Categories: 2023 Postgame Recaps

Urías dominates, Phillies pitching lit up as blowout spoils Harper’s return

Bryce Harper went hitless in his return on Tuesday. (Brandon Sloter/Icon Sportswire)

Final Score: Dodgers 13, Phillies 1

LOS ANGELES — Bryce Harper is a showman. He wore the headband on Tuesday to prove it. It would’ve been very Harper-like to return with a couple base hits, perhaps a homer, and lead some offensive outburst for an energized Phillies offense in a statement win of sorts.

Julio Urías was told of no such spectacle.

The Dodgers lefty seemed to have no issue with Harper’s return to the lineup, punching out the two-time MVP twice and surrendering just one hit en route to a series-clinching victory at Dodger Stadium.

Harper went 0-for-4 in his 2023 debut, striking out thrice.

Urías made light work of the Phillies’ offense, employing his trademark delivery quirks and tantalizing offspeed to baffle the new-look lineup — led by Kyle Schwarber in the leadoff spot for the first time this season — all night long.

Meanwhile, the Dodgers’ offense made light work of Phillies starter Matt Strahm, who had struck out 16 batters and conceded just three runs across his last two starts (10 2/3 innings of work). Strahm didn’t make it through the fourth inning this time around, allowing six hits and four runs to raise his ERA more than a full run to 3.38.

Strahm didn’t have close to his best stuff, and he wasn’t bailed out by his defense. In the first inning, Trea Turner had a line drive well within reach bounce off his glove, putting a runner on third, before a sacrifice fly put the Dodgers up early. The usually sure-handed Edmundo Sosa let a ground ball bounce off his glove in the fourth, setting up the second RBI single (and third RBI) of the night for Mookie Betts.

Connor Brogdon and Seranthony Domínguez kept things within reach in the middle innings, but the floodgates opened against Gregory Soto — of all people — in the seventh. Soto allowed two singles, a walk and two two-run doubles in just 2/3 of an inning.

Soto had allowed one hit and one unearned run in his last 10 2/3 innings before Tuesday’s implosion.

Yunior Marte came on in relief of Soto and fared no better, allowing four runs of his own to take a game that had already gotten out of hand and make it a downright demolition. Kody Clemens pitched for the second straight night — usually not a good sign — and saw the margin hit 12 before the five-run eighth inning mercifully came to an end.

One of few bright spots in the loss came from Turner. He blasted a 420-foot solo home run to dead center in the fourth, his first extra-base hit in nine days.

The loss moves the Phillies back under .500, at 15-16. They were one out away from a four-game road sweep in their last visit to Dodger Stadium, but this year has been a different story: They’ve been outscored 26-5 across the embarrassing first two games and need a win behind Aaron Nola on Wednesday to avoid the sweep.

Shibe Vintage Sports Notes

The Phillies have gotten 4.1 (Bailey Falter), 3.1 (Taijuan Walker) and 3.1 (Strahm) innings from their starting pitchers during their three-game losing streak. They have off days on Thursday, Monday and next Thursday. At this rate, each will be sorely needed.
Bryce Harper is a villain at any stadium not in Philadelphia, regardless of the circumstances.

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