In what initially seemed like it would be a tight contest to the finish, the Dodgers piled on seven runs in a lopsided eighth inning, propelling them to an 8-0 victory over the Phillies at Chavez Ravine on Sunday. The win clinched the series sweep for the Dodgers, who now have 41 wins on the year—more than any other team in baseball.
It wasn’t until the seventh inning when the Dodgers’ offense finally put a run on the board. David Freese, substituting for an injured Matt Beaty, launched a solo shot to right-center field, providing the Dodgers with the 1-0 lead. At the end of the day, it would be the only run that Los Angeles really needed.
The long ball was Freese’s sixth of the season.
One inning later, the Dodgers erupted for seven more runs, highlighted by a two-run home run off the bat of Joc Pederson, his 18th of the year. Earlier in the inning, Los Angeles broke the game open when Philadelphia pitcher Yacksel Rios threw the ball away on a Chris Taylor bunt, allowing both Freese and Alex Verdugo to score.
Besides Beaty, who exited early, every position player had at least one hit for the Dodgers.
According to J.P. Hoornstra of the Southern California News Group, Beaty said “he’s fine and feels like he could play tomorrow.” The early diagnosis is a minor hip flexor irritation.
Rich Hill was brilliant on the mound for the Dodgers, throwing seven strong innings, surrendering just three hits and three walks while striking out nine. The win was Hill’s second of the season.
Pedro Baez pitched a flawless eighth inning, and Joe Kelly was perfect in the ninth after the game had already blown open.
Kelly struck out two Philadelphia batters and lowered his ERA to 7.91.
Vince Velasquez took the loss for Philadelphia, his third of the season.
The Los Angeles victory came one day after the Dodgers walked-off in the ninth inning of the middle game on Saturday night courtesy of Will Smith‘s first-career big league home run.
In the series opener on Friday, Pederson, Enrique Hernandez, Corey Seager and Max Muncy all hit homers to power their squad to a 6-3 win.
The Dodgers will now take to the road and face Arizona in a three-game set beginning on Monday.
Isn’t everyone happy we didn’t trade Joc to the White Sox? He’s finally showing what he can really do.
Finally, he’s not trying to do too much. He has accepted his exact role, and he’s not trying to do anything beyond it.
Both Joc and Belly have cut way down on their K’s and putting more balls in play and Joc’s swing and set up seems more consistent giving him more confidence
We lead the NL in scoring and OPS, so whatever Van Skyhack is teaching is working. And maybe Kelly will start listening to Honeycutt. Barring any significant injury, this team should cruise to the playoffs.
Phillies picked up Jay Bruce in a trade with the Mariners. Looks like their fire sale has started. Gordon is on the block. Seager would be, but he is just back off of the IL. Cingrani to have season ending surgery. Since this is his walk year, we have probably seen the last of him in LA>
I’ll take this guy:
https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/sadzeco01.shtml
We can trade our Connor for him. What could go Wong with that?
Cute. Rosscup is a free agent, Rodney actually got signed. Cannot remember who made that moronic pick up….Cargo activated by the Cubs today, in the lineup and hitting 5th against the Angels.
I would not mind the Dodgers prying Hunter Strickland away from Seattle….guy throws some serious heat.
He’s got a curious stat line going this year. 3 games, 2.1 innings, 3 Ks, 2 saves and an 11.57 ERA. He had an off year last year with SF. He may come cheap.
Hyun-Jin Ryu wins NL pitcher of the month. Maybe we should, ya know, PAY THE MAN! Also a big happy birthday to El Capitan of this ship. Happy birthday Dennis!