True Blue LA - May 16: Dodgers 5, Diamondbacks 4Where The Dodger Dogs Are Always Grilledhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/49563/truebluela_fav.png2022-05-16T22:07:19-07:00http://www.truebluela.com/rss/stream/228459452022-05-16T22:07:19-07:002022-05-16T22:07:19-07:00Gonsolin pitches deep, Taylor goes deep to beat D-backs
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<img alt="MLB: MAY 16 Diamondbacks at Dodgers" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/XoDWsN5dODnD-TYv_02zxLu-v0g=/0x0:5008x3339/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/70877302/1240716621.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Kimbrel, LA hold on in 9th to win opener</p> <p id="Z1VAEW">Tony Gonsolin was allowed to pitch deeper than usual on Monday, and delivered six strong innings to lead the <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> over the <a href="https://www.azsnakepit.com/">Diamondbacks</a> 5-4 in the opener of a four-game series at Dodger Stadium.</p>
<p id="OIBECU">Gonsolin got uncommon rope, wading five batters into the choppy waters of the third time through Arizona’s lineup. Kettle Marte, who had a fly-ball double earlier and scored with the help of an error, hit a fly-ball single with two outs in the sixth. Christian Walker, who homered off Gonsolin in the second inning, was pitched around in a five-pitch walk.</p>
<p id="3aiAGC">But Gonsolin rewarded the faith by striking out Josh Rojas to end the threat. Gonsolin’s seven strikeouts are a season high, and two more than he had in any previous 2022 start. </p>
<p id="lB6JPM">His 23 batters faced are the third-most in his career, behind <a href="https://stathead.com/tiny/hwVKA">a pair of slightly deeper outings in September 2020</a>. That regular season was Gonsolin’s best, posting a 2.31 ERA, forcing his way into a rotation spot, then lasting at least six innings in four of his final seven starts.</p>
<p id="wZN4Te">Shoulder inflammation sidelined Gonsolin for long stints in 2021, when he lost two ticks off his fastball, never recorded more than 16 outs in a game, and averaged under four innings in his 15 appearances. </p>
<p id="pgRTxX">Gonsolin reached six innings for the second time this season on Monday, and <a href="https://baseballsavant.mlb.com/gamefeed?date=5/16/2022&gamePk=662695&chartType=pitch&legendType=pitchName&playerType=pitcher&inning=&count=&pitchHand=&batSide=&descFilter=&ptFilter=&resultFilter=&hf=pitchVelocity#662695">reached 94.9 mph on his fastball in his final frame</a>. His 92 pitches tied a career best, set in 2019.</p>
<p id="FVunbg">The five batters faced the third time through on Monday were one more than Gonsolin faced in his first six starts combined this season. The results so far have been stellar, allowing only seven total runs in his seven outings, with a 1.64 ERA and 30 strikeouts in 33 innings.</p>
<p id="IfrLB4">What made the sixth inning different for Gonsolin, within the context of Monday’s game, was that he had the lead for the first time. The Dodgers squandered a two-on, no-out situation in the fourth, then put themselves in the same spot in the fifth thanks to a Chris Taylor double and a walk by Austin Barnes.</p>
<p id="9CXqd5">Madison Bumgarner wiggled out of that earlier jam, then got Sunday goat-turned-hero Gavin Lux to pop out in the infield. But it took only four pitches for the game to flip.</p>
<p id="FGiquT">Mookie Betts lined a single that skipped past Alek Thomas in center field, allowing both runners to score and tie the game, with Betts reaching third. Freddie Freeman followed with an opposite field double for the Dodgers’ first lead of the game.</p>
<p id="Q2fdCU">But the long and the short of the Dodgers offense came in the sixth inning, after Bumgarner and his 96 pitches exited. Much was made about several left-handed Dodgers getting specific bunting instruction before the game from manager Dave Roberts, who had 76 bunt hits in his 10-year playing career, including 18 such safeties in each of 2002 and 2003 with the Dodgers.</p>
<p id="2rCnRt">Muncy beat out an infield dribbler for a single to beat the shift in the second inning, but his effort in the sixth was intentional, laying down a perfect bunt up the third base line for his third career bunt single, and first since 2019. Muncy’s two infield hits on Monday matched his total in the first 32 games this season.</p>
<p id="cGmGfu">Taylor followed the small ball with a long ball, an opposite-field home run to widen the Dodgers’ advantage. It was Taylor’s first game with multiple extra-base hits this season, and continued a resurgence of his bat on this homestand.</p>
<p id="kGRDfx">Taylor had an 11-game skid that saw him strike out 22 times in 40 plate appearances, with only six hits. That included <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/2022/5/9/23064576/chris-taylor-injury-knee-foul-ball">fouling a ball off his left knee in Pittsburgh</a>, which sidelined him for a game. But he’s reached base multiple times in the first five games of the homestand, going 6-for-17 (.353) with two home runs, two doubles, four walks, and only two strikeouts.</p>
<p id="NHA9Sr">The insurance runs were very much needed as Craig Kimbrel allowed an infield single before a two-run home run by David Peralta cut the Dodgers’ lead to just one with one out in the ninth. Kimbrel recovered for the final two outs, converting his sixth save in six tries this season.</p>
<h3 id="9IWHmJ">Welcome back</h3>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Loved watching and talking with <a href="https://twitter.com/Im__Ferg?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Im__Ferg</a> the last couple of weeks. Happy to see him back!</p>— Kevin Pillar (@KPILLAR4) <a href="https://twitter.com/KPILLAR4/status/1526419720139952128?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 17, 2022</a>
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<p id="IgqmCp">Left-hander Caleb Ferguson pitched a scoreless inning in his first game back after Tommy John surgery in 2020. He walked his first batter, David Peralta, on five pitches, but recovered to strike out Geraldo Perdomo then induced a pair of groundouts to end the frame.</p>
<p id="911Lr6">Ferguson, who was <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/2022/5/16/23078255/dodgers-roster-caleb-ferguson-michael-grove">activated off the injured list earlier Monday</a>, pitched in his first major league game since September 15, 2020.</p>
<h3 id="2VLz80">Monday particulars</h3>
<p id="fZxefQ"><strong>Home runs</strong>: Chris Taylor (3); Christian Walker (7), David Peralta (5)</p>
<p id="kyXmk4"><strong>WP — Tony Gonsolin (4-0)</strong>: 6 IP, 3 hits, 2 runs, 2 walks, 7 strikeouts</p>
<p id="o54Rsg"><strong>LP — Madison Bumgarner (2-2)</strong>: 5 IP, 6 hits, 3 runs, 2 walks, 1 strikeout</p>
<p id="W1UgZm"><strong>Sv — Craig Kimbrel (6)</strong>: 1 IP, 2 hits, 2 runs, 2 strikeouts</p>
<h3 id="ZO6pNb">Up next</h3>
<p id="mNzxpG">Tuesday is doubleheader day, with games at 12:10 p.m. (SportsNet LA) and 7:10 p.m. (SportsNet LA, MLB Network). Tyler Anderson and Merrill Kelly face off in the nightcap. Left-hander Tyler Gilbert starts the opener for Arizona. It’ll probably be Ryan Pepiot for the Dodgers in the first game, though they haven’t announced a starter just yet. It’s the first doubleheader at Dodger Stadium since July 22, 1999.</p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2022/5/16/23080638/tony-gonsolin-strikeouts-chris-taylor-home-run-double-dodgers-diamondbacksEric Stephen2022-05-16T18:49:00-07:002022-05-16T18:49:00-07:00Dodgers vs. D-backs Game IV chat
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<img alt="MLB: MAY 13 Phillies at Dodgers" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/5fzDtYjHgf52yFW8pQS5n6iG71k=/0x0:3544x2363/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/70876928/1240677288.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Brandon Sloter/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p id="ZMwMPv">The <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> open a series against the <a href="https://www.azsnakepit.com/">Diamondbacks</a> on Monday night, the first of four games at Dodger Stadium in roughly 45 hours.</p>
<p id="y7Mhtq">Caleb Ferguson is back in the majors for the first time since Tommy John surgery in September 2020.</p>
<div id="EfmYhZ"><div data-anthem-component="table:11197536"></div></div>
<h3 id="5uY1gX">Game info</h3>
<ul>
<li id="wzUlJS">Teams: Dodgers (21-12) vs. D-backs (18-17)</li>
<li id="O5ynJS">Pitchers: Tony Gonsolin vs. Madison Bumgarner</li>
<li id="g8HEKw">Location: Dodger Stadium</li>
<li id="zSDMpX">Time: 7:10 p.m. PT</li>
<li id="LhRUSe">TV: SportsNet LA</li>
</ul>
https://www.truebluela.com/2022/5/16/23075539/dodgers-diamondbacks-game-chatEric Stephen2022-05-16T15:56:08-07:002022-05-16T15:56:08-07:00Caleb Ferguson back for first time since Tommy John surgery
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<img alt="GLENDALE, AZ - MARCH 21, 2022: Caleb Ferguson #64 of the Los Angeles Dodgers throws a pitch during the fifth inning of an MLB spring training game against the Chicago White Sox at Camelback Ranch on March 21, 2022 in Glendale, Arizona." src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/BtHe0zS8LcSgKQ0AkiN_o6ayvVE=/0x0:1348x899/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/70876541/Screen_Shot_2022_05_16_at_3.50.43_PM.0.png" />
<figcaption>GLENDALE, AZ - MARCH 21, 2022: Caleb Ferguson #64 of the Los Angeles Dodgers throws a pitch during the fifth inning of an MLB spring training game against the Chicago White Sox at Camelback Ranch on March 21, 2022 in Glendale, Arizona. | Photo by David Durochik/Diamond Images via Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Michael Grove was optioned after his major league debut</p> <p id="pSDSU4">Caleb Ferguson is back in the majors for the first time in 20 months, activated from the injured list by the <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> before Monday’s series opener against the <a href="https://www.azsnakepit.com/">Diamondbacks</a> at Dodger Stadium.</p>
<p id="mkI5N0">Ferguson <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/2022/4/7/23008931/dodgers-injured-list-roster-tommy-kahnle-caleb-ferguson-victor-gonzalez">began the season on the injured list</a> while rehabbing <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/2021/12/5/22795560/caleb-ferguson-2021-dodgers-review">from Tommy John surgery he had in September 2020</a>. </p>
<div class="c-float-right"><div id="ng9lB3"><div data-anthem-component="table:11197536"></div></div></div>
<p id="9lSZG8">In six games on a rehab assignment with Triple-A Oklahoma City, the left-hander allowed eight runs (six earned) on 10 hits in 4⅔ innings, with five strikeouts and three walks. His last two appearances — last Wednesday and Friday — were scoreless innings.</p>
<p id="X4d8AI">The Dodgers optioned Michael Grove one day after his major league debut.</p>
<p id="qdCxpR">Grove was recalled from Double-A Tulsa to start Sunday’s series finale and allowed four runs in his 3⅔ innings against the <a href="https://www.thegoodphight.com/">Phillies</a>, though all of the runs were unearned after a Gavin Lux error prolonged the second inning.</p>
<p id="7l6eff">“Just wanted to hop on here and say I’m so grateful for all the support I’ve gotten this weekend, and especially for all the people back home that tuned in!” <a href="https://twitter.com/mgrove_2/status/1526044530931142656">Grove tweeted after Sunday’s game</a>. “Today was a dream come true!”</p>
<p id="t9ebp4">Against left-hander Madison Bumgarner on Monday, Cody Bellinger is out of the Dodgers lineup for the first time all season. He played every inning of the first 33 games of the season in center field, but those defensive duties on Monday fall to Chris Taylor.</p>
<p id="1mG44b">Austin Barnes catches Tony Gonsolin, and Will Smith is the designated hitter.</p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2022/5/16/23078255/dodgers-roster-caleb-ferguson-michael-groveEric Stephen2022-05-16T13:26:00-07:002022-05-16T13:26:00-07:00An old foe in town in opener with D-backs
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<img alt="Arizona Diamondbacks v Los Angeles Dodgers" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/7REHqXny7FAvyR5veCZzkeqAZcQ=/0x0:2436x1624/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/70875897/1319046919.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Harry How/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Monday is Bumgarner’s 23rd career start at Dodger Stadium. Only four LA opponents have more</p> <p id="zQMxXt">The <a href="https://www.azsnakepit.com/">Diamondbacks</a> are the <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> first return customer of 2022, playing their second series of the season, and the first in Los Angeles this year.</p>
<p id="FpoPuk">When the Dodgers lost two of three in Arizona three weeks ago, the perception was LA succumbed to a lowly opponent. After all, when the Dodgers captured the series opener, the Diamondbacks were 6-11, after a 110-loss season that included a 5-40 stretch that made even this year’s Reds blush.</p>
<p id="Ky78wt">But Arizona took the next two games of that series against the Dodgers, and come to Los Angeles with an 18-17 record.</p>
<p id="lCAexR">All five teams in the National League West are at .500 or better. Only three such NL teams exist outside the division (<a href="https://www.brewcrewball.com/">Brewers</a>, <a href="https://www.amazinavenue.com/">Mets</a>, Cardinals), and the entire American League only has six teams without a losing record.</p>
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<p id="s8iiL6">NL West teams are 29-15 against the NL Central this season, 30-27 against the NL East, and 15-7 in interleague play. That’s a .602 winning percentage outside the division.</p>
<p id="wQuYd8">Whether the D-backs keep this up remains to be seen, as they have been outscored by 15 runs this season. The rotation has been the key for Arizona this season under new pitching coach Brent Strom, with a 2.51 ERA <a href="https://www.fangraphs.com/leaders.aspx?pos=all&stats=sta&lg=all&qual=0&type=8&season=2022&month=0&season1=2022&ind=0&team=0,ts&rost=0&age=0&filter=&players=0&startdate=2022-01-01&enddate=2022-12-31&sort=16,a">that ranks second in the majors</a>, behind only the Dodgers at 2.45. D-backs starters rank eighth in FIP (3.53), just ahead of Los Angeles (3.56).</p>
<p id="7fmcdg">Madison Bumgarner has gotten the results so far, allowing only nine runs in his seven starts, with his only adversity faced coming <a href="https://sports.yahoo.com/mlb-umpire-dan-bellino-apologizes-for-role-in-madison-bumgarner-incident-013253504.html">at the literal hands of umpire and staring contest champion Dan Bellino</a>. </p>
<p id="4FSkIM">Bumgarner takes his 1.78 ERA (and 3.81 xERA) into Monday night’s series opener, in increasingly familiar territory. Monday is Bumgarner’s 23rd career start in Los Angeles, which ties him with Steve Carlton and Rick Reuschel for <a href="https://stathead.com/tiny/3JRWg">fifth-most by an opponent at Dodger Stadium</a>. The only pitchers with more road starts at Chavez Ravine are Phil Niekro (33 starts), Juan Marichal (28), Tom Glavine (25), and Tom Seaver (24).</p>
<p id="izCRMo">Tony Gonsolin starts for the Dodgers, on five days rest.</p>
<h3 id="5uY1gX">Game info</h3>
<ul>
<li id="wzUlJS">Teams: Dodgers (21-12) vs. D-backs (18-17)</li>
<li id="O5ynJS">Pitchers: Tony Gonsolin vs. Madison Bumgarner</li>
<li id="g8HEKw">Location: Dodger Stadium</li>
<li id="zSDMpX">Time: 7:10 p.m. PT</li>
<li id="LhRUSe">TV: SportsNet LA</li>
</ul>
<p id="3a6Yun"></p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2022/5/16/23075733/dodgers-diamondbacks-preview-tony-gonsolin-madison-bumgarnerEric Stephen