Dodgers 5, Phillies 3: Fourth straight win, sweep secured behind solid Ryu start

It would be hard to top Saturday’s epic ninth inning comeback walk-off win, but nonetheless the Dodgers played well and secured a series sweep over the Phillies behind a solid start by Hyun-Jin Ryu. The Dodgers’ fourth straight victory was also Ryu’s first MLB win since August 31, 2014.

Similar to his last start against the Giants, Ryu started off a bit shaky in the first inning. Yasiel Puig got a late break on a ball hit by Cesar Hernandez to right field. He had it in his glove, but it popped out. The Phillies then promptly cashed in the leadoff triple on a Freddy Galvis single.

The Dodgers got the run back in the bottom half of the first, giving Nick Pivetta a hard time in his first MLB inning. Andrew Toles, who hit a leadoff home run the night prior, started things off with a leadoff double to left field. Cody Bellinger kept it going by hitting into the shift on the right side and showing off his wheels for a single. Then Justin Turner‘s RBI single not only tied the game at one run a piece but also extended his hitting streak to 16 games, the longest streak in the Majors this season.

Chris Taylor put the Dodgers in front with a solo homer in the second, his first long ball at Dodger Stadium.

Meanwhile, Ryu was dialed in after the first inning. He looked great, mixing in an effective curveball and striking out nine batters through 5 1/3 innings. The right-handed hitter even got on base twice with a walk and a single. Ryu’s final line: 1R, 3H, 9K, 3BB on 93 pitches (56 strikes) in 5 1/3 innings.

A key play came in the fifth when Yasmani Grandal erased the Cameron Rupp leadoff ground-rule double by picking him off second base. #OneSkill

Tolesy helped the Dodgers get some insurance runs for Ryu in the sixth with another home run, a three-run shot, his second homer in as many games.

Turner at third base…

…and he’s now hitting .404. He good.

The Dodgers only mustered two runs off nine hits off Pivetta through five innings, but the bullpen was able to hold on for the win with 3 2/3 combined innings of relief from Sergio Romo, Luis Avilan, Pedro Baez, Grant Dayton and Kenley Jansen.

Romo took over for Ryu in the sixth, striking out Maikel Franco and Aaron Altherr to end the inning. Nice to see some encouraging results for Romo who has been struggling of late. Things got a bit dicey in the top of the ninth when Dayton served up a two-out two-run home run to Odubel Herrera. Dave Roberts had to bring in Jansen for the one-out save (his seventh this season), preserving our sanity this lovely Sunday afternoon. Jansen only needed three pitches to strike out Hernandez.

—–

With the sweep, the Dodgers improve to 14-12 and 9-5 at home. Perhaps the Dodgers aren’t the worst sports team to ever play. Just maybe.

They open a fresh month and a three-game series against the Giants on Monday at 7:10 PST/10:10 EST. Clayton Kershaw (4-1, 2.29 ERA, 2.51 FIP) will face Johnny Cueto (3-1, 5.10 ERA, 5.10 FIP).