Tony Gonsolin shook off some concern with his health and he received run support from Will Smith and David Peralta in the Los Angeles Dodgers’ 5-1 win over the Chicago White Sox.
Gonsolin’s fastball velocity was down nearly 2 mph from his season average, as it sat around 90 mph for most of his six innings of work. Gonsolin allowed just two hits and issued a pair of walks while also tying a career high with six strikeouts.
The White Sox didn’t manage their first hit off Gonsolin until Andrew Vaughn’s single with one out in the fourth inning. Chicago went on to have two reach in the inning but nothing came of it.
While Gonsolin had an encouraging start, the focus now shifts to how he’ll recover as the Dodgers may need him to next start on regular rest.
“You know, it was just sort of, it was the arm, the body, not specific to any body part, or what part of the arm,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said of Gonsolin.
“He just wasn’t recovering, and I think that happens to pitchers at times. So whether it be cutting some pitches short in the ‘pen or whatever, and it could be just a phase he’s kind of in right now and after this one, he could kind of be on the other side of it.
“So I don’t really know what went into it. But he’s obviously doing everything he can to prepare for his starts.”
The Dodgers had a shutout intact until Brusdar Graterol inherited runners at the corners with one out in the ninth inning and allowed a sacrifice fly before finishing out the win.
The Dodgers improved to 14-15 all-time against the White Sox, and have won seven of their eight head-to-head meetings since 2017.
Dodgers protect early lead
The Dodgers provided Gonsolin with a cushion in the bottom of the first inning behind a pair of two-run home runs from Smith and Peralta. Smith’s home run had a little added significance with it coming on his bobblehead night.
They had an opportunity to break the game open by loading the bases in the sixth inning but only managed one run on Miguel Vargas’ sacrifice fly.
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