The Los Angeles Dodgers started a three-game series with the Philadelphia Phillies off strong, earning a 7-6 victory at Citizens Bank Park.
The Dodgers slugged four home runs in the game, but ironically enough it was a wild pitch that brought home the go-ahead run in the top of the ninth inning.
Facing the Phillies best reliever this season, Seranthony Dominguez, in a tie game, Alex Verdugo and Joc Pederson both produced quality at-bats to start the ninth, resulting in a walk and single, respectively.
After Max Muncy walked to load the bases, Verdugo raced home to score on a wild pitch. Matt Kemp then drove in Pederson with a single to provide an insurance run, which proved to be necessary because Kenley Jansen gave up a solo home run to lead off the bottom of the ninth inning.
The Dodgers brought out the big sticks earlier in the game, leaving the ballpark four times in the first four innings of the game. The first came off the bat of Muncy, who hit his 23rd home run of the season to straightaway center field.
Yasmani Grandal, who has been on a tear as of late, followed with a home run of his own to go back-to-back off Zach Eflin. Grandal is now tied for the Major League lead among catchers with 14 home runs.
Next to leave the yard was Chris Taylor, hitting an opposite-field shot in the second, marking the first time this season that Eflin allowed three home runs in a single game. Pederson then hit a line drive home run to right-center for the Dodgers’ final long ball of the night.
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