The Los Angeles Dodgers weren’t able to build on snapping their season-worst four-game losing streak as they fell 5-4 in a walk-off win for the Philadelphia Phillies. The suddenly resurgent Phillies now have won six games in a row.
Michael Grove had been the scheduled starter in the series opener at Citizens Bank Park, but the Dodgers instead went with Victor González as an opener for the third time in his career. González retired two of three batters faced before giving way to Grove.
The right-hander again pitched with increased velocity but career struggles against lefties surfaced in the third inning when Kyle Schwarber doubled and Bryce Harper hit an RBI single that tied the game.
Grove then ran into more trouble in the fifth inning as Edmundo Sosa’s check swing resulted in a leadoff infield single and Schwarber followed with a walk. Nick Castellanos took advantage of the RBI situation by driving a hanging slider into center field to extend the Phillies’ lead to 2-0.
Another run scored on Grove’s wild pitch and Trea Turner capped off the three-run inning with an RBI single. Although Grove has seen an uptick in velocity since coming off the 15-day injured list, he’s allowed a combined eight runs in nine innings over the past two starts.
Conversely, Ranger Suárez cruised after allowing doubles to Freddie Freeman and J.D. Martinez in the first inning. Suárez gave up just two other hits and retired the final nine batters faced to get through the sixth inning. He finished with season-high eight strikeouts.
The Phillies bullpen was unable to protect the lead as Matt Strahm surrendered back-to-back home runs to Mookie Betts and Freeman in the seventh inning.
The Dodgers were in position to tie the game thanks in part to Alex Vesia and Shelby Miller combining for 3.1 scoreless innings that included six strikeouts.
Positive results from the bullpen came to a halt in the ninth inning when Caleb Ferguson gave up a walk-off home run to Schwarber with two outs in the ninth inning. It marked a second walk-off win in a row for the Phillies.
Dodgers road trip woes
Despite scoring first in all four games of their road trip thus far, the Dodgers are just 1-3 during that stretch. At best they will finish .500 on their current road trip, which could prove to be a difficult task considering Julio Urías is no longer returning to start Sunday because of lingering soreness in his left hamstring.
Overall this season, the Dodgers are 16-18 on the road. They went 54-27 away from Dodger Stadium in 2022.
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