True Blue LA - May 19: Dodgers 5, Cardinals 0Where The Dodger Dogs Are Always Grilledhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/49563/truebluela_fav.png2023-05-19T20:10:11-07:00http://www.truebluela.com/rss/stream/234943152023-05-19T20:10:11-07:002023-05-19T20:10:11-07:00Mookie Betts, Tony Gonsolin give Dodgers breathing room
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<img alt="MLB: Los Angeles Dodgers at St. Louis Cardinals" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/1wJsZ2D2q3NZfM_r0moAtpxxzqw=/0x0:3400x2267/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/72297749/usa_today_20706428.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Joe Puetz-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p id="CMfmtx">The <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> avoided the chaos of the last week, but still had a stressful affair on Friday night at Busch Stadium. But then Mookie Betts allowed them to exhale, hitting a three-run home run in the eighth inning in a 5-0 win over the Cardinals in the second game of a four-game series.</p>
<p id="yHR09w">Miguel Vargas singled to start the eighth, and with two outs David Peralta walked as a pinch-hitter. This was not new for the Dodgers, who had runners on in seven of the first eight innings. </p>
<p id="aNPJRb">Betts hit the first pitch he saw from Chris Stratton, widening LA’s lead to 4-0.</p>
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<p lang="in" dir="ltr">.<a href="https://twitter.com/mookiebetts?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@mookiebetts</a> 3-run HR! <a href="https://t.co/YYbOwgetFA">pic.twitter.com/YYbOwgetFA</a></p>— SportsNet LA (@SportsNetLA) <a href="https://twitter.com/SportsNetLA/status/1659752012001542144?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 20, 2023</a>
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<p id="DnvE4p">Betts’ homer wasn’t the Dodgers’ only sigh of relief on Friday.</p>
<p id="Kh9vlR">After needing 26 innings from its bullpen over the previous four days, <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/2023/5/17/23727418/dodgers-roster-dylan-covey-justin-bruihl-jimmy-nelson">cycling through</a> <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/2023/5/18/23727236/dustin-may-injured-list-dodgers-roster-justin-bruihl-andre-jackson-dylan-covey">fresh arms</a> <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/2023/5/19/23729536/dodgers-roster-tyler-cyr-andre-jackson-fresh-arm-bullpen">by the bushel</a>, the Dodgers desperately needed some semblance of length from starter Tony Gonsolin on Friday.</p>
<p id="6xnyna">“I like to say, go as hard as you can for as long as you can,” Dave Roberts told reporters in St. Louis before the game, <a href="https://twitter.com/SportsNetLA/status/1659708747915329537">per SportsNet LA</a>.</p>
<p id="8UsDFw">It didn’t look all that promising after a 30-pitch first inning, but Gonsolin not only got through five innings but also kept the Cardinals off the board. He allowed a single and three walks, but also struck out three. He needed 94 pitches to do so, but five innings seemed like a dozen after this week. Before Gonsolin, the last Dodgers pitcher to pitch five innings was also Gonsolin, five days ago.</p>
<p id="DfhT3Y">They’ll take it.</p>
<p id="kl2nM2">Gonsolin left with the lead thanks in large part to the only thing more rare than a Dodgers starter pitching deep this week. Nolan Arenado made a throwing error in the fifth inning, allowing Mookie Betts to reach base, and he scored the only run against Cardinals left-hander Steven Matz.</p>
<p id="Riphk9">All six of Matz’s strikeouts came with runners in scoring position, partly because the Dodgers put runners in scoring position in all five of his innings. Two of those strikeouts were by Chris Taylor with two outs, ending both the first and third innings. But with runners on the corners and two outs in the fifth, Taylor doubled home Mookie Betts for the first run of the game, ending Matz’s night.</p>
<p id="nO3pgy">Unlike the <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/2023/5/18/23729434/julio-urias-home-runs-cardinals-yency-almonte-dodgers-freddie-freeman-andre-jackson">scoring bacchanal in Thursday’s series opener</a>, runs were at a premium for most of Friday, with every big play gaining more importance. Like when Paul Goldschmidt nearly tied the game in the sixth with a drive to centerfield off Brusdar Graterol, only to have James Outman rob a home run.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">WOW JAMES, THAT'S GOLD. <a href="https://t.co/tInirFwNRQ">pic.twitter.com/tInirFwNRQ</a></p>— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) <a href="https://twitter.com/Dodgers/status/1659742925348302849?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 20, 2023</a>
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<h3 id="UlwFUz">Extra effort</h3>
<p id="uC5EyW">One night after <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/2023/5/18/23729430/freddie-freeman-300-home-runs-dodgers">hitting his 300th career home run</a> <em>and</em> a triple, Freddie Freeman doubled twice — once in the first inning and again in the eighth, scoring on a single by Will Smith after his second two-bagger.</p>
<p id="HAtR7c">Freeman leads the National League with 25 extra-base hits, including 15 in 17 games during May. Last year, Freeman had 17 extra-base hits in both May and July. His career high for a single month is 20 extra-base hits, done twice with Atlanta — June 2019 (10 doubles, nine home runs, one triple) and September 2020 (12 doubles, eight home runs). </p>
<p id="ntKBhl">Freeman’s 16 doubles this season lead the NL.</p>
<h3 id="RNxrNy">When it doesn’t rain, it doesn’t pour</h3>
<p id="2UEnL3">Trayce Thompson started against the left-handed Matz, but struck out in both at-bats against him. In the sixth, against right-hander Andre Pallante, Thompson drove a ball to right center field that was tracked down by Lars Nootbar.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">NOOOOT gonna get this ball by Lars! <a href="https://t.co/HNNfZqUrhP">pic.twitter.com/HNNfZqUrhP</a></p>— St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) <a href="https://twitter.com/Cardinals/status/1659742148642631686?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 20, 2023</a>
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<p id="uNCP01">Nootbaar’s catch extended Thompson’s skid to 37 at-bats without a hit, dating back to April 17. That’s tied with Eugenio Velez (2011) and Yasmani Grandal (2015) <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/2023/5/11/23718234/dodgers-trayce-thompson-hitless-skid-stolen-bases-bullpen-usage">as the longest hitless streak by a Dodgers non-pitcher in the 2000s</a>. </p>
<p id="kUnPT8">Thompson’s 103.3-mph drove <a href="https://baseballsavant.mlb.com/gamefeed?date=5/19/2023&gamePk=718113&chartType=pitch&legendType=pitchName&playerType=pitcher&inning=&count=&pitchHand=&batSide=&descFilter=&ptFilter=&resultFilter=&hf=exitVelocity&sportId=1#718113">had a .610 expected batting average</a>, per Statcast, <a href="https://baseballsavant.mlb.com/statcast_search?hfPTM=&hfPT=&hfAB=&hfGT=R%7C&hfPR=&hfZ=&hfStadium=&hfBBL=&hfNewZones=&hfPull=&hfC=&hfSea=2023%7C&hfSit=&player_type=batter&hfOuts=&hfOpponent=&pitcher_throws=&batter_stands=&hfSA=&game_date_gt=2023-04-17&game_date_lt=&hfMo=&hfTeam=&home_road=&hfRO=&position=&hfInfield=&hfOutfield=&hfInn=&hfBBT=&batters_lookup[]=572204&hfFlag=&metric_1=estimated_ba_using_speedangle&metric_1_gt=.500&metric_1_lt=&group_by=name-event&min_pitches=0&min_results=0&min_pas=0&sort_col=xba&player_event_sort=estimated_ba_using_speedangle&sort_order=desc&chk_event_release_speed=on&chk_event_estimated_ba_using_speedangle=on#results">his third-highest xBA on a batted ball during the hitless streak</a>.</p>
<h3 id="wP3hqG">Friday particulars</h3>
<p id="3z0Lkd"><strong>Home run</strong>: Mookie Betts (10) </p>
<p id="V6vF8G"><strong>WP — Tony Gonsolin (2-1)</strong>: 5 IP, 1 hit, 3 walks, 3 strikeouts</p>
<p id="4IHt1H"><strong>LP — Steven Matz (0-5)</strong>: 4⅔ IP, 6 hits, 1 unearned run, 2 walks, 6 strikeouts</p>
<h3 id="dozbRy">Up next</h3>
<p id="RswZaw">The Dodgers and Cardinals switch over to national television on Saturday evening (<a href="https://www.truebluela.com/23727300/dodgers-schedule-cardinals-game-times-tv-pitching-st-louis">4:15 p.m. PT, Fox</a>), with Noah Syndergaard on the mound against right-hander Miles Mikolas for St. Louis.</p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2023/5/19/23730717/mookie-betts-home-run-tony-gonsolin-scoreless-dodgers-exhale-cardinalsEric Stephen2023-05-19T16:56:00-07:002023-05-19T16:56:00-07:00Dodgers vs. Cardinals Game V chat
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<img alt="Los Angeles Dodgers v St. Louis Cardinals" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/ch9HuqdEJod25lf18QKZrhiCgCM=/0x0:2797x1865/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/72297455/1256032153.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Scott Kane/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p id="y40Vvs">The onus on getting more than four innings from a <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> starting pitcher falls on Tony Gonsolin this evening. He was the last one to do so, on Sunday.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Tonight’s <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Dodgers?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Dodgers</a> lineup at Cardinals: <a href="https://t.co/eHq5GS7ePx">pic.twitter.com/eHq5GS7ePx</a></p>— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) <a href="https://twitter.com/Dodgers/status/1659660332455849986?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 19, 2023</a>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Let's keep it rolling!<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/STLCards?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#STLCards</a> <a href="https://t.co/yRy3U7GKWI">pic.twitter.com/yRy3U7GKWI</a></p>— St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) <a href="https://twitter.com/Cardinals/status/1659643620436111361?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 19, 2023</a>
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<h3 id="fdr9Tx">Game info</h3>
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<li id="ZL3WE1">Teams: Dodgers at Cardinals</li>
<li id="tQFNfP">Ballpark: Busch Stadium</li>
<li id="ipxAAz">Time: 5:15 p.m. PT</li>
<li id="yx3Lxu">TV: SportsNet LA, MLB Network (out of market)</li>
<li id="dwj5Kq">Radio: AM 570 (English); KTNQ 1020 (Spanish)</li>
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https://www.truebluela.com/23728085/dodgers-cardinals-game-chatEric Stephen2023-05-19T12:16:19-07:002023-05-19T12:16:19-07:00Dodgers call up Tyler Cyr, the latest fresh arm in a busy bullpen
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<img alt="MLB: FEB 22 Los Angeles Dodgers Photo Day" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/Kjog_TqPtS-h9HjWZ8r7vDd58xg=/0x0:5105x3403/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/72296673/1247491691.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>FEBRUARY 22: Pitcher Tyler Cyr (62) poses for a portrait during the Los Angeles Dodgers photo day on February 22, 2023 at Camelback Ranch in Glendale, AZ. | Photo by Ric Tapia/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p id="FLQFPk">The <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a>’ never-ending need for a fresh arm in the bullpen lives on, with Tyler Cyr the latest new pitcher added to a relief corps that’s handled the bulk of the work this week.</p>
<p id="waxPib">Cyr had his contract selected from Triple-A Oklahoma City, where the 30-year-old right-hander had a 4.86 ERA with 24 strikeouts and 10 walks in 16⅔ innings. The Dodgers <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/2023/1/22/23565396/tyler-cyr-dodgers-minor-league-contract">signed the right-hander to a minor league contract in February</a>, and he was a non-roster invitee in spring training camp.</p>
<p id="NfaYi8">He last pitched on Tuesday, throwing a scoreless inning for Triple-A.</p>
<p id="Whb1Eu">Cyr made his major league debut last season and, if he sticks around on <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/2023/2/16/23596648/dodgers-roster-2023-transactions">the now-full 40-man roster</a>, does have three option years remaining. </p>
<p id="ts3AFd">Another option might have been Michael Grove, who was with the Dodgers in St. Louis on Thursday on the taxi squad, a candidate to be activated from the injured list for relief work.</p>
<p id="5s9IKO">“Michael Grove is here just if something happens tonight, that we might need to happen tomorrow,” manager Dave Roberts told reporters at Busch Stadium before Thursday’s series opener, <a href="https://twitter.com/SportsNetLA/status/1659337317750898688">per SportsNet LA</a>.</p>
<p id="RsZqBg">Something <em>did</em> in fact happen on Thursday, as it has for every Dodgers game this week. Julio Urías <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/2023/5/18/23729434/julio-urias-home-runs-cardinals-yency-almonte-dodgers-freddie-freeman-andre-jackson">got torched four six runs and four home runs in the third inning</a> in his shortest start of the season. That required five more innings from the bullpen. In four games since Monday, Dodgers relievers have pitched 26 innings, compared to only 12 by starting pitchers.</p>
<p id="wfHnoy">The yeoman’s effort on Thursday night came from Andre Jackson, who <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/2023/5/18/23727236/dustin-may-injured-list-dodgers-roster-justin-bruihl-andre-jackson-dylan-covey">was recalled from Oklahoma City earlier in the day</a>. He pitched three scoreless innings of relief to get the Dodgers through the seventh, then allowed a walk and two singles with one out in the eighth, ending his night. All three runners scored.</p>
<p id="NLpUpe">Jackson was optioned to Triple-A on Friday, the product of a Dodgers pitching staff that hasn’t had a starter pitch five innings since Sunday. It marks the third consecutive day a bullpen savior was jettisoned the next day, with <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/2023/5/17/23727418/dodgers-roster-dylan-covey-justin-bruihl-jimmy-nelson">Justin Bruihl optioned Wednesday</a> after pitching two innings Tuesday, his third straight game; and Covey, who pitched four-plus innings Wednesday but was designated for assignment on Thursday.</p>
<p id="LbWcDC">Bruihl returned to the bullpen Thursday when Dustin May was placed on the injured list.</p>
<p id="Byti7H">The Dodgers are in desperate need of a pitcher to soak up a large amount of innings as soon as possible. Starter Tony Gonsolin will get the next crack at it on Friday night.</p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2023/5/19/23729536/dodgers-roster-tyler-cyr-andre-jackson-fresh-arm-bullpenEric Stephen2023-05-18T05:03:00-07:002023-05-18T05:03:00-07:00Dodgers vs. Cardinals series info, St. Louis edition
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<img alt="Los Angeles Dodgers v St Louis Cardinals" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/B-JGYizZLPVLa2dc3YwUVzDra0E=/0x0:3000x2000/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/72291329/1235147308.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p id="CaSQQH">The <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> and Cardinals meet for the second and final time during this regular season, with four games at Busch Stadium in St. Louis beginning on Thursday night.</p>
<p id="YnRmF6">Back at Dodger Stadium from April 28-30, the Dodgers swept the Cardinals in three games, outscoring St. Louis 14-6.</p>
<p id="dSlI39">That was the start of an eight-game losing streak for the Cardinals, who plummeted to 10-24, shocking for a team that made the postseason the last four years. But since then, St. Louis has won eight of 10 games, tying the Dodgers for best record in MLB over the last 11 days.</p>
<p id="dK0X0D">Saturday’s game is an exclusive telecast on Fox, with the other three games on SportsNet LA.</p>
<h3 id="z1oria">Dodgers vs. Cardinals schedule</h3>
<p id="IPwtaH"><strong>Thursday, 4:45 p.m. PT</strong><br>Julio Urías vs. Adam Wainwright<br><em>SportsNet LA, MLB Network (out of market)</em></p>
<p id="9rQORK"><strong>Friday, 5:15 p.m.</strong><br>Tony Gonsolin vs. Steven Matz (L)<br><em>SportsNet LA, MLB Network (out of market)</em></p>
<p id="sKQTIy"><strong>Saturday, 4:15 p.m.</strong><br>Noah Syndergaard vs. Miles Mikolas<br><em>Fox</em></p>
<p id="GmCMSk"><strong>Sunday, 11:15 a.m.</strong><br>Clayton Kershaw vs. Jack Flaherty<br><em>SportsNet LA</em></p>
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https://www.truebluela.com/23727300/dodgers-schedule-cardinals-game-times-tv-pitching-st-louisEric Stephen