LOS ANGELES — Clayton Kershaw struck out five in his first start since July 3 and the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 5-1 on Monday night.
Activated from the injured list earlier in the day, Kershaw had missed 57 games with elbow inflammation.
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.
Arizona’s lone run came on Josh Rojas’ RBI single in the first.
Diamondbacks starter Zac Gallen (2-10) gave up four runs and eight hits in 5 1/3 innings. He struck out four and walked three.
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.
The Dodgers took a 3-1 lead in the first on Corey Seager’s RBI single and Justin Turner’s two-run double into the left-field corner. Turner added a solo homer, his 25th, in the eighth.
Austin Barnes doubled into the left-field corner in the sixth, extending the lead to 4-1.
Phil Bickford (4-2) got the win with one inning of scoreless relief.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Diamondbacks: RHP Tyler Clippard was cleared to resume baseball activity after being on the COVID-19 injured list, although he never tested positive for the virus. … RHP Merrill Kelly had a 38-pitch bullpen in Arizona. He has been out since a positive COVID-19 test on Aug. 14. … OF Kole Calhoun (strained left hamstring) will hit and begin a baserunning program. … LHP Caleb Smith will throw a simulated game in Arizona on Tuesday to stay in shape while serving a 10-game suspension for having a foreign substance on his glove. Smith lost an appeal and began serving his punishment Saturday.
UP NEXT
Diamondbacks: RHP Luke Weaver (3-4, 4.24 ERA) is 1-1 with a 5.25 ERA in three starts at Dodger Stadium.
Dodgers: RHP Tony Gonsolin (2-1, 2.79) makes his second start since coming off the IL. He faces Arizona for the fourth time this season, having allowed four runs in 9 1/3 innings without a decision.