It was one of those games that made you say: ‘Thanks! We needed that!’

Not only did the Dodgers score early in their 13-4 rout of the NL East fourth place Philadelphia Phillies at Dodger Stadium on Monday night, they did so often. In fact, the only inning in which they did not score at least one run was the bottom of the sixth (and, of course, the bottom of the ninth, which didn’t happen).

“The offense, it was a complete contribution from everyone. From one through nine it was fun to watch,” said a noticeably pleased Dodgers manager Dave Roberts postgame. “I thought (Phillies right-handed starting pitcher) Taijuan (Walker) had really good stuff tonight, but when he did make a mistake, we took advantage of it. And obviously (Dodgers left fielder) David (Peralta), who’s been scuffling, got a breaking ball and the three-run homer got us off to a good start and got the momentum going for us. But guys taking walks and (Dodgers shortstop) Mookie (Betts) homered late, some balls that found some outfield grass, but just collectively, really good,” Roberts added.

Peralta’s blast, a second-inning 401-footer to right, was his second of the season and indeed got the Dodgers “…off to a good start.” It was one of four Dodgers home runs on the night, with catcher Will Smith homering in the bottom of the first (solo), right fielder Jason Heyward in the bottom of the third (solo), and Betts in the bottom of the seventh (two-run).

Although he didn’t go the requisite five innings to be credited with the well-deserved win, 28-year-old Dodgers right-hander Tony Gonsolin, fresh of the IL for a sprained left ankle that he suffered while walking off the field during a Spring Training workout, pitched exceptionally well in his second abbreviated start of the season.

“I feel pretty good,” Gonsolin said postgame. “I felt early that I commanded the strike zone better than I did in the last outing. The boys raked and we got a win.”

Twenty-seven-year-old Dodgers left-hander Victor González, the Dodgers second of three relievers used by Roberts on Monday evening, was credited with the win, his first of the season.

Worthy of note, 25-year-old Dodgers rookie utility infielder Michael Busch, appearing in only his fourth major league game, collected his first – and second – major league hits on Monday night, both singles. The Inver Grove Heights, MN native and Dodgers first round draft pick in 2019 out of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill also scored the first two runs of his young MLB career.

Play Ball!

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