The Los Angeles Dodgers mounted a furious comeback against a volatile Philadelphia Phillies bullpen, but Daniel Hudson struggled in the ninth inning and it resulted in a 9-7 loss.
Heading into the matchup, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said his team needed to be prepared for Zack Wheeler’s “big fastball.” The start was Wheeler’s first since being activated off the COVID-19 injured list.
Wheeler held L.A. to three runs on six hits, and collected seven strikeouts over 5.1 innings. He retired the first six batters faced before Cody Bellinger led off the bottom of the third with a home run.
Bellinger entered the night a career 4-for-11 with four home runs and five strikeouts against Wheeler. He nearly slugged a second home run in the game but it hooked just foul, and the Dodgers wound up stranding two runners in the fourth inning.
Will Smith’s two-run double in the sixth chased Wheeler from the game with one out and got the Dodgers to within 7-3.
They put together a big rally in the bottom of the eighth by loading the bases with nobody out. Smith lined an RBI single into center field, Justin Turner followed with a pinch-hit two-run double, and Chris Taylor’s RBI base hit with one out tied the game.
The Dodgers loaded the bases again with two outs, but weren’t able to break the tie, which proved costly.
The Phillies swung early and often against Tyler Anderson, who allowed more than two earned runs for the first time this season.
Hours after Phillies manager Joe Girardi revealed Bryce Harper has a small tear in the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) in is right elbow and won’t throw for four weeks, the former National League MVP hit a laser for a solo home run in the first inning.
Kyle Schwarber and Johan Camargo, both of whom have struggled of late, combined to drive in three runs in the second inning on a base hit and homer, respectively. Jean Segura then caught Gavin Lux too lackadaisical and scored by tagging up on a pop-up back of second base in the fourth inning.
Harper added an RBI double in the fifth and Schwarber’s sacrifice fly in the sixth brought home another run for Philadelphia.
Despite his struggles, Anderson was left in the game to provide some length. The left-hander gutted through a season-high six innings and was charged for seven of the Phillies’ runs.
Hudson was hurt by some bad luck but also lacked command as two walks and an infield single loaded the bases. A wild pitch allowed the Phillies to take a decided lead, and Harper’s sacrifice fly provided some insurance.
Corey Knebel faced a bases-loaded jam before wiggling out of trouble to convert the save against his former teammates.
Thursday was just the second time this season the Dodgers allowed more than five runs, and Anderson became their first starter to give up at least three since Tony Gonsolin on April 26.
The series opener also marked the first time the Dodgers allowed a minimum of three runs in consecutive games this year. The Phillies’ nine runs are the most an opponent has scored against the Dodgers this season.
Almonte impresses in Dodgers debut
Prior to first pitch the Dodgers called up Yency Almonte and optioned Ryan Pepiot to Triple-A Oklahoma City.
Almonte entered for his Dodgers debut in the seventh inning and proceeded to retire all six batters faced on the night. Included in that was striking out the side in the eighth.
Almonte previously spent time in the Majors with the Colorado Rockies from 2018-2021.
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