The Los Angeles Dodgers received some length from Tony Gonsolin, and Chris Taylor and Mookie Betts provided key two-out hits in their 5-0 win over the St. Louis Cardinals.
Mired in a stretch of four consecutive games with four innings or fewer from their starter, the Dodgers received a scoreless effort from Gonsolin in his fifth outing of the season. Gonsolin fought off a high pitch count early to get through five innings.
He held the Cardinals to just one hit, which was in stark contrast to the performance by their lineup from Thursday, and walked three while also collecting three strikeouts on a season-high 94 pitches.
Gonsolin became the first Dodgers starting pitcher to complete five innings since he did so May 14.
Gonsolin exited with the Dodgers ahead 1-0 thanks to Taylor’s RBI double in the fifth inning. Prior to that point the Dodgers had stranded at least one baserunner in each of the first four innings.
The run-scoring opportunity had been set up by a rare Nolan Arenado error to begin the fifth. Betts then took second base on fly ball to right field and advanced another 90 feet because of a Steven Matz balk.
The Dodgers had opportunities to add onto their lead in ensuing innings but were unable to do so until Betts provided some insurance with a three-run homer in the eighth. Freddie Freeman extended the two-out rally with a double, and Will Smith brought him in on a base hit.
Dodgers bullpen finishes off shutout
Brusdar Graterol was first to appear out of the Dodgers bullpen, and he was aided by James Outman robbing Paul Goldschmidt of what would have been a game-tying solo home run.
Shelby Miller followed with a scoreless inning in the seventh, Caleb Ferguson stranded two runners in the eighth, and Tyler Cyr pitched the ninth to complete the Dodgers’ fourth shutout of the season.
For Cyr, who was called up Friday, the game also marked his Dodgers debut.
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