The ‘eternal ace’ of the Los Angeles Dodgers is finally back.

Los Angeles Dodgers veteran left-hander Clayton Kershaw (35) returned to the mound after 44 days. Kershaw took the mound as a starting pitcher in the 2023 major league home game against the Colorado Rockies held at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California on the 11th (hereinafter Korean time).

Kershaw pitched 5 innings, 3 hits and 1 run in his comeback match that day. He struck out four while allowing no walks. He threw the most sliders (27), followed by four-seam fastballs (26), curveballs (11) and changeups (3). His four-seam fastball’s highest velocity was taken to 92.2 miles (148 km) and his lowest was 89.5 miles (144 km).

Kershaw, who had a hiatus due to a left shoulder injury, made a comeback 44 days after the game against Colorado on June 28, and the result was successful. Although he was substituted with the Dodgers trailing 0-1, he could not form a relationship with the winning pitcher, but it was a day that could be satisfied with just pitching.

After two outs in the first inning, Ryan McMahon’s batted ball led to first baseman Freddie Freeman’s error, but Kershaw was unmoved. He ended the inning with Elias Diaz grounded out by shortstop.

In the top of the second inning, Kershaw, who struck out Nolan Jones on a swing, hit a right-handed double by Alan Trejo, but struck out Michael Toglia and Eleuris Montero in a row and ended the inning with three strikeouts. After one shot in the top of the 3rd inning, Jurickson Profar’s heavy hit broke out, but Ezekiel Toba was caught with a double hit from shortstop, second baseman, and first baseman, and continued the scoreless streak.

Kershaw maintained his momentum by ending the top of the 4th inning with a tripartite, but after two outs in the top of the 5th, he hit a solo home run to Montero to left center and scored the first run. Throwing an 85 mile (137 km) slider on the 3rd ball count 1B 1S led to a home run. There were no additional errors. He struck out Brenton Doyle on a swing and signaled the end of the inning.스포츠토토

Kershaw’s pitches were all 67 until the 5th inning, but the Dodgers put Ryan Yarbrough on the mound in the top of the 6th inning considering that Kershaw would have a comeback. The game ended in a 2-1 come-from-behind victory for the Dodgers. The Dodgers, who tied the game 1-1 with Max Muncy’s superior solo home run in the bottom of the 7th inning, scored the winning run in the bottom of the 8th with Muncy’s push walk. In the ninth, Brusdar Graterol got on the mound and pitched one scoreless inning, earning his fifth save of the season. The winning pitcher was Yarbrough, who came after Kershaw. Yarbrough became the winning pitcher with 3 innings, 1 hit, 4 walks, 4 strikeouts and no runs. 5 wins (5 losses) of the season.

After the game, Kershaw said in an interview with local media outlets, including the official website of Major League Baseball (MLB.com), “I was happy to be back. I am happy to be part of the team again and help the team win. It felt good to be back at Dodger Stadium.” .

‘MLB.com’ expects that Kershaw’s return will give the Dodgers momentum. “It cannot be overstated how important it is for the Dodgers to have Kershaw come back healthy,” he said. He explained that there is a big difference between having and not having Kershaw.

Of course, Kershaw is a player past his prime. Kershaw, who debuted on the major league stage as a member of the Dodgers at the age of 20 in 2008, won the National League Cy Young Award in 2011, 2013 and 2014. While playing, he accomplished the feat of winning MVP of the National League regular season. He is showing off his old field this year as well, recording 10 wins and 4 losses with an earned run average of 2.55 and being selected as a National League All-Star.