CHICAGO– James Paxton combined with four relievers in five at-bats, and the Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the Chicago White Sox 3-0 on Monday night.
Los Angeles was shut down by Garrett Crochet, but got to Chicago’s shaky bullpen for three runs. The NL West leaders won for the sixth time in eight games.
Paxton struck out six while working five innings of three-hit ball. The lefty is 2-0 with a 1.00 ERA in his last three starts.
“The curve was good tonight. We got a little swing and miss with that,” Paxton said, “and we were able to get the fastball to the zone where we wanted it. I also have some outlets there.
Daniel Hudson (4-1), Yohan Ramírez and Evan Phillips each got three kills before Alex Vesia picked up the ninth for his fourth save in five chances.
Chicago had a runner on second in the eighth when Paul DeJong flew out to the wall in center, ending the inning.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said he planned to use Blake Treinen in the seventh but had to adjust after a 30-minute rain delay.
“The whole pitching staff did a great job tonight,” Roberts said.
The Dodgers played without outfielder Teoscar Hernández, who returned to the Dominican Republic for personal reasons. Hernández is expected to return to the team on Tuesday, but Roberts said he planned to give him another day off.
Los Angeles slugger Shohei Ohtani went 0 for 3 with a walk and sacrifice fly in the ninth inning. He has 14 RBIs in his last eight games.
The White Sox lost for the fifth time in six games. At 21-59, they are off to the worst 80-game start in franchise history. They scored one or fewer runs in 23 games, including 11 losses.
Crochet was excellent once again, allowing five hits – all singles – in 5 2/3 scoreless innings. The lefty struck out six and walked none, throwing 60 of his 91 pitches for strikes.
“Most of the time, I felt like I was throwing uncompetitive pitches early and that kind of caused my pitch count to go up there,” Crochet said. “I felt like I was running my stuff really well. I mixed in more sliders and changes than I probably have in the last three shows, so it was good. Having all the mixing going.”
The 25-year-old Crochet is 5-2 with a 1.53 ERA in his last 11 starts. He could be a potential target for the Dodgers before the July 30 trade deadline.
Steven Wilson (1-5) got the final out in the sixth for Chicago, but Miguel Rojas hit a double in the seventh for Los Angeles. Rojas advanced on the ground and scored on Kiké Hernández’s double.
DeJong then made a throwing error on Chris Taylor’s grounder to shortstop, and Hernández raced home for a 2-0 lead.
“We had to do it against someone,” Hernández said. “We didn’t do that against Crochet. We were able to get to Wilson there.”
The Dodgers improved to 23-0 this season when Rojas got at least one hit. He was 2 for 4.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Dodgers: LHP Clayton Kershaw was closed for a week after experiencing persistent pain upon his return from shoulder surgery. Kershaw, 36, had an MRI that showed “no new incidents,” Roberts said.
White Sox: DH Eloy Jiménez went 1-for-4 in his second game since returning from a left hamstring injury. It appeared Jiménez was feeling some discomfort while driving around the bases during the seventh inning of Sunday’s 11-2 loss to Detroit, but he didn’t appear to have any problems against LA. “All the reports I got today were that he was feeling really good,” coach Pedro Grifol said before Monday’s loss. “And yesterday, I think he said in the corners that it might have bothered him a little bit, but on the straights he felt good.”
NEXT
Dodgers right-hander Bobby Miller (1-1, 6:00 ERA) pitches Tuesday night in his second start since returning from shoulder inflammation. Miller allowed five runs in 6 1/3 innings in a no-decision at Colorado on Wednesday night. Chris Flexen (2-6, 5.03 ERA) takes over for the White Sox.
___
This story originally appeared on ABCNews.go.com read the full story
