LOS ANGELES — An optimist’s optimist may say the Phillies are on a roll.
They’ve gained two of three, in any case.
After six consecutive collection losses courting to mid-July, the Phillies have appeared higher the previous few days, together with in Tuesday night time’s 6-2 victory over the Dodgers at Dodger Stadium. If the Phillies win on Wednesday, it is going to be their first collection victory since they swept the Dodgers at Residents Financial institution Park on July Sep 11.
“It might be good to get a successful streak going,” Phillies left-hander Matt Strahm mentioned. “I’d really feel lots higher about that. You understand, this recreation is actually exhausting. Similar to originally of the yr, none of it issues until we do what we have to do on the finish.”
Tuesday’s win higher positions the Phillies for a World Collection run. It clinched a season-series victory over Los Angeles, that means if the Phillies and Dodgers end the common season tied for one of the best document within the Nationwide League, the Phils can have home-field benefit by way of the NL Championship Collection.
“That may be enormous coming down the stretch,” Phillies supervisor Rob Thomson mentioned. “That’s an excellent factor. That’s a very good membership over there.”
Nearly every thing clicked for the Phils on Tuesday. Left-hander Cristopher Sánchez had his finest begin since he threw the primary shutout of his profession on June 28 towards the Marlins. He allowed one run in six-plus innings.
“They’ve numerous good hitters, however all good hitters have their weak spots,” Sánchez mentioned by way of the workforce’s interpreter. “That’s what we examine for outings like this.”
Kyle Schwarber gave the Phillies a 1-0 lead within the fifth inning when he hit Clayton Kershaw’s 3-2 slider into heart discipline for a two-out single to attain a run. It was Kershaw’s last pitch of the night time.
“Kershaw is Kershaw,” Schwarber mentioned. “Corridor of Famer. He’s been round a very long time. He is aware of what he’s doing with the baseball. He did an awesome job by way of these issues, limiting some issues. Then, clearly, we have been in a position to get to him there. Hitting the only there and getting a run house acquired issues going.”
The Phillies scored three extra runs within the sixth to take a 4-0 lead.
Sánchez allowed a run within the backside of the inning, then put the primary two runners on base to start out the seventh, prompting Thomson to name upon Strahm. Strahm retired Nick Ahmed and Austin Barnes to ship Shohei Ohtani to the plate with two outs.
Strahm bested Ohtani in a memorable at-bat on July 10 in Philadelphia. Strahm entered the seventh inning that night time with runners on the corners, one out and a two-run lead. He struck out Ohtani on 4 pitches.
Tuesday had an identical really feel with runners on first and second, one out and a three-run lead.
Strahm began with a pair four-seam fastballs to get to 1-1. Phillies catcher J.T. Realmuto known as for a cutter.
Strahm virtually by no means throws cutters to lefties. The truth is, he thinks the final time he threw one to a left-handed hitter was towards Pirates shortstop Oneil Cruz in a Grapefruit League recreation on March 21, 2023.
Cruz crushed the ball simply foul down the right-field line.
So why a cutter then towards arguably baseball’s finest hitter?
“I belief J.T.,” Strahm mentioned.
Ohtani swung and missed to go to 1-2.
Strahm threw two fastballs away for balls to get to 3-2. Ohtani fouled off one other fastball.
Then, Strahm lastly threw a slider away. It was presupposed to be a bit of extra off the plate, but it surely acquired the job finished, as Ohtani flied out to proper discipline to finish the inning. Strahm slapped his glove a number of instances and shouted earlier than leaving the sector.
Edmundo Sosa and Schwarber hit back-to-back homers within the ninth. Schwarber’s homer virtually hit the highest of the right-field foul pole.
“I felt just like the video games that we’ve been taking part in have been fairly good just lately,” Schwarber mentioned. “Clearly, you’re going to lose video games. They beat us yesterday. You’re going to be OK with that, as a result of they straight up beat us. We didn’t do a lot in that recreation that basically damage us. They only went out and beat us. I really feel like we’re going to be OK with that on the finish of the day. After we stroll out, we anticipate to win, but when we play our model of baseball … we’re going to take that consequence on the finish of the day.”
