Dodgers Highlights: Peralta Kickstarts Huge Night for LA Offense, Mookie Breaks Out in Win
The Dodgers scored early and often against the Phillies and Taijuan Walker en route to their first 4 game winning streak of the season. Tony Gonsolin was cruising through the first 4 innings of the game until he ran out of gas in the 5th. He was making only his 2nd start of the season. David Peralta had 4 RBI night. Mookie Betts had 3 hits and a home run while driving in 3. And Freddie Freeman chipped in a 3 hit night to get back over the .300 mark on the year.
Box Score (select Dodgers on the drop down menu)
Let’s get into the highlights.
After the Phillies went down in order in the top of the first, the Dodgers drew first blood on a Will Smith home run, his 4th of the season and first since coming off the injured list.
The Dodgers added a field goal in the 2nd inning with a majestic 3-run home run off the bat of David Peralta. Which Walker Buehler loved (as he does with all Dodger homers).
They added another in the 3rd on a Jason Heyward solo homer, also his 4th of the season.
Heyward has hit in 4 straight games and has 3 multi hit games over that span. He’s hitting .322 since April 18th.
The Fightin’ Phils got on the board with a Kyle Schwarber solo homer off Gonsolin. It was every bit of a Schwarber home run… down the right field line.
The Dodgers got back to a more traditional way of scoring, stringing together 4 hits in the bottom of the 4th to take an 8-1 lead.
Tony Gonsolin ran out of gas (and reached his pitch limit) in the 5th and was removed with 2 on and 2 out. Phil Bickford and allowed a 2 run single, much to the chagrin of Gonsolin’s ERA. 8-3 Dodgers and the Cat Man was done.
The LA offense got going again in the 5th with another Michael Busch single that was followed by a Mookie Betts RBI double. For Busch, it was his second hit of the game and first multi hit game of his career.
The Phillies added a run in the 6th off Bickford and the Dodgers were held scoreless for the first time all game.
Flash forward to the bottom of the 7th, Michael Busch added a walk to his nice evening and Mookie follow him with the 2 run home run, his third hit of the night.
Best of all, it was off old friend Craig Kimbrel.
Also, this is just a fun view.
Victor Gonzalez and Shelby Miller combined to keep the Phillies off the board in the 7th and 8th. Gonzalez continues to look really good in his first MLB action since 2021.
The Dodgers loaded the bases with no outs in the bottom of the 7th and scored a run on a hard ground out by Miguel Vargas. David Peralta followed with an RBI single to knock in his 4th fun of the night.
Facing a 13-4 deficit, Philadelphia turned to a Clemens on the mound as Roger’s kid Cody came in as a position player pitcher. Michael Busch struck out on paint and Miguel Rojas walked before reliever Shelby Miller hit a screamer of a groundout to 3rd base.
How or why was Miller hitting? The Dodgers gave up their DH to get Miguel Vargas at second base.
Shelby came back out to finish the game in the 9th. Of course he faced Clemens as the first batter of the inning.
Final Score: 13-4 Dodger victory.
Oh, and your Dodgers are in first place in the NL West.
Quote of the Game
“It feels good. when you put in a lot of hard work on the field and it pays off the way it did today, it’s satisfying.” – David Peralta
Dodgers Pitching
Tony Gonsolin ran out of gas in his 2nd start since coming off the IL. He went 4.2 innings and allowed 3 runs on 5 hits. He threw 80 pitches.
Everyone not named Phil Bickford held the Phillies scoreless. Bickford came away with the win.
What’s Up Next for the Dodgers?
The Dodgers, who are undefeated in May, send Julio Urias (3-3, 4.41 ERA) to the mound for his 7th start of the season. He looks to get back on track after a recent run of struggles. Philly counters with left-hander Matt Strahm (2-2, 2.31 ERA). First pitch is at 7:10 PM PT.
