Steve Webb
CHAVEZ RAVINE, CA — This weekend, the Dodgers did what the Dodgers do; they took it to the San Diego Padres, good and hard. Their 4-0 shutout win on Mother’s Day afternoon was yet another blow to the Padres’ hopes of winning the NL West in 2023, as the Friars now fall a full SEVEN games behind the division-leading Dodgers. It’s early, but that is a mighty big hole for San Diego to climb out of.
This time around, the Dodgers followed the same blueprint that they did in the other two games of the series: a great start, just enough timely hitting, and solid relief to shut down any chance of a late inning comeback.
Different characters on Sunday, but the same result. It was Tony Gonsolin‘s turn to dominate the Padres, and he did just that, holding them scoreless through five solid innings. Sporting a fastball that sometimes touched 95mph, Gonsolin used 95 pitches to navigate through five innings of Padres hitters, holding them to just two hits and a walk.
“Definitely feel great, health-wise, feel good,” said Gonsolin, who was celebrating his 29th birthday on Sunday as well. “Building more confidence every day and just trusting that everything is working.”
As for the offense, there wasn’t much to speak of on the Dodgers’ side of the ledger, but they strung them together when the needed to. In the bottom of the 3rd, Miguel Vargas led off with a double (good to see), and then he came around to score one hitter later when a Mookie Betts blast started the scoring. It was his second homer of the weekend, and Betts’s third in four games against the Padres. This time around, Mookie got a low-middle changeup from starter Ryan Weathers and bashed into into the left center field seats. A wonderful gift for his mom Diana, who was cheering her baby boy on from the stands.
“I remember going back to summer ball and she was always there,” Betts recalled after the game. “She’s always cheering and supporting and I can hear her when I’m going up to the batter’s box. Nothing’s changed and I’m just glad to have an amazing mom.”
After all the moms in the announced crowd of 46,000 got all misty at the “Mookie Moment,” the Dodgers still had a ballgame to win. They insured that would happen with a big two-out double from Miguel Vargas in the bottom of the 6th. Vargas jumped all over Weathers’s first offering and ripped it down the left field line. The ball was deep enough to score both Freddie Freeman and Max Muncy, who chugged home all the way from first base, aided by a poor throw from “Gold Glove nominee” Juan Soto.
With a four-run cushion, Dave Roberts called on the bullpen to finish things up. Yency Almonte was the first to answer the bell in the 6th, followed by 1.2 innings from Victor Gonzalez, a one-out appearance from Brusdar Graterol (facing his best buddy Manny Machado), and then an inning of scoreless ball from Justin Briuhl to complete the sweet sweep.
Though the cool kids were picking the Padres to do big things in the NL West this year, the Dodgers weren’t buying the hype. “I don’t think we ever really felt we were the underdogs,” manager Dave Roberts said as he basked in his team’s latest success. “Most important thing is playing baseball games and seeing who the best team is. I’ve always liked our club.”
We do, too, Dave. We do, too.
Cans of Corn…
- The Dodgers didn’t exactly hit the cover off the ball in this series, only scoring 12 runs themselves, but when you hold the Padres to FOUR earned runs, you’re going to win some ballgames.
- Tony Gonsolin’s final line for the day 5.0 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 6 K.
- Some sad news came to light on Sunday. Ellen Kershaw, Clayton’s wife, announced that Clayton’s mom has passed away. Not many details at the moment. Stay tuned.
- As of now, Kershaw is still scheduled to pitch against the Twins on Tuesday. Maybe bereavement leave after that game.
- The Twins have great pitching, and they’re starting to mash, so it should be a good series. First game is Monday night, with Noah Syndergaard and his blister slated to lock horns with new Twin and former Marlin Pablo Lopez. 7:10 first pitch.
