The Los Angeles Dodgers didn’t find much success early against Spencer Howard but home runs by Will Smith and Chris Taylor were the difference in a 3-1 comeback win over the Philadelphia Phillies.
Howard retired the first nine batters faced before walking Mookie Betts to lead off the bottom of the fourth inning. Betts then was replaced on the bases by Gavin Lux, who grounded into a force out.
Howard nearly managed to get through four no-hit innings but left a fastball over the plate that Smith hit for a go-ahead home run. An attempt to have Howard turn in his longest start of the season backfired as he surrendered a leadoff homer to Taylor in the fifth inning.
The home runs were the first the rookie allowed this season.
A 3-1 lead was upheld by the Dodgers bullpen after Tony Gonsolin went just 3.2 innings. He again struggled in the opening frame but held the Phillies to just one run. Gonsolin worked through some of the early command trouble to finish with five strikeouts.
However, his eight walks this season have already surpassed the seven doled out all of last year over 46.2 innings pitched.
David Price inherited two baserunners from Gonsolin and worked around Taylor’s error that loaded the bases to end the fourth inning. Price and Joe Kelly the combined to work a scoreless fifth, and the right-hander paired with Victor Gonzalez to do the same the next inning.
Dodgers relief pitchers continued to pass the baton as Blake Treinen handled the seventh, Jimmy Nelson worked a scoreless eighth inning, and Kenley Jansen converted a save in what was the second of back-to-back appearances.
Dodgers waiting on Bellinger
Cody Bellinger missed a third consecutive game due to left hamstring tightness and manager Dave Roberts said the earliest he would likely play is Wednesday.
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