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Here’s the thing, yes, Tony Gonsolin pitched a solid five innings and got the win. Joe Kelly and Pedro Báez were very good to set it up for the ninth inning. But Kenley Jansen has been in the spotlight and he needed a signature outing.
And while today wasn’t the cleanest outing, he did strike out the last two batters and the Dodgers won 2-1 to even up the series.
In a series like this one, it is the little things that you look at, The Dodgers made the plays they had to and their pitchers executed their game plan. They Yankees got what they wanted but the Dodgers were able to hold on and win another one-run game.
The scoring took place in the bottom of the third and the top of the fourth innings.
Justin Turner hit a two-run homer with Tony Gonsolin aboard (via Gonsolin’s first career hit) to make it 2-0. Aaron Judge would hit a solo shot in the fourth inning to cut the lead to one run.
Gonsolin made his fourth start and while he was not particularly sharp, he did keep the ball from going over the wall except for one plate appearance. And while the Dodgers had their fourth straight game of scoring three runs or less, the Dodgers were able to make Justin Turner’s two-run homer stand up for six innings for the win.
All that being said, the game was really a test for the Dodger bullpen.
Gonsolin held the Yankees to one run for five innings. He was 21st starting pitcher this season to hold the Yankees to one run in five or more innings.
Joe Kelly came in the sixth innng and pitched 1 ⅔ scoreless innings, Pedro Báez followed Kelly and recorded four outs, striking out the side in the eighth inning.
In the ninth inning, Kenley Jansen struck out Didi Gregorius when he attempted to bunt against the shift with two outs, The next two batters got on base via well-placed ground balls.
Gio Urshela hit a ground ball that Justin Turner, Turner tried to get a force play at second but a review reversed an out call and confirmed the runner beat the throw.. So Kenley Jansen had the bases-loaded with one out and a one-run lead to protect.
Jansen would proceed to strikeout the next two batters and the Dodgers held on to their victory,
The Dodgers win lowered their magic number to 12.
Transactions
The Dodgers recalled catcher Austin Barnes before Saturday’s game. Catcher Russell Martin was placed on bereavement leave.
In the 20 games played since he was optioned to Oklahoma City, Barnes hit .250 with six home runs.
Russell Martin is expected to miss the minimum 3 days on the bereavement list. His grandmother passed away. Back Tuesday, Dave Roberts said.
— Eric Stephen (@ericstephen) August 24, 2019
Austin Barnes flew in this morning. He’ll start at catcher Sunday night. Barnes will be optioned when Martin is back, return in September
Saturday particulars
Home runs: Justin Turner (23), Aaron Judge (15),
WP: Tony Gonsolin (2-1), 5 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 2 SO
LP: CC Sabathia (5-8), 4 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 7 SO
SV: Kenley Jansen (27), 1 IP, 2 H, 3 SO
Up next
The Dodgers will try to win their weekend series on Sunday and it will be a ESPN Sunday Night broadcast. Domingo Germán will start for the Yankees and Clayton Kershaw will be on the mound for the Dodgers. First pitch is scheduled for 4:05 p.m. PT.