Clayton Kershaw gives up 2 runs in 4 1/3 innings in OKC rehab outing

OKLAHOMA CITY – Los Angeles Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw gave up two runs and struck out six in 4 1/3 innings during his rehab assignment for Triple-A Oklahoma City on Thursday night.

The three-time Cy Young Award winner threw 61 pitches against the San Antonio Missions, a Milwaukee Brewers affiliate. Oklahoma City trailed 2-0 when Kershaw was pulled in the top of the fifth.

Kershaw developed inflammation in his left shoulder early in spring training. The Dodgers hoped the 31-year-old star could be ready for opening day, but they eventually chose to end his franchise-record streak of eight consecutive opening day starts.

The Dodgers said earlier this week that Kershaw would likely need at least one more rehab outing after this before returning to the NL champions.

In the first inning, Kershaw walked leadoff hitter Corey Ray on nine pitches, but he picked him off first. Kershaw fanned Keston Hiura to close out a scoreless inning.

In the second, Tyrone Taylor hit a drive down the left field line that barely stayed fair for a solo homer that put San Antonio ahead. An RBI single by Jacob Nottingham made it 2-0 later in the inning. Kershaw threw scoreless innings in the third and fourth.

Kershaw has missed playing time in each of the past three seasons due to injuries. He was sidelined much of 2016 with a back injury before returning to pitch well late in the season and in the playoffs. He also landed on the disabled the past two seasons with recurring back pain. The 31-year-old went 9-5 with a 2.73 ERA last year, and 2-3 with a 4.20 ERA during the Dodgers’ postseason march to the World Series.

This was his second career appearance in Oklahoma City, following a game in 2017.