Clayton Kershaw went into his first start since coming off the disabled list with a “baseline” set by Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts at five innings or 75 pitches. Kershaw was dominant in his return and Chase Utley’s RBI single was enough for a 1-0 win over the San Diego Padres to snap a season-high five-game losing streak.
Kershaw fired six shutout innings, collecting seven strikeouts without issuing a walk and throwing an efficient 70 pitches (53 strikes). He induced soft contact throughout the outing and allowed just two hits.
Each was an infield single, with Manuel Margot hitting a weak chopper to lead off the first inning, and Yangervis Solarte reaching on a backhanded diving stop by Chris Taylor on the edge of the outfield grass to open the fifth.