Phillies Blow 9th Inning Lead, Lose Series Finale with Dodgers 5-4
The Phillies entered the 9th inning with a lead, but couldn’t hold on, as the Dodgers stormed back to win 5-4 behind a Gavin Lux 2 RBI double.
Phillies (17-18) Beat Dodgers (21-12)
- Winning Pitcher: Shane Greene (1-0, 0.00)
- Losing Pitcher: Corey Knebel (0-3, 3.60)
- Save: n/a
Gavin Lux totally redeemed himself after committing a costly two-out error in the 2nd inning that allowed the Phillies to score four unearned runs. Lux then stepped to the plate in the bottom of the 9th inning, facing Corey Knebel with runners on the corners and ripped a game winning two-run double into right field, walking it off for the Dodgers.
With the loss, the Phillies gave away an opportunity to sweep the Dodgers in a four game set in Los Angeles for the first time since 1985.
Today is one of a handful of losses that hurt you to your core for a few hours after the game. Even through the pain its important to remember that the Phillies had a very productive road trip, finishing with a 5-2 record, while picking up two series victories. Just last week this team had lost 5 of 6 games and blown a division game to the Mets in epic fashion. Just last week the Phillies had only won two series the entire season.
I don’t know about anyone else, but I feel ten times better about the Phillies after this west coast road trip. Winning baseball games tends to do that.
Mookie Betts continued to kill the Phillies going 2-4, 1 R, 2 RBI and hitting his second home run in as many games. Max Muncy also scored off Nola, with a one run single in the 4th inning to make it 4-2.
Aaron Nola was fantastic today tossing 7 innings and allowing only two runs on four hits. Nola struck out eight Dodgers batters throwing a total of 108 pitches. The Phillies are now just 1-7 this season when Aaron Nola starts and have carried over the strange multi-season trend of not providing him with adequate run support.
The Phillies played the game without the hottest hitter in the National League, Bryce Harper, who was unable to play after receiving a platelet-rich plasma injection into his injured throwing elbow. It’s unclear whether Harper will be able to play in Tuesday’s contest at home against the San Diego Padres.
The Phillies have an off day Monday, in preparation of a three game series beginning Tuesday against the surging San Diego Padres, who are tied for the NL West lead at 22-13.
Gavin Lux with a brutal error and the Phillies take the lead!!
1-0 Phils
Garrett Stubbs hits a ground rule double to right field to double the Phils lead.
2-0 Phillies
Rhys Hoskins slices a 2-RBI single just over the head of Gavin Lux.
4-0 Phils
If Bryce Harper is the best player in the NL, I think Mookie Betts is probably second. Betts rips his second home run in as many days to put the Dodgers on the board.
4-1 Phils
Max Muncy with an RBI single cutting into the lead.
4-2 Phils
Aaron Nola strikes out Max Muncy to get out of the 6th inning.
Mookie Betts scores Gavin Lux all the way from 1st base with an RBI double that went just under Johan Camargo’s glove.
4-3 Phils
After Cody Bellinger hit a two out triple, Gavin Lux makes up for his error earlier in the game and walks it off for the Dodgers.
Shit.
5-4 Dodgers
Up Next
The Phillies have a well earned day off on Monday before they begin a three game set against the San Diego Padres at Citizens Bank Park on Tuesday.
Zack Wheeler (1-3, 4.26) will toe the rubber facing off against Mike Clevinger (0-0, 5.00) with the first pitch scheduled for 6:45 pm.
NBC Sports will carry the broadcast of the game.
