Dodgers’ win streak ends as Jays’ Kevin Gausman keeps offense at bay
TORONTO – The Dodgers’ winning streak didn’t make it through customs.
Right-hander Kevin Gausman held them to five hits over seven innings as the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Dodgers, 3-1, Sunday afternoon at Rogers Centre.
The loss snapped a six-game winning streak during which the Dodgers scored 43 runs and batted .338 (22 for 85) with runners in scoring position.
Against Gausman, Freddie Freeman’s solo home run in the sixth inning was their only damage – and snapped a 16-inning scoreless streak by Gausman over his past three starts.
Gausman didn’t overpower the Dodgers hitters, striking out five and getting just eight swings-and-misses in his seven innings. But he didn’t walk a batter and induced weak contact with his fastball frequently enough to keep the Dodgers at bay.
There was some hard contact, though. Shohei Ohtani sent a 106.6 mph drive towards the center field wall in the first inning but Daulton Varsho caught it just before running into the wall. In the fourth inning, right fielder George Springer made another catch at the wall on a long drive by Freeman, and Springer made an all-out diving catch to rob Andy Pages of extra bases in the ninth.
Doubles by Pages (with two outs in the second inning), Gavin Lux (with one out in the third) and Max Muncy (leading off the fifth) were wasted. Only Lux advanced past second base, moving to third on a ground out.
The Dodgers finished 0 for 9 with runners in scoring position.
During their win streak, the Dodgers trailed for just four innings in total and never by more than one run. That changed quickly Sunday.
Opening a bullpen game, Michael Grove retired the side in order in the first inning but ran into trouble in the second when Justin Turner dribbled a ball up the third-base line for an infield single and Davis Schneider followed with a double to left-center field.
Back-to-back soft ground balls pushed across two runs and Jays catcher Alejandro Kirk went deep for a solo home run before Grove could get out of the inning. It was the first time the Dodgers trailed by multiple runs in over a week.
Alex Vesia and Ryan Yarbrough kept the Jays scoreless over the next five innings and the Dodgers had their best chance to come from behind once Gausman left.
Austin Barnes led off the eighth inning against former teammate Yimi Garcia by working a 10-pitch walk. Mookie Betts doubled with Barnes going to third. After Ohtani popped out, the Jays intentionally walked Freeman to load the bases.
Teoscar Hernandez struck out before lefty reliever Tim Mayza came in to face Muncy. Muncy sent another long drive toward the outfield wall. Varsho caught this one with a little jump at the wall in right-center field.
The Dodgers have now gone 4 for 27 (.148) with 13 strikeouts with the bases loaded this season.