Tyler Anderson and Dodgers cap stellar road trip with sweeping performance
PHOENIX — They visited three cities in 10 days. They traveled more than 5,000 miles. They played almost 33 hours of baseball.
The most important number from the Dodgers’ 10-game trip the last two weeks: They won eight games, the last of which came Sunday in a 3-1 defeat of the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Behind six scoreless innings from Tyler Anderson, an early scoring barrage that included a Will Smith home run and RBIs from Freddie Freeman and Trea Turner, and another successful day from the bullpen, the Dodgers completed a four-game sweep at Chase Field and finished their trip with an 8-2 record.
Dodgers sweep Dbacks, finish road trip at 8-2
The Dbacks scratched across one run in the ninth inning against closer Craig Kimbrel, but couldn’t complete the comeback.
Instead, the Dodgers picked up their second four-game sweep of the Dbacks this month with a 3-1 win, bringing their record on this 10-game road trip to 8-2 — the team’s most wins on a single road trip since 1997.
The Dodgers are now 33-14 and return home to open a seven-game homestand on Monday against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Final: Dodgers 3, Dbacks 1
Tyler Anderson extends scoreless inning streak to 20 after another impressive start
Tyler Anderson completed a scoreless six inning start, giving up just five hits and one walk while striking out six.
Anderson has now thrown 20 consecutive scoreless innings over his last three starts, going back to the second inning of his start on May 17 against the Diamondbacks.
His ERA on the season is now 2.90.
Every Dodgers pitcher with more than three starts this year now has a sub-3.00 ERA.
End 6th: Dodgers lead 3-0
Dodgers manufacture a couple runs in the third
The Dodgers played small ball to extend their lead in the third inning.
After a single from Gavin Lux and walk by Austin Barnes, both runners advanced on a Mookie Betts flyout.
That set up Freddie Freeman for an RBI single the other way, and Trea Turner to drive in another with a soft ground ball to third.
Mid 3rd: Dodgers lead 3-0
Will Smith homers in 12-pitch at-bat
In a 12-pitch at-bat against Will Smith, Diamondbacks starter Zach Davies stayed stubborn with the sinker.
In a 3-and-2 count against Smith, Davies threw the pitch again and again. Up in the zone. On the outside corner. Even over the heart of the plate.
Every time, Smith fouled them off.
Then, finally, he got ahold of one.
On the 12th pitch of the at-bat, Smith hit an elevated sinker up in the zone the other way, launching a solo home run into the pool at Chase Field to open the scoring.
Mid 2nd: Dodgers lead 1-0
Kevin Pillar gets first start as Dodgers go for sweep
PHOENIX — Kevin Pillar always dreamed of playing for the Dodgers will growing up in the San Fernando Valley.
On Sunday, he’ll take the field in their uniform for the first time, making his first start for the Dodgers as the team goes for a four-game sweep of the Diamondbacks.
Pillar, 33, signed a minor-league contract with the Dodgers this spring after spending most of his nine-year career with the Toronto Blue Jays. In triple A this year, tweaks to his approach and swing netted impressive results, as the outfielder hit .315 with nine home runs in 36 games. He was recalled on Saturday when Max Muncy went on the injured list.
“I’m excited for this opportunity to come up here and prove to myself, and prove to this league, that I’m a better version of myself,” Pillar said. “That I’m ready for this opportunity.”
Pillar was in the lineup Sunday so Cody Bellinger could have a day. Justin Turner also had an off day, with Edwin Ríos remaining in the lineup at third base.
Tyler Anderson will be on the mound for the Dodgers. He enters the game with a 5-0 record and 3.30 ERA.
Here’s the Dodgers full lineup:
IL-bound Max Muncy says elbow has been a factor in slow start but isn’t excuse
PHOENIX — Max Muncy said it wasn’t an excuse for his poor start.
But after being put on the injured list Saturday because of left elbow inflammation, the Dodgers infielder acknowledged his elbow has been a factor in his struggles over the first couple of months of the season.
“I’ve been grinding through some things,” Muncy said. “But unfortunately I’ve been trying to put my body on the line, and I just need to take a step back for a couple days and just reset and give my body a chance to heal up.”
Muncy’s placement on the injured list had been expected.
Though he was on the opening day roster after spending the offseason rehabilitating from a torn ligament and other damage his elbow sustained during the final day of last regular season, Muncy hadn’t looked right this year.
How to watch and stream the Dodgers this season
Here’s a look at the Dodgers broadcast and streaming schedule for the remainder of the 2022 regular season:
ICYMI: Tony Gonsolin continues stellar start to season in Dodgers win
PHOENIX — He showed flashes as a rookie but then regressed last year.
Though the Dodgers were hopeful of a bounce back, few were anticipating production this consistent.
Of the Dodgers’ current starting rotation — one that includes a former All-Star and 20-game winner — it’s Tony Gonsolin who has arguably pitched the best over the first quarter of the season, leading the group in ERA, strikeout rate and walks plus hits per inning pitched (WHIP).
In the team’s 3-2 win against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Saturday, the right-hander displayed all the reasons why again.
He attacked with a fastball that this season has regained its life, after Gonsolin was dogged by a shoulder injury last year.