Dodgers see learning experience for young arms in series defeat
by Rowan Kavner
Sunday afternoon’s series loss in Atlanta was less about Aug. 18 and more about Oct. 1 and beyond for the Dodgers, a club with a comfy division lead trying out new looks they hope will benefit them once the postseason arrives.
Rookie Tony Gonsolin was recalled to start, allowing one run in four innings. Infielder Jedd Gyorko, in his first action as a Dodger, recorded hits in each of his first two at-bats. The biggest change came afterward with a 3–1 lead in the sixth inning, when the Dodgers turned to Dustin May for his first relief action at any level since 2017 in what would end up a 5–3 defeat.
May, with an effective sinker-cutter combo, could potentially grow into a reliever role for the playoffs. His first Major League bullpen action left room for that growth, as he suffered the loss after allowing a grand slam.
“I would contribute it mostly to a lack of command,” May said. “A little amped up, a little excited, but you’ve still got to go out and execute. I didn’t execute very well today, for really any pitch. There’s really only room for improvement from here.”
May got a groundout to start the inning. Then he allowed a walk and a single and hit a batter before serving up a sinker that caught too much of the plate to Rafael Ortega, who put the Braves ahead for good.
Manager Dave Roberts also thought the issue was more a lack of command than anything, calling Sunday a learning experience for May, who’s trying to figure out the right way to warm up and prepare out of the bullpen in an unfamiliar role.
That will be a process he’ll continue to get to iron out as the regular season continues with an 18-game lead in the division.
“As far as the role, this is something new we didn’t expect to just be seamless,” Roberts said. “Give him an opportunity to learn and get his feet wet. … My faith, my confidence in Dustin hasn’t wavered.”
The same goes for the other rookie pitching in Sunday’s game, Gonsolin, who continued to build up as a starter. Roberts said Gonsolin — like May — didn’t have his best command Sunday. But Gonsolin limited damage, and in his last three starts, he’s allowed two runs in 14 innings.
Gonsolin, who said consistency will be the most important thing for him, enjoyed facing a Braves team he could potentially see in October if he makes the postseason roster.
“It’s good to experience some of these guys and, top to bottom, going through this order and throwing all my pitches and seeing how it works,” Gonsolin said.
Bats quiet late
The series defeat was the Dodgers’ first against the Braves since July 2015, and it came after Cody Bellinger supplied an early 3–0 lead with a three-run homer that popped out of the glove of a leaping Ronald Acuña Jr over the center field wall. The home run from Bellinger was his 42nd of the year and eighth in 16 August games.
Eleven of the first 18 Dodger batters reached base against opposing starter Max Fried, but only those three runs crossed. Then the bats went silent.
After Gyorko got to second base in the third inning, the Dodgers wouldn’t put another runner in scoring position. Matt Beaty’s pinch-hit single in the sixth inning marked the only Dodger baserunner from the fourth inning on.
The Dodgers finished the road trip 3–3.
