The Los Angeles Dodgers returned from a disappointing road trip with a 5-1 win over the Chicago White Sox to begin a six-game homestand. 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.
Making his first start since manager Dave Roberts alluded to a slower recovery process between outings, Tony Gonsolin pitched with slightly diminished velocity but it did not impact his effectiveness. Gonsolin got through six scoreless innings with only two hits and two walks allowed, while matching a season high at six strikeouts.
The White Sox didn’t have their first hit of the game until Andrew Vaughn’s single with one out in the fourth inning. A hit by pitch put a second runner on before Gonsolin worked out of the small jam.
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While plenty of attention was on Gonsolin amid talk of his shaky recovery between starts, he was aided by the Dodgers staking him an early lead.
Will Smith put them ahead early with a two-run home run, and David Peralta added his own two-run shot in the first inning. Smith’s home run was his 10th of the season and came on his bobblehead night at Dodger Stadium.
The Dodgers offense went quiet after that point until a Miguel Vargas sacrifice fly with the bases loaded in the sixth inning.
Dodgers bullpen protects lead
What’s been a beleaguered group, the Dodgers’ bullpen backed Gonsolin with quality work.
Caleb Ferguson struck out two in a perfect seventh inning and Evan Phillips collected one strikeout in the eighth. Tayler Scott ran into some self-inflicted trouble in the ninth inning and was removed with one out and runners at the corners.
A sacrifice fly prevented the White Sox from being shut out before Brusdar Graterol could finish off the win.
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