Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Tyler Anderson had a career night on Wednesday, shutting out the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim for 8.1 innings and striking out eight batters. Out of his 123 pitches on Wednesday night, 78 of them were strikes.
“It was his moment, that’s what I told him and obviously he said “It would have been better If I got two more outs,”” said Dodgers general manager Dave Roberts. “I was just so excited for him to have that opportunity.”
Dodgers fans erupted with every strike Anderson slung during the ninth inning as they anticipated him shutting out the Angels completely.
“It felt like a really big spot in a playoff game situation,” Anderson said. “The crowd was really, really into it.”
The Dodgers swept the Angels in their two-game freeway series with a 4-1 victory. The Angels are now on a three-game skid. This game exposes their difficulties in winning away games; they are 12-17 in games outside of Anaheim.
The Dodgers are now one win ahead of the San Diego Padres, putting them first in the National League West division. Their 39-23 overall record puts them second in the National League and third in MLB.
Dodgers center fielder Will Smith set the tone with his first at-bat, hitting a three-RBI home run in the bottom of the first inning. As the Angels were still without a hit in the third inning, shortstop Trea Turner hit the second home run of the night.
The Angels’ first hit did not come into the ninth inning when designated hitter Shohei Ohtani hit a triple out right field. Matt Duffy sent him home with a single. After the Ohtani triple, the Dodgers replaced Anderson at the mound for Craig Kimbrel. Dodgers fans poured thunderous applause down on Anderson as he walked to the dugout during the ninth inning.
Dodgers general manager Dave Roberts on pitcher Tyler Anderson’s performance against the Angels @thelasentinel pic.twitter.com/YQA6qB1K5e
— Amanda Scurlock (@Amandtastic) June 16, 2022
At around the eighth, Roberts seriously considered keeping Anderson in the game. Roberts felt like he wanted Anderson to pitch a no-hitter just as much as he and his teammates wanted it.
“I think once he got through [the eighth], at a certain point, he knew that he had to go out there and throw strikes and not walk guys,” Roberts said. “They were either gonna get a hit or it was gonna end pretty quickly. I just felt that how we got there, it wasn’t much cost.”
The night prior, Dodgers pitcher Tony Gonsolin struck out six batters and only allowed one hit in six innings, helping the Dodgers shut out the Angels. Roberts is impressed with the dedication and commitment from both Anderson and Gonsolin. He called Anderson a “total competitor.”
“The way they work in between starts is unparalleled—well, paralleled to [Clayton Kershaw]—and they dominate the weight room,” Roberts said. “[Anderson] does a lot of his own homework … he’s as prepared as anybody and he’s totally bought into what we’re doing.”
