The Los Angeles Dodgers activated pitcher Clayton Kershaw from the 60-day disabled list.
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Clayton Kershaw worked harder but didn’t last any longer in his return to the Dodgers than he did in his rehab start with Class-A Rancho Cucamonga. The mood was decidedly different in April as Miami outscored Los Angeles 16-8 to sweep the four-game series at Dodger Stadium, but the Marlins had dropped five in a row and 10 of 11 before a 6-0 rout of Philadelphia on Wednesday. A herniated disc in his back has kept Kershaw out since June 26.
Kershaw wasn’t thrilled with his outing, but Dodgers manager Dave Roberts was. He allowed two runs and five hits Friday night against the Miami Marlins.
It was not vintage Kershaw by any means, but the left-hander still recorded five strikeouts, striking out the side in the second inning. I’m thankful for what the guys did while I was gone. “I want to be a part of that”.
J.T. Realmuto homered for Miami, which improved to 5-0 against the NL West leaders this season.
His 102nd and last pitch – one that fanned Yasiel Puig for No. 14 – hit 98 miles per hour. Yasmani Grandal hit his 25th homer in the ninth for the Dodgers, who tried to rally against Fernando Rodney before A.J. Ramos came in and closed it out for his career-best 33rd save.
Josh Fields hit Ichiro Suzuki with a pitch with the bases loaded to force in the second run of the inning, but the ball only glanced off his shoulder, saving the brunt of the impact for the collarbone/neck area of home plate umpire Brian Knight, who was forced to leave the game because of the pitch.
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Neither instance seemed to bother him. He joined Jack McKeon (with the Padres in 1988) and Sparky Anderson (with the Reds in 1970). Dennis Martinez – who pitched a ideal game for Montreal at Dodger Stadium in 1991 – threw out one of Friday’s ceremonial first pitches. It’s likely that he won’t be able to pitch deep into the game, but that shouldn’t stop fantasy owners from activating him nonetheless. Kershaw left with the Dodgers trailing 2-0, and his ERA crept up from 1.79 to 1.89.
