After dropping the series opener in disappointing fashion, the Los Angeles Dodgers bounced back with a 3-1 victory over the San Diego Padres on Tuesday night to extend their National League West lead back to 2.5 games.
The Dodgers got the scoring started early when Mookie Betts hit a leadoff single in the first inning and then scored on a base hit by Justin Turner, who was in his first game back after missing the last couple of weeks with a hamstring injury.
Turner can get out of bed and hit, and he proved that Tuesday when he got hits in his first three at-bats and finished 3-for-4 in a return from the 10-day injured list.
L.A. was able to double their lead in the third inning on a two-out rally that was started by a single off the bat of Turner. Will Smith followed with a base hit of his own, and then Cody Bellinger drove in the run with a third straight single.
Edwin Rios was responsible for the Dodgers’ final run of the game on a solo homer in the fifth inning, his fourth of the season. When Rios gets a hold of one it travels a long way, and this one was no different as he hit it 109 mph off the bat and it sailed an estimated 415 feet.
Gonsolin turns in another strong outing
Tony Gonsolin got the start on the mound for the Dodgers and continued his outstanding season. He got through seven innings for the first time in his Major League career, allowing just four hits and a run while striking out two and walking none to earn his first win of the season.
Gonsolin now has an impressive 1.51 ERA and 0.79 WHIP on the year.
Things got interesting late though as Kenley Jansen came in to close a 3-1 game in the ninth. He loaded the bases on two singles and a walk before getting back-to-back strikeouts to end the game and complete his 11th save.
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