings.
Kershaw needed to pitch better to reach the 3,000-strikeout mark in his career. He's currently just 30 Ks shy of this milestone. The Dodgers are hoping that this outing was just a hiccup, and Kershaw will find his form soon.
In his final rehab start with Triple-A Oklahoma City, Kershaw performed creditably, yielding only two runs on two hits and two walks, with two strikeouts over four innings. This performance offered some positives for Kershaw as he started analyzing his performance to improve consistently.
In 2024, Kershaw's season came to an end on August 30 due to pain in his left big toe, preventing him from participating in the postseason as the Dodgers won their eighth World Series title. As a result, Kershaw began his 18th season with the Dodgers, tying the franchise record also held by Hall of Famers Zack Wheat and Bill Russell.
As the game's emotional moments washed over him, Kershaw acknowledged the unique feeling of returning to the mound, appreciating each pitch more as he enters what might be the twilight of his career. Kershaw entered the game with a 212-94 record and a 2.50 ERA in 432 games (all starts) since his debut for the Dodgers in 2008.
The Dodgers will be hoping that Kershaw can regain his command and form in his subsequent outings, as he continues his pursuit of 3,000 career strikeouts. The future remains bright for this legendary pitcher, provided he can successfully manage his injuries and refine his command.
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- Toronto's sports section could report on Clayton Kershaw's returning to baseball after a long injury layoff in the MLB.
- The arts section of Toronto's newspaper might discuss the "emotional" aspect of Kershaw's comeback, symbolizing the poignant moments of a sports legend's career.
- The news section of Toronto's online platform could feature the updated statistics of Kershaw's career, highlighting his pursuit of the 3,000-strikeout milestone in the MLB.
