The Los Angeles Dodgers didn’t put forth their best effort but nevertheless snapped a three-game losing streak with Mookie Betts providing late insurance and Tony Gonsolin turning in a gem against the Los Angeles Angels in the opener of the Freeway Series.
While Gonsolin once again proved to be a stopper, the Dodgers offense continued its recent struggles. The club was held without a baserunner until Freddie Freddie’s walk in the fourth inning.
Trea Turner followed that with an infield single for the Dodgers’ first hit, and Will Smith later kept the inning alive with a two-out walk that loaded the bases. Justin Turner’s RBI walk then gave L.A. a 1-0 lead.
The Dodgers would add an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth when Betts took Andrew Wantz deep for his 17th home run of the season. After the game, the 2018 American League MVP noted he was relieved to contribute to the win, via SportsNet LA:
“Great. It’s been a little rough, but it is what it is. Just got to grind through all the games. It helped put a point on the board for us, and we got a win.”
Betts finished with the one home run in four at-bats, which marked his first since June 1. Prior to Tuesday’s matchup against the Angels, the 29-year-old had been mired in a 2-for-31 skid dating back to June 5.
Even with his recent struggles at the plate, Betts is in the midst of an MVP-caliber season. He enters play Wednesday batting a stellar .278/.354/.544 with 13 doubles, 17 home runs, 40 RBI and 3.0 WAR in 271 plate appearances this season (59 games).
Betts indifferent of at-bat against Giants’ Doval
Betts went 1-for-4 in last Saturday’s matchup against the San Francisco Giants to snap a string of three consecutive games without a hit, but it was an empty at-bat in the eighth that proved costly.
With the bases loaded and two outs, Betts had an opportunity to tie the game or give the Dodgers a lead with one swing of the bat. Giants relief pitcher Camilo Doval was struggling with control and could only locate — on occasion — his slider.
Doval nonetheless worked his way back from a 3-0 count to strike out Betts on a slider out of the zone. Betts didn’t believe his at-bat quality was subpar and gave credit to Doval working out of trouble.
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