Dodgers Digest Los Angeles Dodgers Baseball Blog
The Dodgers failed to take advantage of the three errors behind Jake Arrieta on Wednesday. The offense went 1-for-7 with RISP and left six men on base in the 7-3 loss at Citizens Bank Field. The Phillies secured the series win thanks to a 5-run 5th inning off Walker Buehler and Scott Alexander. The Dodgers are now 2-for-13 with RISP in their last two games.
The Dodgers hopefully enjoyed some good coffee in the clubhouse this morning after playing nearly six hours of baseball in the 16-inning marathon that lasted into the early hours of Wednesday. They looked like they were not totally dead from the night prior, but they would quickly fade out as Arrieta settled down after the first. Joc Pederson started things off with a leadoff single, one of five hits for LA against the right-hander. Manny Machado walked and advanced to third on a throwing error by catcher Andrew Knapp. Matt Kemp‘s fly ball was plenty deep for Pederson to come home on the sac fly, and the Dodgers took a 1-0 lead against the Phillies.
Buehler threw 32 pitches in the first inning. He battled and won a 13-pitch at-bat and struck out Philadelphia’s leadoff hitter Andrew Knapp to open the home half of the first. Rhys Hoskins then took Buehler deep, his 18th home run of the year, to tie the game.
We got more lightning in Philly. pic.twitter.com/a98jGHNUIX
— MLB (@MLB) July 25, 2018
Both Arrieta and Buehler settled down after the first inning. Alex Verdugo‘s first base hit since being recalled was a booming double off the right field wall with two outs in the top of the fourth. Arrieta allowed a couple of base runners, but Kemp grounded into a double play to help Arrieta escape the frame without allowing a run.
There was a scary moment in the top of the fifth inning when home plate umpire Adam Hamari was hit under the neck guard by wild pitch by Arrieta that deflected off catcher Knapp. It was the second time an umpire was injured in the series. Tom Hallion had to come out in the 10th inning last night. While Hamari recovered for a moment, the Phillies challenged the call on the tag on Enrique Hernandez at third base. Enrique Hernandez reached safely on a throwing error by second baseman Jesmuel Valentin, but the call was overturned when was thrown out by Knapp when he attempted to take third on the wild pitch.
The Phillies broke things open with five runs in the fifth. Buehler retired 11 in a row until Scott Kingery barely hit one out over the right field wall in the fifth. Dave Roberts challenged, but the call was upheld. A Knapp RBI double made it 3-1. With Hoskins coming up and runners at the corners with two outs, Roberts yanked Buehler and brought in Alexander out of the bullpen. Alexander walked Odubel Herrera to load the bases for Carlos Santana, who proceeded to drive in two more runs with a triple to the gap.
Buehler’s final line: 5 R, 5 H, 5 K, 1 BB, 4.2 IP, 90 pitches (61 strikes)
Max Muncy got the Dodgers right back within striking distance in the sixth with a two-run opposite field home run against Arrieta. That’s his 24th homer of the year.
Oppo blast makes No. 24 for Max Muncy.#Dodgers High-Flying Homers presented by @emirates: https://t.co/hd8UOeTVBA pic.twitter.com/qHOtHQpE76
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) July 25, 2018
Caleb Ferguson, who was the only reliever not to pitch Tuesday, struck out four in two perfect innings on Wednesday.
Caleb Ferguson in relief: 18IP 3R 2ER (1.00 ERA), 24K 2BB
— Daniel Brim (@DanielBrim) July 25, 2018
It makes the 16-inning loss even more frustrating considering they went that deep into the game but essentially gave Philly the win when they brought in Hernandez to pitch.
The Dodgers were shut down by the Philadelphia bullpen in the last three innings. They had an opportunity with men at the corners and two outs in the eighth, but flame-throwing reliever Seranthony Dominguez retired Verdugo, who just missed tying up the game with one swing with a deep fly ball to center.
Pedro Baez came in to pitch the bottom of the eighth, his first appearance for the Dodgers since June 9. The Phillies tacked on an insurance run after a walk to Santana, a passed ball by Yasmani Grandal and a shallow single to left field by Nick Williams.
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The #Dodgers all need a Knapp.
— Stacie Wheeler (@StacieMWheeler) July 25, 2018
Get some rest guys.
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The loss drops the Dodgers to 56-46 on the season. The Diamondbacks can take back sole possession of first place in the NL West with a win over the Cubs today.
The Dodgers finish up their road trip in Atlanta with a four-game set against the Braves. Rich Hill (3-4, 4.26, 4.66 FIP) is slated to face Anibal Sanchez (5-2, 2.76, 3.88 FIP) in the series opener on Thursday. First pitch is at 4:35 PM PT.
