Steve Webb
CHAVEZ RAVINE, CA — It would just be wrong for the Dodgers to lose on the 75th anniversary of Jackie Robinson‘s first major league game. And the Dodgers made sure that that wasn’t going to happen. They pieced together a strong night of pitching and got just enough offense to best the Cincinnati Reds 3-1 on a day of celebration and reflection throughout the baseball world.
Robinson family make pregame appearance
It was a special day long before the first pitch. Dodger players gathered around the Jackie Robinson statue before game time and received a special message from Jackie Robinson’s son David. “Let’s ask ourselves,’Where have we come as a nation in the last 75 years?’ ” Robinson told the team. “Have we really brought ourselves together? Have we really created equality? Is there some sustainable within gainful employment that all Americans are able to achieve? Are we unified as a nation and then made stronger by that unity? Are we in sync with our neighbors around the world? What is the African-American position? What’s our plan for survival and self-development?”
Then on the field right before first pitch, Jackie’s widow Rachel Robinson, now 99 years young, received a commemorative jacket from the Players’ Alliance, an organization of former and current Black ballplayers committed to expanding opportunities in baseball for underserved communities. The jacket was presented by Alliance members (and former Dodgers) Curtis Granderson and Edwin Jackson.
“Jackie was all about looking out and looking forward,” said Dave Roberts before the game began. “So to appreciate how far we’ve come is certainly fair, but more important is where we need to go. That’s what pushes and challenges all of us to keep getting better and to make change. … What Jackie did was incredible, but we’ve got to keep going.”
Gonsolin goes four scoreless
As for the game itself, Tony Gonsolin made his second start of the year, and it looked a lot like his first. A lot of pitches, more than a few baserunners, but in the end he kept pitching out of trouble. The leadoff man reached base in three of the four innings that he pitched, and he had an elevated pitch count for most of the night, but he managed to get through four innings with nothing but zeros on the board for the Reds. Though Gonsolin’s WHIP for the year stands at a nasty 1.71, his ERA is 1.29. It doesn’t quite compute, and those numbers don’t seem sustainable, but the outing tonight was good enough to get the Dodgers into the middle part of the ball game without surrendering a run.
Dodgers get three one-spots to take lead
The Dodgers weren’t exactly hitting the cover off the ball, either. However, they did manage to put together a few mini-rallies that plated single runs in the second, third, and fifth innings to go up 3-0.
There were a couple big knocks in each inning. In the second, the Dodgers got their run on a Max Muncy double and a Chris Taylor single, but on the same play, Justin Turner was gunned down at the plate to limit the scoring to just the single run.
Then, in the second, Gavin Lux singled and was driven home when Trea Turner tripled down the right field line. But again, the rally ended there and the Dodgers were unable to add on.
Finally, in the fifth, it was Gavin Lux’s turn to hit the triple, and he ended up scoring when Justin Turner drew a bases-loaded walk. And (stop me if you heard this before), the rally kind of fizzled there, and the Dodgers had to settle for one. In all, the Dodgers were 2-for-11 with runners in scoring position, and though they seemed on the verge of breaking the game open a couple of times, it never happened.
Anderson has effective piggyback outing
Just as happened last week in Denver, Tyler Anderson followed up Gonsolin with four innings of his own for the Dodgers. He gave up one run on just two hits and struck out four on the evening. It was a second straight good-looking outing for the former starter. Once the team got away from Colorado, the pitching has been rock solid, giving up only six runs over the last four games. Craig Kimbrel finished up the game for his second save as a Dodger.
Dodgers will be seeing Greene tomorrow
All in all, a good victory, but there were a few too many unrealized opportunities along the way. They will need to cash in on these run scoring chances more often against more challenging opponents. Still, it was a nice W, and the perfect end to a special day at the Stadium. Tomorrow, Julio Urias will try to improve on his lackluster debut from last week when he gets the ball for the home team.
Toeing the slab for the Reds will be the flame-throwing rookie, Hunter Greene, a product of Notre Dame High School here in the San Fernando Valley. Greene grew up a Dodger fan, so you have to think the butterflies will be working overtime for the young right-hander tomorrow. It’s another 7:10 start on Saturday, before these two teams wrap up the series on Sunday afternoon.
Cans of Corn…
- It was the Gavin Lux and Trea Turner show tonight, as both players got a triple and a single and drove in a run.
- Lux’s average is now .381. This kind of start is just what this former #1 prospect needed to cement his position with the team.
- Trea Turner broke out the Smooth Criminal slide again, to the delight of all.
- Tyler Anderson lost his grip on a change up and knocked Joey Votto to the ground, hitting the bill of his helmet with the ball. The usually affable Canadian seemed none too pleased with Anderson, and the two exchange words as Votto headed first base.
- Rachel Robinson seemed in good spirits during the ceremony and was able to stand under her own power. Not bad for being nearly 100 years old.
- Apple TV+ seemed to get mixed reviews from the social media world. They were using some super-duper cameras tonight, and the images were very crisp and good. The broadcast team, which included former Giant Hunter Pence, was less impressive.
