The Los Angeles Dodgers bounced back from being swept by the Pittsburgh Pirates and snapped a three-game losing streak with a 2-0 win over the New York Mets.
Thursday’s meeting was the first between the two teams with the best records in the National League. Several Dodgers players spoke of needing to keep their focus on moving forward after a disappointing series, and that was evident against the Mets.
Tony Gonsolin threw six scoreless innings to improve to 6-0 on the season. His effort was aided by Chris Taylor making a sliding catch in left field to prevent the Mets from having the leadoff man reach in the fourth inning.
“C.T. made a couple really nice plays, Cody made a couple really nice plays. That could’ve changed the outing as well. Just collectively we did a really nice job of preventing runs,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said after the win.
The catch is good! pic.twitter.com/sgzJMJhy71
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) June 3, 2022
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) June 3, 2022
Taijuan Walker pitched through traffic early and did his part to keep the game scoreless through four innings. A string of three consecutive singles by Taylor, Gavin Lux and Mookie Betts resulted in the Dodgers taking a 1-0 lead in the fifth inning.
They added to it in the sixth, when Trea Turner led off with a double and later scored on Justin Turner’s two-out extra-base hit. Trea Turner extended his hitting streak to an MLB-best 25 games.
Dodgers bullpen, Kimbrel shine
Brusdar Graterol was first to follow Gonsolin, and he worked around a one-out single in the seventh inning. Daniel Hudson had a clean eighth and Craig Kimbrel retired the side in order in the ninth.
Kimbrel’s appearance was his first since blowing a save against the Pirates. The Dodgers gave him multiple days off to sort through mechanics but have committed to ensuring he appears at least one every three games.
“It was good. It was very clean, it was an efficient outing,” Roberts said of Kimbrel’s save. “The fastball had life in the strike zone at the top, the direction was really good, and I felt the throw was nice and easy. Really good to see him throw the ball like he did.”
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