LIVE BLOGGING WITH EDDIE RIVERA | Pitcher Gonsolin is Perfect for the Summer as Dodgers Stop the Nachos, 5-1

Not only do the Dodgers have the best record in the National League, but the league’s best pitcher also wears blue.

Dodger righthander Tony Gonsolin (10-0) is having a perfect summer. He scattered a stingy four hits Friday as the Dodgers defeated the San Diego Nachos, on a late inning burst of runs that broke open a game that was relatively close for seven innings.

Max Muncy gave the Dodgers the lead in the second inning with home blast to right. Trent Grisham evened up the game with a home run in the top of the fifth.

The game sat there as Gonsolin cooly dispatched San Diego with a stifling performance that allowed only the Grisham homer.

The Dodgers made their point late, scoring two runs in the seventh and adding three more in the eighth.

Reliever Craig Kimbrel completely silenced the Nachos in the ninth, retiring Cronenworth, Voit and Mazara, to seal the victory, though he was not credited with a save.

The Dodgers face San Diego again tomorrow with an afternoon 4:15 game and one more on Sunday, before welcoming Colorado and Chicago later this week.

Here’s how we blogged it:

Game time 7:10 p.m.

FIRST INNING
Top

Jurickson Profar (no relation) is cruising at 1-2. He bangs one off the wall in the deep right corner.
He is leasing second base for now.

Jake Cronenworth flies out to center. Profar stays put.

Luke Volt (He’s electric!) gazes at two strikes. He gazes at one more.

Strike deux. He grounds out to first with some nifty fielding by Muncy and Freeman.

Nachos 0, Dodgers coming up.

Bottom

This Justin: Turner is at 0-2. He is strickened out.
Max “Max” Muncy smacks the first pitch he sees into the right field corner.
Chris Taylor is at 2-2. Let’s make that 3-2, ok, please. Bye bye.
Trayce Thompson stares at a strike. He is so out at first.

Dodgers 0, Nachos 0.

SECOND INNING
Top

Nomar Mazara (This fall on ABC) is at 2-1. He flies out into the air to Freeman.

Eric Hosmer sends one to Chris Taylor, who is frankly, grateful.

Taylor helps himself to a fly ball from Austin (nola relation) Nola.

Dodgers 0, Nachos 0.

THIRD INNING
Top

Ha-Seong Kim strikes out.

C. J. Abrams is at 2-2. He follows Kim back to the dugout. Gonsolin has tres Ks.

Profar, if that’s his real name, is at 1-1. He doubles. That’s his second double. It’s a double double.
I’ll stop now.

Jake (What’s a) Cronenworth flies out to left to Chris Taylor.

Dodgers 1, Nachos 0.

Bottom

Bellinger flies out on the fly to Grisham.

Austin Barnes bounces one out in left. He says “Wut up” to second base.

He steals third. That’s his second stolen base this summer.

Trea Turner is thrown out 2-3 on a strikeout. That’s baseball talk, baby…

Freeman is at 2-2. 3-2. He is walking on sunshine. Chat show on the mound…

Turner swings. Misses by ? of a mile. He is at 0-2. This little threat/opportunity is so done.

Dodgers 1, Nachos 0.

FOURTH INNING
Top

Volt is unplugged by Gonsolin.

Mazara flies out to Taylor. Taylor says “Thanks.” In his mind. Not out loud. That would be rude.

Hosmer flies out to Taylor. Taylor says “Thanks.” In his mind. Not out loud. That would be rude.

Dodgers 1, Nachos 0.

Bottom

Muncy is at 2-1. 3-1. He is Walking on Sunshine. Thanks, Dieter!

Taylor is strickened out.

Thompson doubles off the wall in center.

Bellinger strikes out swinging. Barnes does the same.

Dodgers 1, Nachos 0.

FIFTH INNING
Top

Nola is strickened out.

Grisham evens the score with a homer to right.

Kim is out at first.

Abrams loses the race to Gonsolin at first.

Nachos 1, Dodgers 1.

Bottom

Trea Turner strikes his own self out.

Freeman goes down blinking.

Will will, and does. He singles to short center field.

Turner is at 2-2. Smith is doing the inky binky dance at first. Smith takes off on an errant pitch, steals second. Turner is walking on sunshine.

Chat show on the mound.

Two down. Max “Muncy” Muncy is at 1-1. The runners are leaning. 1-2. Muncy goes away swinging. Dodgers blow another opportunity. No one wants to say anything.

Dodgers 1, Nachos 1.

SIXTH INNING
Top

Profar is at 2-1. He is out at first. Not in a good way.

Cronenworth flies out to left.

Volt swings, gets nuttin’. 0-2. He flies out to right. That’s watt.

Dodgers 1, Nachos 1.

Bottom

Stammen is in to pitch for the Nachos.

Taylor is 0-2. 1-2. 2-2. Down he goes.

Thompson swings for naught.

Bellinger homers to right field, his 11th, on a 1-1 pitch.

Barnes is thrown out handily at first.

Dodgers 2, Nachos 1.

EIGHTH INNING
Top

Grisham is at 1-1. He singles hard to right field.

Chat show on the mound, and Manny Machado (no relation) is booed standing on deck.

Machado swings and misses. 1-1. 1-2. Bye bye Manny.

Abrams is at 1-1. 1-2. He is done like a burger. Eight strikeouts for Gonsolin. Out he comes, and the appreciative crowd shows their affection.

Evan Phillips is in to relieve.

Profar is at 0-1. He flies to Freeman at first.

Dodgers 3, Nachos 1.

Bottom

Taylor is at 0-1. He sends a bullet past pitcher Tim Hill.

Thompson doubles to center.

Bellinger flies out, and Taylor comes home to where he is known and loved, while Thompson goes to third.

Barnes is out at first, but not before Thompson scampers home.

Trea Turner is on at first.

Freeman is strickened out.

Dodgers 5, Nachos 1

NINTH INNING
Top

Craig Kimbrel will pitch the ninth.

Cronenworth 0-1. 1-1. He flies out to left.

Voit (I’ve been calling him “Volt!”) flies out to deep center. He is void.

Mazara is at 1-2. Done.

Final: Dodgers 5, Nachos 1.