WASHINGTON (AP) ― Clayton Kershaw admitted he was nervous about making his first start in six weeks.

Apparently it’s nothing new. He just hides it well.

Kershaw pitched seven shutout innings in his first outing since opening day, and Hanley Ramirez and Drew Butera homered to help the Los Angeles Dodgers defeat the Washington Nationals 8-3 Tuesday night.

“I’m always nervous, every time I start,” Kershaw said. “You want to do well. Same type of nerves tonight, but after the first inning I was able to settle in OK.” 

Kershaw (2-0) was stubborn in his return after missing 32 games, allowing nine hits, but striking out nine without a walk, and pitching out of several jams while the game was still close.

The two-time NL Cy Young winner had been on the disabled list for the first time in his career, sidelined by a strained back muscle after winning March 22 in the major league opener in Australia.

“He shows you right away what you’ve been missing,” said manager Don Mattingly, whose Dodgers began the day third place in the N.L. West. “Just a guy that brings that to the table every five days. It’s a little reminder of who he is and what he means to you.”

The Dodgers collected 14 hits despite keeping outfielder Yasiel Puig out for the second straight game since he crashed into an outfield wall in the ninth inning Sunday at Miami.

Coming off a pair of minor league rehabilitation starts, Kershaw threw 89 pitches. 


Rockies beat Rangers 12-1

DENVER (AP) ― Carlos Gonzalez had five of Colorado’s season-high 21 hits and Nolan Arenado made several slick plays at third base on a night he extended his hitting streak to 26 games as the Rockies routed the Texas Rangers 12-1 on Tuesday night.

It’s the third time in Gonzalez’s career he’s had five hits in a game. Arenado waited until his final at-bat in the seventh to extend his streak, lacing an RBI double that hit just inside the left-field line. He’s one away from tying the team record of 27 set by Michael Cuddyer last season.

Juan Nicasio (4-1) got through five innings without his best command, giving up two hits and one run. He also walked a season-high five.

Robbie Ross Jr. (1-3) had a rough outing as he allowed six runs and 12 hits in 5 1/3 innings.

Cleveland 4, Minnesota 2

Toronto 6, Philadelphia 5

Pittsburgh 2, San Francisco 1

Detroit 11, Houston 4

Boston 4, Cincinnati 3

Atlanta 2, St. Louis 1

Miami 3, NY Mets 0

Baltimore 5, Tampa Bay 3

Chicago White Sox 5, Chicago Cubs 1

Arizona 7, Milwaukee 5

NY Yankees 4, LA Angels 3

Seattle 8, Oakland 3

Kansas City 3, San Diego 1