NOT DEAD YET: Phillies blast Dodgers 8-2 to stay alive in the NLDS
It was go big or go home for the Phillies, and for once they went big, destroying the Dodgers 8-2 to stay alive in the NLDS.
Eight runs later, there is life.
Aaron Nola came out firing. Two scoreless, three strikeouts, completely locked in. Then Rob Thomson decided to stick with the plan. At this point, when Topper has a “plan,” we all start sweating.
“I know we’re at the 9-hole hitter, but I’d rather Ranger start an inning than come in dirty,” he told the broadcast. He even said Ranger could give 80, 90, maybe 100 pitches.
Beautiful speech. Inspiring even.
Seven seconds later: Tommy Edman, first pitch, goodbye baseball.
Tommy Edman Solo HR
Dodgers up. Fans boiling
Phillies Twitter lit itself on fire. First everyone hated Topper for starting Nola. Then they hated him for pulling Nola for Ranger. Then they really hated him when Suarez’s first pitch left the yard.
Credit where it’s due. Ranger settled in and shoved after that. The drama was simply peak Phillies Red October.
Schwarber Wakes the Dead
Thankfully, Kyle Schwarber saved the night — and maybe the season. The guy who’s been ice-cold picked the perfect time to remember he’s built for October.
First, a 455-foot Schwarbomb that nearly cleared Dodger Stadium. Second hardest-hit homer of his career at 117.2 mph. Harder than a Bryce stare, heavier than a Nick Castellanos “what did he just say?” interview. Then he went deep again in the eighth, his second multi-homer postseason game.
When Schwarber’s locked in, good things happen. When Schwarber’s locked in, the Phillies feel alive.
That Schwarbomb was the second-hardest hit homer of Kyle Schwarber’s career, including the postseason at 117.2 mph. The hardest-hit came off Yu Darvish in Game 1 of the 2022 NLCS (119.7 mph).
The Fightins Arrive in Red October
It wasn’t just Schwarber. After his first nuke, Harper followed with a single, Bohm slapped one to center, Harper scored on an Andy Pages error, and Marsh added a sac fly. Red October finally showed up to L.A.
By the eighth, it was a full-on beatdown. JT Realmuto, Trea Turner, Schwarber again — the bats piled on and the Dodgers were cooked. Dave Roberts left Kershaw on the mound to die, and honestly, I loved every second of it.
JT Realmuto Solo HR
Trea Turner 2-RBI Single
Kyle Schwarber 2-Run HR
NOT DEAD YET
The Phillies win 8-2. The series is 2-1. Game 4 Thursday night, 6:05 p.m. ET. It’s still a mountain to climb — only 10 teams have ever come back from 0-2 in an LDS.
For one night, the Fightins looked like the team we watched all summer.
The window isn’t closed yet. It’s cracked open. If Harper, Turner, and Schwarber keep swinging like this, there’s still a chance to kick it wide.
Cristopher Sanchez vs Tyler Glasnow tomorrow night. Time to bring this series back to Philadelphia on Saturday.
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