James Paxton leads as Dodgers eliminate White Sox originally appeared in NBC Sports Chicago
CHICAGO (AP) — James Paxton combined with four relievers for a five-hitter, and the Los Angeles Dodgers won 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.
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.
The Dodgers played without outfielder Teoscar Hernández, who returned to the Dominican Republic for personal reasons. Coach Dave Roberts said Hernández is expected to return Tuesday.
Los Angeles slugger Shohei Ohtani went 0 for 3 with a walk and sacrifice fly in the ninth inning.
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.
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.
There was a 30-minute rain delay while the Dodgers batted in the seventh.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Dodgers: LHP Clayton Kershaw was shut down for a week after experiencing lingering pain in his return from shoulder surgery. Kershaw, 36, had an MRI that showed “no new incidents,” manager Dave 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 game. “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.
