After a lackluster performance in the series opener on Friday night, the Los Angeles Dodgers bounced back and hung on for a 2-1 win over the New York Yankees at Dodger Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
There wasn’t much offense for either team on the day as they combined for just 11 total hits. The Dodgers got on the scoreboard first in the bottom of the third inning.
Tony Gonsolin helped out his own cause with a single, and then he scored on a home run by Justin Turner that just cleared the wall in left-center field. Turner has been on a bit of a home run tear as of late, hitting six in his last 11 games to give him 23 total on the season.
Gonsolin was equally as good on the mound as he was at the plate, keeping one of the best offenses in the league at bay through five innings. The rookie allowed just two hits, one of which was a home run to Aaron Judge to account for the Yankees’ only run.
The Dodgers bullpen was handed a one-run lead and tasked with handling the final four innings, and that is exactly what they did. Joe Kelly and Pedro Baez combined to toss three scoreless innings, leaving the ninth for closer Kenley Jansen.
Jansen has been the subject of a lot of scrutiny recently after blowing a few saves, but he was able to come through for his team on Sunday despite a weird inning of work.
Didi Gregorius did him a favor to begin the inning by trying to bunt Jansen’s 3-1 and 3-2 pitches. Both offerings went foul, giving Jansen a big first out.
The Yankees were eventually able to load the bases despite Jansen giving up a bunch of soft contact. The most controversial play of the inning came on a slow grounder by Gio Urshela.
Turner attempted to get a forceout at second but Brett Gardner beat the ball to the bag and took out Max Muncy in the process. Gleyber Torres attempted to come all the way around from second to score the tying run, but the umpires ruled that time was called out and sent him back to third.
That would later be a source of some frustration for the Yankees and potential cause to protest the game. Jansen struck out back-to-back hitters to escape the bases-loaded jam and earn the save.
