Tony Gonsolin remains undefeated with eight wins as the Los Angeles Dodgers (38–23) shut out the Los Angeles Angels (29–34) Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium, defeating a solid effort from Angels starter Noah Syndergaard.
“I just think he [Gonsolin] has real confidence,” said Dodgers manager Dave Roberts. “To have that, to develop that, it takes time and it takes consistent performance. Right now, this is as confident as he’s been in his own abilities and he’s scratching the surface on some really good things moving forward.”
The Dodgers remain in first place in the National League West Division currently tied with the Padres (39–24).
Gonsolin pitched 6 1/3 scoreless innings to improve to the NL best 8–0, 12 starts, while lowering his ERA to the league, and franchise, best of 1.42, with six strikeouts and two walks.
“It feels good,” said Gonsolin of being the first to win eight games in the National League. “I know I’ve struggled in years past to go deeper into games and even qualify for a win, so it feels good knowing that I’m getting deeper into games and giving us a chance to win.”
The Dodgers will need Gonsolin to continue to perform as the ace, as last year’s ace Walker Buehler is expected to miss three months with a Grade 2 flexor strain on his right elbow that occurred last Friday. On Monday, Buehler underwent surgery to remove a bone spur that will remain within the 10- to 12-week recovery time.
“Fastball was really good today,” Gonsolin said. “I kind of felt it in the bullpen pregame, I felt like it had some life. Today was great. Splitter started coming around a little bit, executed it when I needed to. Slider came around a lot. Curveball was solid. But overall, fastball felt good.”
Angels starter Syndergaard gave up one run in the fourth inning resulting in the Angels’ 17th loss of the last 19 games. His record drops to 4–5 with a 3.53 ERA as he struck out five and walked three in 4 2/3 innings.
After retiring the first 10 batters, “Thor” struggled in the fourth with 40 pitches.
Syndergaard walked Freddie Freeman, followed by a single from Trea Turner to third, moving Freeman to second. Max Muncy then grounds into a forced out of Turner at second, moving Freeman to third.
Syndergaard then walked Will Smith, and Justin Turner to bring in Freeman for the winning run of the game 1–0.
In the eighth, Mookie Betts hit his 17th home run of the season, ending a slump after a terrific month of May. Of 241 at-bats, Betts’ average is .278, with 40 RBIs, an OPS of .898, to go along with six stolen bases.
The Angels threatened to score in the ninth as Mike Trout hit a broken-bat single with one out off Craig Kimbrel injuring the home plate umpire.
Shohei Ohtani followed with a double to center field and reliever Kimbrel walked Matt Duffy to load the bases with one out.
Kimbrel got out of the jam striking out Jared Walsh and Max Stassi for his 12th save.
It was the Dodgers’ fifth shutout of the season, ending a three-game skid from being swept at San Francisco over the weekend.
The Angels’ slide continued with their 10th straight road defeat going 2–3 after their record 14-game losing streak.
Six active MVPs were at the game, a first since 1982: to include Cody Bellinger, Betts, and Freeman playing, while starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw sat idle—and the Angels played Ohtani and Trout.
The two Los Angeles clubs meet again Wednesday at 7:10 p.m. PT in the second of three games with the Angels starting rookie left-handed pitcher Reid Detmers (2-2, 3.83 ERA), versus the Dodgers left-handed Tyler Anderson (7-0, 3.07 ERA).
