The Los Angeles Dodgers didn’t do Michael Grove many favors in his MLB debut but put together a two-out rally in the ninth inning and came away with a walk-off 5-4 walk-off win behind a two-run double from Gavin Lux.
The Phillies nearly completed their second four-game sweep of the Dodgers at Dodger Stadium, which would have been their first since August 29-September 1, 1985.
Even without Bryce Harper in the lineup due to receiving a platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injection to treat a slight tear in the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) in his right elbow, the Phillies put together a big inning.
Though, they were aided by sloppy defense from the Dodgers. The first instance was Will Smith dropping a strike and not getting a throw off to try and catch Jean Segura stealing. Then after a walk put two on with two outs, Gavin Lux had a routine ground ball go through his legs.
That broke up the scoreless tie and set off a bit of an avalanche as Garrett Stubbs followed with a ground-rule RBI double and Rhys Hoskins added a two-run single.
To Grove’s credit, he bounced back to retire the side in order in the third inning and was removed with two outs in the fourth. Phil Bickford stranded the runner he inherited to close the book on Grove at 70 pitches over 3.2 innings with four runs (all unearned) allowed, and three strikeouts and three walks.
While Dodgers pitchers collectively had an improved effort from the first three games of the series, the team’s offense was slow to overcome the four-run deficit.
Like in his five prior starts against the Dodgers, Aaron Nola continued to give them trouble with his curveball.
Mookie Betts hit a solo home run in the third inning, his second in as many games. Max Muncy hit an RBI single in the bottom of the fourth but their rally stalled after that.
Nola threw a season-high 108 pitches but allowed just the two runs and finished with eight strikeouts over seven innings.
Nola joined German Márquez and Max Fried as the only starting pitchers this season to hold the Dodgers to two runs and complete at least seven innings.
L.A. had the first three batters reach against Jeurys Familia in the eighth inning, which included an RBI double from Betts. However, Trea Turner grounded into a double play and defensive positioning bailed out Familia when Smith hit a rocket up the middle but right at Segura.
Corey Knebel had the Dodgers down to their final out before Cody Bellinger’s triple started the rally. Chris Taylor followed with a walk and Lux atoned for his error with the double down the right-field line.
Dodgers were part of Phillies dominating NL West
The Phillies had won eight consecutive games against National League West opponents, which was their longest such stretch against the division since taking 10 in a row during the 1984 season.
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