The Los Angeles Dodgers endured much of the same struggles and a similar blueprint from the series opener against the St. Louis Cardinals, but this time completed their comeback for a 7-6 win at Busch Stadium.
Just as Mitch White had trouble doing so, Tony Gonsolin couldn’t quite put the Cardinals away after getting two outs in an inning, and he failed to solve Andrew Knizner. The light-hitting backup catcher entered the series batting just .181.
After Gonsolin gave up a two-run single to Paul Goldschmidt and two-run home run to Nolan Arenado in the third inning, Knizner’s RBI double in the fifth extended the Cardinals’ lead to 5-0. He improved to 5-for-6 with four RBI up to that point in the series.
The five earned runs are the most Gonsolin has allowed in 52 career games (44 starts). Gonsolin exited after five innings and with a 2.02 ERA, the highest it’s been since his second start of the season.
Wednesday also marked a third consecutive game in which the Dodgers trailed by at least five runs. Their deficit grew when Lars Nootbaar hit an RBI single off Alex Vesia in the sixth inning.
The Dodgers were slow to get on the board despite working Adam Wainwright’s pitch count and having at least one baserunner in each of the innings he began.
Wainwright exited with two on and one out in the sixth inning. His scoreless outing was preserved by Packy Naughton striking out pinch-hitter Trayce Thompson and retiring Gavin Lux.
Will Smith started the comeback bid by hitting a two-run home run in the seventh inning. Mookie Betts added an RBI double in the eighth and Trea Turner followed that with a two-run single.
Justin Turner led off the ninth inning with a double and Cody Bellinger then drove a base hit into right field. However, pinch-runner Austin Barnes stumbled as he rounded third base, which prevented Bellinger’s hit from tying the game.
Max Muncy wound up getting Barnes off the hook with a sacrifice fly, and Hanser Alberto delivered a go-ahead RBI single.
Due to Craig Kimbrel being used in the eighth inning, Evan Phillips converted his first save with the Dodgers. Their win prevented Gonsolin from taking his first loss of the season.
The Dodgers’ 26 comeback wins this year are most in the National League.
Freeman remains force in Dodgers lineup
Coming off back-to-back games with four hits, Freddie Freeman went 3-for-3 with one walk in the loss. Freeman acknowledged he feels locked in at the plate and is merely looking to capitalize on what can be a fleeting rhythm.
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