One night after escaping with a win to even the series at a game apiece, the Los Angeles Dodgers visit the Philadelphia Phillies on Wednesday in the decisive contest of the set.
After dropping a 10-7 decision in Monday’s series opener, the Dodgers notched a 2-1 triumph Tuesday with Max Muncy’s two-run homer providing all the support that Justin Wrobleski needed. Wrobleski allowed one run in 6 1/3 innings, but Los Angeles still needed to survive a chaotic finish.
The Phillies had runners on second and third base with one out in the ninth inning against Tanner Scott. Brandon Marsh hit a grounder to third that resulted in Justin Crawford getting tagged out in a rundown between third and home, and then J.T. Realmuto — who already reached third base — retreated toward second and was thrown out to end the game.
“Big win,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said, “and a really, really fun ballgame.”
“Just a lack of judgment,” Realmuto said of his game-ending blunder. “Can’t make two outs on one play.”
Alec Bohm had three hits and an RBI for Philadelphia, which has managed only one run in three of its five games since the All-Star break.
“Those are the kind of games you play when you play good teams,” Phillies interim manager Don Mattingly said. “You just have games that are 2-1 and the ball breaks one way or another and it changes the game.”
Eric Lauer (4-5, 4.81 ERA) will get the nod for Los Angeles as he takes the mound for the first time in more than two weeks. The left-hander last pitched on July 6, when he gave up three runs in six innings against the Colorado Rockies.
After starting the season 1-5 with a 6.69 ERA as a member of the Toronto Blue Jays, Lauer is 3-0 with a 3.12 ERA since joining the Dodgers.
“Overall, I was pretty happy with how I was commanding the ball,” Lauer said after his most recent outing. “I think there was a few pitches I missed locations pretty bad, so that kind of allowed them to put the ball in play. Overall, I’m a little frustrated with how I was throwing the ball. Definitely some things to tighten down.”
Lauer has made five appearances (four starts) against the Phillies, going 2-1 with a 0.93 ERA.
Aaron Nola (3-7, 5.68) will counter for Philadelphia as he looks to build on some recent improvement. The right-hander has a 4.00 ERA in July with three straight solid outings since getting hammered in his final start in June.
Most recently, Nola gave up three runs in six-plus innings against the New York Mets. However, he absorbed the loss in that contest and has not earned a victory since May 26.
“The stuff feels good,” Nola said after yielding three home runs against New York. “The solo home runs hurt me. I feel like that’s how it’s gone this year and last year. I make a mistake over the plate and they don’t miss it.”
Nola is 3-3 with a 4.31 ERA in 12 career appearances (all starts) against the Dodgers.
–Field Level Media
