Final Score: Phillies 5, Dodgers 4
With a season-high six-game winning streak on the line, the Phillies kicked off a three-game series against the Dodgers tonight. The last time these two teams faced off was in early May at Dodgers Stadium where Philadelphia was swept by L.A..
Behind a third consecutive strong performance by Ranger Suárez, and more late-inning heroics by the offense, the Phillies were able to pick up their sixth straight win — and first against the Dodgers this season — for their 31st victory of the year.
The Dodgers scored first tonight. After Freddie Freeman laced a one-out double into the right-center field gap in the top of the first, J.D. Martinez hit a two-out double to left-center field to bring Freeman home.
The game remained 1-0 until the bottom half of the third inning. Kyle Schwarber legged out a lead-off triple after flying a ball out to center field that ended up bouncing off the base of the angled State Farm sign. Two batters later, Bryce Harper pulled a ground ball that just got by a diving Miguel Vargas for an RBI single:
Philadelphia eventually took the lead two innings later in the home half of the fifth. Edmundo Sosa started the inning with an infield single, which was followed by a Schwarber walk. With runners on first and second with no outs, Nick Castellanos continued his recent hot streak with his 21st double of the year to bring Sosa home:
One batter later, Schwarber scored on a wild pitch. Castellanos then crossed home plate on Trea Turner’s second single of the night to give the Phillies a 4-1 lead.
Matt Strahm took over on the mound in the seventh for Philadelphia after Suárez pitched six innings of one-run ball with eight strikeouts. The left-handed reliever walked the first hitter of the inning, and after back-to-back strikeouts, he gave up back-to-back home runs to Mookie Betts and Freeman to tie the game at four runs apiece:
It was then José Alvarado, who was activated off the 15-day injured list before tonight’s game, pitching the eighth for the Phillies. After a lead-off double by Martinez, Bryson Stott made a diving grab for the first out of the inning to keep Martinez at second base and from potentially scoring.
Alvarado would eventually strand Martinez at third after picking up two strikeouts in the inning — putting an end to the away team’s threat and keeping the game tied 4-4.
A half inning later, Philadelphia was able to get the go-ahead run into scoring position with one out in J.T. Realmuto, but stranded him there after Stott and Brandon Marsh both struck out to end the inning.
Gregory Soto pitched a 1-2-3 top of the ninth inning to give the Phillies an opportunity to walk things off for the second consecutive night.
And with two outs in the bottom of the ninth, Schwarber — also known as Mr. June — did just that:
Shibe Vintage Sports Notes
- Over his last three starts, Ranger Suárez has given up four earned runs in 19 2/3 innings — good for a 1.83 ERA.
- With his scoreless outing tonight, José Alvarado now has a 0.59 ERA in 15 1/3 innings pitched this year with 26 strikeouts.
- With their win tonight, the Phillies are now 6-2 in June and 18-10 at home this season.
Ticket IQ Next Game
- Saturday, June 10 vs. Los Angeles Dodgers at Citizens Bank Park
- 4:05 p.m. ET
- TV: NBC Sports Philadelphia and MLB Network (out-of-market only)
- Radio: SportsRadio 94WIP
- Spanish Radio: WTTM 1680
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