The Dodgers have now alternated wins and losses for the last nine games, with today’s being a positive that earned them a split in the four-game series with the Diamondbacks. The bats got Tony Gonsolin an early lead and slowly built on it, while the Cat Man continued to look sharp and the pen closed out the win comfortably in a 8-1 victory.
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Tony Gonsolin entering this start with a 4+ ERA was a bit unfair, as he looked much better than that, missing a lot of bats and limiting baserunners. Today he continued to look sharp even without a crazy amount of whiffs, and was rewarded for it.
In the 1st, he worked around a two-out single and walk, but then sat down six in a row before a two-out double and infield single (Hyeseong Kim keeping it on the infield saved a run) in the 3rd that he also escaped from. He got another clean frame in the 4th, and then faced the minimum in the 5th thanks to a walk being emphatically erased by a Will Smith throw.
Will Smith is still throwing great, pitchers just need to give him a chance. pic.twitter.com/9qTA1G1EYj
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) May 11, 2025
Due to the off day and Gonsolin coming off surgery, he was removed at that point with a shutout intact: 5 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 4 K, 84 Pitches.
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As mentioned, the Dodgers offense started out well against Zac Gallen, as a Mookie Betts single was driven in by a Freddie Freeman double to make it 1-0 in the 1st.
¡Primera entrada y Freddie se trajo la primera carrera del juego! pic.twitter.com/0VPmmpWxHg
— Los Dodgers (@LosDodgers) May 11, 2025
After a lead-off single and steal was stranded in the 2nd, they then stranded a two-out double and walk in the 3rd, and did the same to a one-out double in the 4th as well, as frustration started to build.
However, the 5th started with back-to-back singles from Shohei Ohtani and Mookie, which led to both of them in scoring position after some nice baserunning. That led to two runs thanks to a Freddie sacrifice fly and then a Will single to push the lead to 3-0.
Two-spot in the fifth! pic.twitter.com/8bZyHXOGpv
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) May 11, 2025
The 6th started with a miracle, as Michael Conforto singled to give him a multi-hit game, and Kim followed with one of his own to move Conforto to third, but Kim was thrown out at second on an extremely close play that saw an amusing interaction with Geraldo Perdomo.
Hyeseong Kim and Geraldo Perdomo bantering over the replay review on the screen. They’ve had a couple interactions at second this series, lmao. pic.twitter.com/BdrY7OdAC0
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) May 11, 2025
Tough overturn, but his wrist area of the glove seems to touch him before his foot impacting the bag is seen. pic.twitter.com/S5sY3mpMna
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) May 11, 2025
Later on, with two down and now with Gallen out of the game, Ohtani came through with a single to right that pushed the lead to 4-0.
Shohei Ohtani singles to add insurance, plus bonus Zac Gallen and Torey Lovullo disappointment. pic.twitter.com/wcxkbAG7ap
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) May 11, 2025
Ohtani then got picked off, but he beat the tag if it wasn’t for blocking that wasn’t called for whatever reason.
I know Ohtani apologizes for everything, but he did it cause of the blocking. Is this not what that rule is for? pic.twitter.com/j4yuBLiKue
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) May 11, 2025
Alright, now to the Dodgers pen in the 6th, staked to a comfortable lead. First it was Jack Dreyer, who got a pair of strikeouts before surrendering a single. That led to Ben Casparius entering and completing the inning.
He was given more insurance in the 7th when Freddie stepped up and smashed his ninth homer of the year to push the lead to 5-0.
Freddie splash! pic.twitter.com/mruXGYjK7E
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) May 11, 2025
That proved helpful immediately when Casparius gave up a one-out single and two-out double in the 7th to end the shutout and make it 5-1 Dodgers.
Fortunately though, that was all he gave up, and Tanner Scott entered for the 8th to cruise through a six-pitch frame.
Meanwhile, after a somewhat quiet 8th where a two-out single was bizarrely advanced to third with back-to-back balks, the Dodgers got another run on Betts’ sixth homer of the year that pushed the lead to 6-1.
Moooooook! pic.twitter.com/gDduLok59N
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) May 11, 2025
Also in the inning, Fredward got his fourth hit to complete his massive day that has his OPS approaching 1.200, and he was balked to second on the third balk of the game. Smith followed with a double to drive him in, and then Andy Pages singled to drive Smith in that made it 8-1.
After Freddie’s fourth hit of the day and this pitcher’s third balk of the game, Dills doubles into the oppo gap. pic.twitter.com/yYETxImnok
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) May 11, 2025
Pages singles to left to drive Dills in. pic.twitter.com/M1Ymnr3aQx
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) May 11, 2025
Now with a comfortable margin, it was Matt Sauer in the 9th, who prevented any drama for the win.
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Max Muncy with a … defensive play?!
Max Muncy with the barehand play. pic.twitter.com/zIkBhQS5BP
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) May 11, 2025
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The Dodgers are finished with the road trip and will return home during the day off tomorrow for a nine-game homestand, starting against the Athletics at 4:10 PM HT/7:10 PM PT/10:10 PM ET. It’ll be Landon Knack getting another start against Jeffrey Springs.
