Blake Snell added onto what’s been an impressive stretch for Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitchers, and it helped them avoid being swept by the Philadelphia Phillies with a 5-0 win.
Snell finished with a season-high 12 strikeouts over seven shutout innings. The outing tied for his longest of the season, matching the seven innings he threw against the San Diego Padres on Aug. 22 before going on the paternity list.
Snell held the Phillies without a baserunner until Bryson Stott and Harrison Bader hit back-to-back singles with two outs in the third inning. Snell struck out Kyle Schwarber on an inside curveball to preserve the Dodgers’ 2-0 lead.
More two-out trouble surfaced in the seventh inning as the Phillies worked consecutive walks with Snell’s pitch count crossing into triple digits. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts emerged from the dugout after the second walk of the inning, but Snell successfully lobbied to remain in the game.
Alex Vesia had already started to jog in from the bullpen, but the pitching change was never officially called for, and he retreated.
Snell proceeded to strike out Weston Wilson on his 112th pitch of the night, which are the most he’s thrown in a start this year.
Vesia and Tanner Scott combined to pitch the final two innings of the Dodgers’ win in a bounce-back effort for the bullpen. Scott allowed two runners to reach in what otherwise was a third consecutive scoreless appearance.
They helped protect a lead the Dodgers took early thanks to a solo home run from Freddie Freeman in the second inning and Ben Rortvedt’s RBI base hit with two outs.
Andy Pages’ two-out walk in the fourth inning wound up leading to another run as he stole second base and advanced another 90 feet shortly after on Jesus Luzardo’s errant pickoff throw. Kiké Hernández drove Pages in with a base hit into center field.
Shohei Ohtani provided insurance in the eighth inning with his 51st home run of the season, and Tommy Edman added a sacrifice fly. Ohtani’s home run also extended his on-base streak to 22 games.
Mookie Betts had his on-base streak snapped at 21 games.
NL West magic number for Dodgers
With the win, the Dodgers lowered their magic number to clinch the National League West to eight. They also remained two games ahead of the San Diego Padres, who were victorious on Wednesday as well.
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