The Los Angeles Dodgers were embarrassed in the series opener against the Philadelphia Phillies, but bounced back on Tuesday night.
The start was delayed by an hour and 20 minutes due to rain, but they ultimately got the game in without any stoppages, despite some heavy rain in the middle of the game.
The two teams now face off in the rubber match on Wednesday afternoon.
Dodgers 2, Phillies 1
Justin Wrobleski & Zack Wheeler pitcher’s duel
With Justin Wrobleski and Zack Wheeler on the mound, the Dodgers and Phillies were locked into a pitcher’s duel all game, and runs were at a premium.
Wrobleski allowed a run in the first inning after allowing a two-out double to Bryce Harper, and then a single to Alec Bohm. That ended up being his only run allowed as he tossed the next five innings without a run scoring, and then even recorded an out in the seventh.
He finished at just 89 pitches, likely because the Dodgers are going to be mindful of his workload after already setting a new career-high in innings pitched.
Wrobleski’s final line score was 6.1 innings pitched, giving up one run on five hits with seven strikeouts to one walk. The strikeout rate continued to be encouraging for the left-hander, who has made significant progress in that area.
Wheeler was nearly as good, going seven innings with two runs allowed on five hits, including nine strikeouts and no walks.
Wheeler should have allowed a third run, but a baserunning mistake by Eliezer Alfonzo cost the Dodgers a run. Alfonzo reached on a two-out double and then should have scored on a hit from Shohei Ohtani, but slowed down before scoring, and Ohtani was thrown out at second base before the run could score. Had he been running hard through home plate, it would have scored the run easily.
Max Muncy moves up Dodgers all-time home run list
The only runs Wheeler gave up came on a two-run homer by Max Muncy in the fourth inning. Andy Pages hit a leadoff single before Muncy blasted the go-ahead shot.
That homer was the 228th of Muncy’s career with the Dodgers, which put him in a tie with Ron Cey for the second-most in Los Angeles Dodgers history. He trails Eric Karros, who hit 270 during his time with the Dodgers.
That was the entire offense for the Dodgers, but it proved to be enough.
Dodgers bullpen shuts the door
After Wrobleski came out, Evan Phillips came in and recorded both outs in the seventh with a strikeout. He then retired Trea Turner to start the eighth inning.
Tanner Scott was then called upon to face Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper, and he retired both hitters.
Scott remained in the game for the ninth inning and gave up a leadoff single and double to put the tying run at third and the go-ahead run at second with one out. However, the Phillies ran themselves out of the inning and a potential win.
Justin Crawford ran home on a weak ground ball to second base, and he was caught in a run-down. After he was tagged out, J.T. Realmuto was caught trying to head back to third base for the double play that ended the game.
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