Tyler Anderson flirted with a first career no-hitter to help the Los Angeles Dodgers get a 4-1 win that completed a sweep of the Los Angeles Angels in the Freeway Series. Anderson and Tony Gonsolin are the only pitchers in the National League with eight wins this season.
The southpaw had his night get off to an inauspicious start when Cody Bellinger collided with Mookie Betts. It knocked the ball out of Betts’ glove as he fell to the ground, but Taylor Ward was thrown out trying to stretch it to a leadoff double.
The play was initially ruled a leadoff single but later changed to an error on Bellinger and assist. The scoring change wound up being of note as Anderson took a no-hitter into the ninth inning.
That came despite Anderson massaging and rubbing his left forearm, elbow and shoulder on multiple occasions. The first sign of trouble came when Anderson began flexing his left arm/wrist after throwing a pitch in the fifth inning, but he waved off Dodgers manager Dave Roberts.
Anderson nearly lost the no-hit bid on a swinging bunt in the seventh inning but was charged for an error due to throwing the ball wide of first base. He stranded Juan Lagares and continued to march toward making MLB history.
Despite having a track record of removing pitchers from no-hitters, Roberts stuck with Anderson even as his pitch count soared.
Anderson nearly rewarded him but fell two outs shy of throwing the 27th no-hitter in Dodgers franchise history. Anderson’s no-no was broken up by a Shohei Ohtani line drive to right field that got by Betts’ diving attempt for a triple.
That marked the end of Anderson’s night at a career-high 123 pitches. His previous season high was 101 pitches and career high was 109.
Craig Kimbrel allowed an RBI single before finishing out the win.
Dodgers offense produces
One night after another hitless game with runners in scoring position, the Dodgers marginally improved.
With two on and one out in the first inning, Will Smith pulled a three-run home run into the pavilion. Chris Taylor nearly had the Dodgers’ second home run of the inning but was robbed by Mike Trout making a leaping catch at the wall in center field.
Trea Turner added a solo home run in the third inning.
The Dodgers went 1-for-4 with runners in scoring position and stranded five.
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