Tony Gonsolin’s velocity was down, not that it mattered. He delivered six shutout innings after getting a couple extra days of rest as the result of experiencing body soreness.
Will Smith and David Peralta staked Gonsolin to an early lead with two-run homers in the first inning and the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Chicago White Sox 5-1 on Tuesday night.
Gonsolin (4-1) allowed singles to Andrew Vaughn and Yoán Moncada. The right-hander struck out six and walked two.
“The extra couple days really helped me,” said Gonsolin, who was supposed to start last Sunday in Philadelphia but instead the Dodgers went with a bullpen game. “For whatever reason, I just didn’t come out of this last start super great. Just wasn’t bouncing back right away. It was kind of just weird. I hadn’t really experienced something like that but I feel a lot better now.”
Smith went deep on his bobblehead night, sending a 413-foot drive to the left-field pavilion that scored Freddie Freeman, who walked. Smith’s wife, Cara, tossed out the ceremonial first pitch while holding their 7-month-old daughter.
Three batters later, Peralta homered over the wall in center, scoring Jason Heyward, who singled, and extending the lead to 4-0.
PHOTOS: Smith and Peralta go deep early to back Gonsolin, Dodgers beat White Sox 5-1
“You have to set a tone,” Peralta said, “and it’s always good to win the first game of the series.”
Lance Lynn (4-7) gave up five runs and six hits in five-plus innings of Chicago’s first trip to Dodger Stadium since 2017. The right-hander struck out six and walked two. He’s given up 18 homers, and allowed a homer in 11 of his 14 starts, including nine on the road.
Lynn took out his aggravation by tossing his cap and then slamming his glove against the bench in the dugout.
Miguel Vargas’ sacrifice fly made it 5-0 in the sixth. Heyward, who went 2 for 3, singled, took second on a wild pitch by Lynn and moved to third on a throwing error by third baseman Moncada before scoring.
The White Sox got to Tayler Scott in the ninth when they put runners on the corners. Vaughn led off with a ground-rule double. Scott fielded a comebacker by Moncada, then hesitated before throwing to third, where Vaughn was safe. Moncada reached on a fielder’s choice.
Vaughn later scored on Yasmani Grandal’s sacrifice fly to center off Brusdar Graterol.
TRAINER’S ROOM
White Sox: RHP Liam Hendriks (right elbow inflammation) had a cortisone shot and will get a PRP injection soon after tests showed no structural damage. Those treatments were cleared by his oncologist since Hendriks is in remission from non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. “He feels good,” manager Pedro Grifol said. “At least there’s some optimism that he might be back.” … OF Eloy Jiménez (calf discomfort) is likely to be back in the lineup Wednesday.
Dodgers: 3B Max Muncy (left hamstring strain) was held out of the lineup for precautionary reasons. He’ll have a MRI on Wednesday and depending on the results, he could be back on the field Thursday.
GONSOLIN REACHES 30 WINS IN 37 DECISIONS
Gonsolin improved to 30-7 in his career. The 37 decisions tie him with Al Spalding of the Chicago Cubs, Bill Hoffer of Baltimore and Russ Ford of the Yankees for the second-fewest among pitchers with 30 wins. Howie Krist of St. Louis reached 30 victories in just 36 decisions.
PITCH CLOCK VIOLATION
Dodgers designated hitter J.D. Martinez was called for a pitch clock violation leading off the seventh, which resulted in an automatic strikeout. He tried arguing his case to home plate umpire and crew chief Brian O’Nora to no avail.
UP NEXT
RHP Mike Clevinger (3-4, 4.19 ERA) starts for the White Sox on Wednesday. LHP Clayton Kershaw (8-4, 2.95) goes for the Dodgers in the middle game of the series.
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