Latest news with #TonyGonsolin
Yahoo
12 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Hernández: 'I have no words for it.' Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani inspires awe and confidence
They don't know what their rotation will look like in October, and they don't know how worn down their bullpen will look like. What the Dodgers know is this: They have Shohei Ohtani. Ohtani will give them a chance in October regardless of what their roster looks like, just as he did on Friday night in an 8-5 victory over the New York Yankees. Advertisement How can a player who takes four or five at-bats on most nights have such an oversized influence on games? How can a player who bats once only two or three innings bring opponents to their knees? How can a three-time MVP be a better offensive player than he was in his historic 50-homer, 50-steal season last year? 'I have no words for it,' outfielder Michael Conforto said. When Aaron Judge homered in the top of the first, Ohtani answered with a homer of his own in the bottom half of the inning. When the Dodgers were down by three runs, Ohtani led off the sixth inning with another homer, this one making Yankees starter Max Fried strike the Kershaw Pose, back to the plate, hands on knees, head down. The blast one ignited a four-run surge by the Dodgers that produced their first lead of the night. Advertisement This was on a night in which Mookie Betts was sidelined with a broken toe, Evan Phillips was ruled out for the remainder of the season because of an upcoming elbow reconstruction, and the Dodgers had no choice but to start the unreliable Tony Gonsolin because three pitchers of their opening-day rotation were on the injured list. Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani, left, watches his solo home run leave Dodger Stadium as New York Yankees starting pitcher Max Fried, center, reacts and catcher Austin Wells watches during the sixth inning Friday. (Mark J. Terrill / Associated Press) Playing with a diminished roster, manager Dave Roberts did what he could before the game to downplay the significance of the World Series rematch against the Yankees, but Ohtani recognized the contest for what it was. This was a statement game, and Ohtani made a statement. Advertisement 'We try to win each and every game, of course, but I think it's a special atmosphere [against the Yankees,]' Ohtani said in Japanese. 'I think it was huge to have taken the [first game] of the series.' The homers were Ohtani's 14th and 15th of May, which tied a single-month franchise record previously shared by only Pedro Guerrero and Duke Snider. The homers were Ohtani's 21st and 22nd of the season, meaning Ohtani is on pace for a career-high 63 bombs. The value of Ohtani's homers extend beyond the numbers, however. They inspire awe. Read more: Shohei Ohtani homers twice and Dodgers pull off another comeback against Yankees Advertisement 'You don't want to miss any of his at-bats,' Conforto said. 'You want to be in the dugout. You want to see it in person. That's kind of what it is being his teammate. You want to be there.' They inspire confidence. 'Every time he comes up to the plate, we're expecting something awesome to happen,' Gonsolin said. 'And he doesn't let us down a lot of the time. Really cool to have someone like that on our team.' They inspire a contagious form of courage. 'He would probably say it's like any other game, but I do think when you see the reigning MVP [Judge] on the other side going out there and performing, that brings out even more of a competitor in Shohei,' Roberts said. Advertisement They inspire victories — the Dodgers are 14-6 when Ohtani homers. Read more: Mookie Betts dealing with fractured toe, won't start against Yankees this weekend 'We always seem to play really well when Shohei's playing well,' first baseman Freddie Freeman said. 'I heard the chants for MVP and he's really well on his way to doing that again.' This is what the Dodgers will need in October, especially in a season in which little has gone according to plan. At this point, they can't count on Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow to both be healthy for the remainder of the year. They can't expect their bullpen to be as spectacular as it was last year. But they can rely on Ohtani to make up for their shortcomings. Advertisement He will soon be able to affect the game from the mound, as the Dodgers expect him to return to pitching after the All-Star break. Rather than revel in the victory Friday night, Ohtani said in an on-field postgame interview with Apple TV that he was already looking ahead to his next day's assignment. 'Live bullpen is scheduled for tomorrow,' Ohtani said. 'The game is over now and I'd like to get my body in order for the live BP.' Sign up for more Dodgers news with Dodgers Dugout. Delivered at the start of each series. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Yahoo
18 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Yankees repeat World Series history, blowing lead vs. Dodgers in regular-season rematch
The Yankees should think about scoring more than five runs against the Dodgers. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) Anyone who feared the New York Yankees would repeat history — blowing a big lead against the Los Angeles Dodgers like they did in the fifth inning of the 2024 World Series — could breathe easy on Friday. They blew the lead in the sixth inning this time. Advertisement In their first meeting since a 2024 World Series that ended with the Dodgers raising a trophy and the Yankees swallowing instant infamy, both teams followed a similar script in an 8-5 Dodgers win. First came the Yankees runs, then the Dodgers comeback, aided and abetted by New York's miscues. Aaron Judge, Austin Wells, Trent Grisham and Paul Goldschmidt all hit homers off Dodgers starting pitcher Tony Gonsolin in the first three innings, giving the Yankees a 5-2 lead despite a first-inning response from Shohei Ohtani. Granted, it wasn't a 5-0 lead like the one the Yankees blew in Game 5 of the 2024 Fall Classic, but the game certainly had a similar vibe as the Dodgers responded in the sixth inning. Ohtani got things started with his second homer of the game, pushing him to 22 on the season and a Dodgers record-tying 15 in the month of May. That was the beginning of a painful inning for the Yankees, as the next four Dodgers reached base to tie the game and leave runners on the corners with no outs. A Tommy Edman fielder's choice and Max Muncy intentional walk loaded the bases with one out, setting up Michael Conforto for some heroics. Advertisement Conforto walked, giving the Dodgers a 6-5 lead and the Yankees another mistake to ponder. The Dodgers added to their lead with two more runs in the seventh inning, with Freddie Freeman somehow sliding under a throw that beat him to home plate by several feet. Replay upheld the safe call on the field. Friday was the first game of a three-game series between the two premier franchises of MLB, with a little history together beyond the World Series. The Dodgers beat the Yankees, yes, but they and their fans also talked a not-small amount of trash about how the Yankees blew Game 5. The Yankees took a bit of umbrage over that, and had a great chance to respond on the field Friday. Instead, they just gave the trash-talkers more material. The win improves the Dodgers' record to an NL West-best 35-22, while the Yankees are now 35-21, still tops in the Al East. The next game of the series is Saturday at 7:15 p.m. ET.
Yahoo
18 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Yankees repeat World Series history, blowing big lead vs. Dodgers in regular-season rematch
The Yankees should think about scoring more than five runs against the Dodgers. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) Anyone who feared the New York Yankees would repeat history — blowing a big lead against the Los Angeles Dodgers like they did in the fifth inning of the 2024 World Series — could breathe easy on Friday. They blew the lead in the sixth inning this time. Advertisement In their first meeting since a 2024 World Series that ended with the Dodgers raising a trophy and the Yankees swallowing instant infamy, both teams followed a similar script in an 8-5 Dodgers win. First came the Yankees runs, then the Dodgers comeback, aided and abetted by New York's miscues. Aaron Judge, Austin Wells, Trent Grisham and Paul Goldschmidt all hit homers off Dodgers starting pitcher Tony Gonsolin in the first three innings, giving the Yankees a 5-2 lead despite a first-inning response from Shohei Ohtani. Granted, it wasn't a 5-0 lead like the one the Yankees blew in Game 5 of the 2024 Fall Classic, but the game certainly had a similar vibe as the Dodgers responded in the sixth inning. Ohtani got things started with his second homer of the game, pushing him to 22 on the season and a Dodgers record-tying 15 in the month of May. That was the beginning of a painful inning for the Yankees, as the next four Dodgers reached base to tie the game and leave runners on the corners with no outs. A Tommy Edman fielder's choice and Max Muncy intentional walk loaded the bases with one out, setting up Michael Conforto for some heroics. Advertisement Conforto walked, giving the Dodgers a 6-5 lead and the Yankees another mistake to ponder. The Dodgers added to their lead with two more runs in the seventh inning, with Freddie Freeman somehow sliding under a throw that beat him to home plate by several feet. Replay upheld the safe call on the field. Friday was the first game of a three-game series between the two premier franchises of MLB, with a little history together beyond the World Series. The Dodgers beat the Yankees, yes, but they and their fans also talked a not-small amount of trash about how the Yankees blew Game 5. The Yankees took a bit of umbrage over that, and had a great chance to respond on the field Friday. Instead, they just gave the trash-talkers more material.
Yahoo
21 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Judge and Ohtani light up the first inning with homers in Yankees-Dodgers rematch
Los Angeles Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani swings during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Cleveland Guardians, Wednesday, May 28, 2025, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David Dermer) New York Yankees' Aaron Judge is congratulated by teammates in the dugout after hitting a solo home run during the first inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Friday, May 30, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) New York Yankees' Aaron Judge, right, hits a solo home run as Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Tony Gonsolin, left, and catcher Will Smith watch during the first inning of a baseball game Friday, May 30, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) New York Yankees' Aaron Judge, right, hits a solo home run as Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Tony Gonsolin, left, and catcher Will Smith watch during the first inning of a baseball game Friday, May 30, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) Los Angeles Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani swings during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Cleveland Guardians, Wednesday, May 28, 2025, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David Dermer) New York Yankees' Aaron Judge is congratulated by teammates in the dugout after hitting a solo home run during the first inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Friday, May 30, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) New York Yankees' Aaron Judge, right, hits a solo home run as Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Tony Gonsolin, left, and catcher Will Smith watch during the first inning of a baseball game Friday, May 30, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) LOS ANGELES (AP) — Reigning MVPs Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani blasted home runs in the first inning as the New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers met Friday night in a rematch of last year's World Series. Judge got the fireworks going with a 446-foot solo shot to dead center on a 1-1 pitch from Tony Gonsolin. The Yankees slugger's 19th homer of the season tied him with Kyle Schwarber and Cal Raleigh for second in the majors. Advertisement Ohtani matched him in the bottom of the frame with a 417-foot homer to center on the first pitch from Max Fried. It was Ohtani's major league-leading 21st homer and his 14th in May. The Dodgers record for most in any month is 15. The Japanese superstar has hit four homers in his last five games, with all four coming on the first or second pitch. The Yankees reclaimed the lead on Austin Wells' homer leading off the second. Trent Grisham added a two-run shot that made it 4-1. Judge grounded out to third in his second at-bat. The Dodgers beat the Yankees in five games to win their eighth world championship in 2024. ___ AP MLB:
New York Post
a day ago
- Sport
- New York Post
Yankees vs. Dodgers prediction: MLB Friday player props, picks, odds
Gambling content 21+. The New York Post may receive an affiliate commission if you sign up through our links. Read our editorial standards for more information. The Yankees have the pitching advantage in their series opener against the Dodgers in Los Angeles on Friday night. The American League Cy Young front runner, Max Fried, will take the mound for the Bombers opposite of Tony Gonsolin for the injury-riddled Dodgers. The veteran right-hander has struggled this season and will face one batter in particular who has had some big-time success against him in the past. Gonsolin has been getting knocked around in 2025, posting a 4.68 ERA while giving up 24 hits across 25 innings in five starts. He's had zero success against left-handed batters, allowing a .294 average with two home runs and three doubles in 61 plate appearances. And there's a lefty in the Yankees lineup he's had no luck stopping over the years: Trent Grisham. Starting pitcher Tony Gonsolin #26 of the Los Angeles Dodgers pitches against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the first inning of the MLB game at Chase Field on May 11, 2025 in Phoenix, Arizona. Getty Images The ex-Padre has six hits in 14 at-bats (.429) with a home run and a double against Gonsolin. Grisham has been mashing righties all season, too, hitting .292/.376/.646 with 10 home runs amid one of the best starts of his career. Learn all you need to know about MLB Betting He should get at least two, if not three or more passes at Gonsolin, hitting atop the Yankee lineup as he has since late April. Look for Grisham to have a knock, if not two, on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. The play: Trent Grisham to get a hit (-175, FanDuel Sportsbook), to get two hits (+300) Why Trust New York Post Betting Dylan Svoboda is a versatile writer and analyst across many sports. He's particularly knowledgeable about the big three — MLB, the NFL and the NBA.
