Dodgers Digest Los Angeles Dodgers Baseball Blog
In the rubber match of what are somehow the best two teams in the National League, the Dodgers jumped out to a lead, but the Phillies rallied for a big inning against the bullpen, this time with help from a brutal call by umpire Hunter Wendelstedt in an 9-4 loss.
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Early on, it certainly looked like Gavin Stone‘s struggles would continue in a bad way, as Kyle Schwarber led the game off with a homer to put the Phillies up 1-0.
You awake? It's Schwarbomb time#RingTheBell pic.twitter.com/FNuxT65jAY
— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) August 8, 2024
The Dodgers did come back in the 1st, as Teoscar Hernandez doubled and Freddie Freeman immediately singled to tie the game at 1-1. After an Enrique Hernandez walk pushed Freddie into scoring position, it was Miguel Rojas singling with two outs for the 2-1 lead.
Freddie ties it! pic.twitter.com/U98waAMxXm
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) August 8, 2024
Welcome back, Miggy! pic.twitter.com/JbKSp8rzhw
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) August 8, 2024
The 2nd led to more scoring, as Austin Barnes singled and Kevin Kiermaier got hit by a pitch to start a rally. A groundout led to both advancing and a strikeout made it two down, but Freddie looped a single to left for two runs and a 4-1 advantage.
Freddie is clutch. pic.twitter.com/ZI8dCBWhGZ
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) August 8, 2024
Meanwhile, it seemed like Stone had settled in a bit. He allowed a double in the 2nd and a walk in the 3rd, but got a clean 4th. But to start the 5th, he gave up a double and an infield single plus a steal, and a Schwarber double scored them both to make it 4-3.
Alex Vesia entered with two outs in the 5th to get the final out, which he did. However, after a lead-off double in the 6th, it looked like the Dodgers got the lead runner after Enrique threw to Rojas at third. However, Rojas got called for blocking the bag to corner the runners.
Dave Roberts has been tossed for the first time this season for arguing this defensive interference call pic.twitter.com/RKXqfAMoUu
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) August 8, 2024
Y'all agree with @CameronMaybin?pic.twitter.com/sI1PpbNcWD https://t.co/IqpKGSDTDY
— Foul Territory (@FoulTerritoryTV) August 8, 2024
That proved pivotal, as Joe Kelly got a groundout that tied things at 4-4 (that should’ve ended the inning), issued two back breaking walks to load the bases, uncorked a wild pitch to make it 5-4, and then gave up a three-run homer to Schwarber to make it 8-4 before getting out of the inning.
This man is on fire#RingTheBell pic.twitter.com/IAfTSkQZnH
— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) August 8, 2024
Well, at least Michael Kopech continued his run of success as a Dodger in the 7th. Michael Grove then got the final two innings, which ended up being pretty dramatic due to Nick Castellanos getting into his feelings and then Matt Strahm hitting Gavin Lux on purpose.
Nick Castellanos had some words for Michael Grove after this 97 MPH hit by pitch pic.twitter.com/I4r0trCnfA
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) August 8, 2024
Gavin Lux gets drilled with two outs after Nick Castellanos wasn't pleased with taking 97 off the hands from the Dodgers pic.twitter.com/2WFDAxIjj4
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) August 8, 2024
Also Schwarber hit his third homer of the game to make it 9-4.
The offense mostly didn’t do anything the rest of the game.
I don't understand sacrificing winnable games cause the pen is tired, but then when the pen is rested yanking starters in the 5th and then just repeating this until the end of time. Especially when the pen is shit anyway.
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) August 8, 2024
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| NL WEST | RECORD |
|---|---|
| Dodgers | 66-49 |
| Padres | 63-52 (3 GB) |
The Dodgers will get a day off tomorrow and then welcome in the Pirates at 4:10 PM HT/7:10 PM PT/10:10 PM ET on MLB Network yet again. It’ll be Jack Flaherty making his second start against Mitch Keller.
