Steve Webb
Phillies Pitchers Mug Dodger Hitters and Steal the Finale
The game was labeled “the best Pitching match-up” of the series and Zack Wheeler for the Phillies against Clayton Kershaw lived up to the billing. Under perfect conditions at the Ravine the home fans left the park with a frown, after the Dodger bats took the night off. The Phillies snuck out of town with a 2-0 win.
Opening Frames
The first inning was pivotal for Wheeler with the Phils ace having to throw 27 pitches. The inning came to an end for the Dodgers with the bases drunk and the other Zach, hot hitting Zack McKinstry, grounding into an inning-ending killer. Wheeler would balance out the pitch count in the second inning only needing 6 pitches and the lead.
Clayton Kershaw had his evening start off with a wrinkle giving up a home run early. Rhys Hoskins launched his 13th of the season off Clayton and the Phillies had an early 1-0 lead. The Phillies added a 2nd run on a hard-hit double in the top half of inning number three. After the run scoring double, with J.T. Realmuto standing on 2nd base there must been tugging his ear or something more?
Ho-Hum Middle Frames
Clayton had a long top half of the fifth. Zack Wheeler managed an opposite field single to lead off. A single to Hoskins and a walk loaded up the bags for the Phillies. With the pitch count raking up classic Clayton appeared with a crafty KO to end the inning and leave the bases juiced.
The Dodger offense was puttering along managing to leave 8 runners on base through six innings. Kershaw would exit the game for a pinch hitter in the bottom half and a 2 run deficit. His line was two earned runs on eight hits and striking out nine Phillies.
Zack Wheeler managed to pitch six strong innings allowing 5 Dodger hits, striking out 6 and left with the lead. The Phillies pen took over silencing the Dodger bats for the final three frames. The pen struck out four of the last nine Dodger batters, walking none.
Dodger Pen
The Dodger pen took over in the seventh. Phil Bickford first on in relief and pitching on back to back nights managed to strike out the first batter he faced. He would have a clean inning getting the Phillies in order. Another 10K combined evening for Dodger pitchers sent the fans to the drive thru for some FREE comfort food along the way.
Bickford pitched well on the evening and managed to keep the Phillies lead 2-0 through eight. Luke Williams for the Phillies managed the only hit but was left standing on second. Dodger fans still holding their collective breath waiting for the offence to kick in gear.
David Price face the Phillies in the ninth. A lead off single by Travis Jankowski would be the only blemish on stat line. The next hitter up grounded into a neat double play turned by Lux. Rhys Hoskins would end the inning with hit a line out to Souza.
Dodger Brooms and Bats
Someone get back to the locker and get the bats please? The best Dodger hitter on the evening was Gavin Lux. He was the only Dodger to collect more than one hit on the evening and was on base three times.
If this was your first Dodger game you pretty much needed a program, as there were numerous stars out of the lineup: no Belli, no Seager, no Turner, no Muncy. Barely even the Dodgers. It’s not that surprising the offense was so quiet.
Final Frame
The Dodger final at bat started off painful for Souza. An inside pitch catching Steve on the forearm and the tying run was at the dish. Next up Austin Barnes ground out double play ending the threat. Then the Phillies Hector Neris plunked Will Smith on the arm, and hope again was alive. Could Mookie pull out the Magic on back to back nights? It wound up not to be, flying out to center, and ending a the game hitless.
Replacements
With all the injuries the Dodgers have had to overcome the call went out to Steven Souza Jr. about 2 am, to make the trip to LA. Having been made a free agent by the Astros, the former Tampa Bay Ray, Souza had thought his career was complete. The Dodgers signed him to a minor league deal, mid April, and he has been down on the farm the past month. Souza batted eighth in the lineup and managed his first base hit as a Dodger in his 2nd at bat.
Next Up
The team hits the road to Arizona and take on the Diamondbacks for a 3 game set. Fridays 6:40 scheduled event will be Caleb Smith (2-2, 4.71 ERA) against Trevor Bauer (6-5, 2.64 ERA) . Bring on the Rosin and sweat, Lets Go Dodgers!
