The most important thing from today was the return of Freddie Freeman due to the improving condition of his son Max, and the Dodger fans let him know they were behind him before his first at-bat.
A standing ovation for Freddie. ? #MaxStrong pic.twitter.com/qV0hEnPS5B
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) August 6, 2024
After that, the Dodgers fell behind due to some defensive blunders, but surged back ahead after a big inning and then held on for dear life in a 5-3 victory over the Phillies.
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Tyler Glasnow started the game as well as possible, striking out the side in the 1st. He also retired the first two in the 2nd and seemed to get a fly out to end that frame as well. Only problem was Andy Pages misplayed the ball in center for a “triple”, then a high bouncer back to Glasnow led to an infield single and a run. Another single followed and Teoscar Hernandez took his time getting to the ball, which allowed both runners to move into scoring position, and another run scored on a Glasnow wild pitch to make it 2-0 Phillies.
Just a brutal sequence that mostly had nothing to do with him.
Thankfully, Glasnow went right back to work after that defensive disaster happened, retiring the next 10 batters and getting through the 5th.
Tyler strikes out the side! pic.twitter.com/784vXhmWTk
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) August 6, 2024
The Dodgers had a tough task in Aaron Nola, but they surprisingly managed to be productive. After he faced the minimum through two, the 3rd began with doubles from Jason Heyward and Pages for a run, Nick Ahmed then reached on an infield single to corner things, and Shohei Ohtani plated another with a sac fly to tie the game at 2-2.
It worked. pic.twitter.com/NJ6F86KQI2 https://t.co/o1vtTRh0RR
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) August 6, 2024
Teoscar then delivered a big blow by yanking a two-run homer down the line in left, his 24th of the year to make it 4-2.
Let it fly, Teoscar! pic.twitter.com/VfAOYjiS8l
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) August 6, 2024
Meanwhile, Glasnow’s streak ended in the 6th, as he allowed a lead-off single, a one-out double, and then a groundout to score a run to cut the lead to 4-3. However, that was basically the only damage he gave up on the day that the Phillies weren’t gifted by the Dodgers: 6 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 0 BB, 9 K, 91 Pitches.
9 Ks for Tyler tonight! pic.twitter.com/HuRaUUcbbh
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) August 6, 2024
Michael Kopech took over in the 7th, giving up a single but notching another scoreless frame to keep his record as a Dodger spotless. Anthony Banda is apparently now a high-leverage guy and got the 8th, providing quite a bit of tension due to a walk and a single, but eventually coming up big.
Shut it down, Anthony. ? pic.twitter.com/wTk5kwh4Yd
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) August 6, 2024
No offensive updates in a while, because after the 4th they went back to more typical stuff, stranding a lead-off double in the 4th, a one-out double in the 5th, and then doing nothing else for a bit. However, Ohtani added some insurance in the 9th, skying his 34th homer of the year to left and thinking he missed the first base bag again to make it 5-3.
Shohei's NL-leading 34th homer! pic.twitter.com/UhFHUKR3pj
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) August 6, 2024
when you know you locked the door but go back to check anyway. pic.twitter.com/QoheJtoR34
— Cut4 (@Cut4) August 6, 2024
The 9th belonged to Daniel Hudson for the save, starting by allowing a single, but then rebounded with three infield pops in a row to end it.
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NL WEST | RECORD |
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Dodgers | 66-47 |
Diamondbacks | 61-52 (5 GB) |
Same two teams, same place, same time tomorrow at 4:10 PM HT/7:10 PM PT/10:10 PM ET on MLB Network. It’ll be Clayton Kershaw looking to bounce back against Cristopher Sanchez.