The Los Angeles Dodgers withstood an onslaught of strikeouts by Blake Snell and Tony Gonsolin had a career-best start in a 5-1 win over the San Diego Padres. The Dodgers’ third victory in a row put them 3.5 games up on the Padres for first place in the National League West.
Max Muncy lifted a home run down the right-field line to give the Dodgers their first baserunner of the game and a 1-0 lead in the second inning.
The Dodgers threatened to add to their lead in the third inning when an Austin Barnes double and walks by Freddie Freeman and Will Smith loaded the bases. However, Snell wiggled out of trouble by collecting one of his season-high 12 strikeouts on the night.
Snell continued to carve his way through the Dodgers lineup after Muncy walked and Trayce Thompson doubled in the fourth inning. They were stranded by Cody Bellinger and Barnes, both of whom went down swinging to give Snell three strikeouts in the inning.
Snell struck out three more in the fifth to leave Will Smith and Justin Turner on base, keeping the game tied. While it was a dominant outing, it came to an end after just five innings due to throwing 107 pitches.
Snell’s performance nonetheless kept pressure on Gonsolin, who took on the challenge and went career-long 7.2 innings to improve to 10-0 on the season. Gonsolin became the first National League pitcher to 10 wins and is the first Dodgers starter to begin a season 10-0 since Alex Wood in 2017.
The outing also marked an eighth time in 15 starts this season Gonsolin has gone at least six innings, and his first career time reaching the eighth.
Gonsolin upheld the Dodgers’ slim lead until surrendering a game-tying solo home run to Trent Grisham in the fifth inning. Prior to that, Gonsolin stranded doubles by Jurickson Profar in the first and third innings.
Grisham’s leadoff single in the eighth brought Manny Machado to the plate as a pinch-hitter. Dodger Stadium rained down boos on Machado, who struck out swinging. Gonsolin also struck out C.J. Abrams before turning the game over to the Dodgers bullpen.
Bellinger provides difference for Dodgers
Craig Stammen was the first Padres relief pitcher to appear, and he began the bottom of the sixth inning with back-to-back strikeouts. However, Cody Bellinger then lined a go-ahead home run into the right field pavilion. The home run was Bellinger’s 11th this season.
Freddie Freeman added insurance with an RBI double in the seventh inning, Bellinger brought in another with a sacrifice fly in the eighth and Barnes drove a run in on his groundout.
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