PHILADELPHIA — With all of the accidents the Dodgers are at the moment coping with, it’s inconceivable to name this three-game sequence in opposition to the Phillies – the staff with the most effective report within the Majors – a litmus check.
However even with all of the issues occurring for the time being, Los Angeles had a golden alternative to steal a recreation from Philadelphia on Wednesday night time. As an alternative, a flurry of missed alternatives doomed the Dodgers in a 4-3 loss to the Phillies at Residents Financial institution Park.
“This was a irritating one,” stated Dodgers supervisor Dave Roberts. “You’ve received to provide credit score to these guys for placing the ball in play and benefiting from alternatives. We had some alternatives that we couldn’t capitalize on. Finally, we got here up quick.”
Earlier than the sport, the Dodgers optioned right-hander Bobby Miller, the newest blow to a beginning rotation that has not been as much as its customary over the previous month. One of many shiny spots, nevertheless, has been rookie Gavin Stone, who was strong once more on Wednesday regardless of his ultimate line of 4 runs allowed over 4 2/3 innings.
Exterior of a superb play by Kiké Hernández at third base, the Dodgers’ protection had its fair proportion of points. Within the fifth, Andy Pages misplaced a ball within the sky. The ball had a 99% catch likelihood. As an alternative, it resulted in a leadoff triple from Whit Merrifield.
For a second, although, it appeared like the error wasn’t going to harm the Dodgers as Stone received Garrett Stubbs and Kyle Schwarber to floor out for 2 fast outs, maintaining Merrifield 90 toes away. However with two outs, Trea Turner grounded a ball up the center. Miguel Rojas, who’s the staff’s greatest defender, wasn’t capable of discipline the ball cleanly, giving the Phillies a 3-2 lead.
Turner’s ball had a 15% hit likelihood. Two batters later, Bryson Stott hit a weak grounder to second baseman Chris Taylor, who additionally was unable to get the out on a late throw to first base. Stott’s grounder had a 9% hit likelihood.
“I make that play 9 instances out of 10,” Rojas stated. “I really feel that’s on me. Not simply that play [with Turner], however the subsequent play, when Stott hit the ball in direction of second base. I feel it’s a better play for me than for CT at that second. I ought to have made each of these performs and stored the lead that inning.
“That’s on me. I should be higher.”
Offensively, the Dodgers weren’t significantly better in massive conditions. Within the seventh, the underside of the Dodgers’ order continued to use stress. Taylor received the body began with a double and Austin Barnes put runners on the corners with one out.
That introduced up Shohei Ohtani within the largest spot of the sport. It’s a state of affairs the Dodgers would join each time. Ohtani, nevertheless, struck out swinging on 4 pitches in opposition to left-hander Matt Strahm for the second out. Teoscar Hernández then flied out to proper discipline to maintain the Dodgers off the board, nonetheless trailing by two.
“I see the battle,” Roberts stated. “However sadly, we wanted that hit. There have been some alternatives that we had guys in scoring place and we simply didn’t capitalize.”
Within the eighth, the Dodgers did provide you with some massive hits, however bumped into some dangerous luck. Rojas delivered an RBI single to left discipline to chop the deficit to 1, however as he tried to stretch the only right into a double, his foot got here off the bag and he was tagged out. The Dodgers then went down to ensure that the ultimate 4 outs of the sport.
“It appeared like, in the present day, the ball had eyes,” Roberts stated. “And that’s baseball.”
