The Los Angeles Dodgers snapped their four-game losing streak behind a 6-2 win over the Chicago Cubs to keep pace with the San Francisco Giants, who created some separation in the National League West standings over the past week.
The Dodgers’ win was not without allowing a home run in the first inning for a fifth consecutive game. It marks the longest such stretch in franchise history and came on Kris Bryant hitting a long ball well up the pavilion in left-center field.
In a carryover from the series opener, the Dodgers initially didn’t get a hit off Jake Arrieta. However, that changed when Cody Bellinger led off the second inning with a single. Bellinger stole second base and scored two grounders later to tie the game.
The leadoff batter was an issue for Arrieta again in the third inning as Zach McKinstry ambushed his first pitch for a go-ahead home run. The homer was McKinstry’s first since returning from the 10-day injured list at the end of May and fourth this season.
Despite Arrieta giving up five hits and walking three batters, the two runs were all the Dodgers could muster in his five innings of work.
Meanwhile, the Bryant home run was the lone hit Gonsolin allowed in four innings. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts expected the right-hander would throw 50 to 60 pitches as he continues to recover from right shoulder fatigue, and Gonsolin wound up at 69 through four innings.
He walked two and had a season-high seven strikeouts. Gonsolin exclusively pitched out of the stretch, which he expects to do moving forward as a means to have improved mechanics.
The Dodgers had several opportunities to provide more run support for Gonsolin, including leaving the bases loaded in the third and fifth innings. That came back to hurt L.A. when Jimmy Nelson allowed the first two batters to reach and the leadoff walk eventually scored on Joc Pederson’s sacrifice fly against Blake Treinen.
AJ Pollock and Max Muncy rescued the Dodgers from what could have been a frustrating loss by each hitting a two-run home run in the eighth inning.
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