In a series between the top two teams in the National League, the Philadelphia Phillies emerged victorious, winning two of three games against the Los Angeles Dodgers this week. In the series finale, the Phillies won 9-4 on Wednesday.
Philadelphia took control of that game with a crucial five-run sixth inning, though Los Angeles would argue that a mistaken obstruction changed the game and, ultimately, the series.
Either way, the Phillies were the winners in what was undoubtedly an important National League matchup, and that offers a bright spot for Philadelphia in what has been a shaky stretch since the All-Star break. Following this series, Philadelphia sits at 6-12 after the All-Star break. It’s a far cry from the high level of play the team displayed during the first half of the season, though they still hold the best record in the National League at 68-46 heading into a four-game series against the Arizona Diamondbacks.
After the Phillies’ latest win, it didn’t go unnoticed by manager Rob Thomson.
“Well, it’s good to finally win a series because we’ve been looking to do that for a while,” he said. “Lately, we’ve been playing some really good baseball and we’ve played a really good club there. So it’s good to come out of here with a win in the series.
“Even in Seattle, I think we played pretty well, at least at the end of the series. So yeah, I hope we get back to where we were.”
Philadelphia’s most recent series win before Wednesday was a home sweep of the Dodgers on July 11. Losses since then have included a sweep at the hands of the New York Yankees and two losses of three to the lowly Oakland Athletics.
Kyle Schwarber, who had an incredible game to end the series, with three homers and seven RBIs, said the game had more significance than the highlight of his career.
“I’m sure we’ll remember that, but I think the most important thing is to get a series win against a quality opponent and get ready for another great series in Arizona,” Schwarber said. “So keeping the momentum on our side will be very important.”
The Diamondbacks (63-52) are just three games behind the Dodgers in the NL West. After facing the Snakes, the Phillies have matchups with the Nationals and Marlins before playing a Braves team that is firmly in the NL wild-card race; Atlanta is eight games behind Philadelphia in the NL East.
The upcoming series should give Philadelphia a chance to not only extend its lead at No. 1 in the National League, but also gain momentum heading into the regular season’s final stretch.
Dodgers’ lead shrinks in NL West, but Mookie Betts is expected to return soon
The Dodgers haven’t been playing up to their level since the All-Star break, either. Los Angeles won their first two series, losing just one game out of seven. But after that, the Dodgers lost three of four series. This latest series loss was especially bitter, considering a controversial umpire call played a big role in the defeat, according to the Dodgers.
An obstruction in the top of the sixth inning Wednesday ultimately led to Philadelphia taking a lead it would hold for the rest of the game. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, whose initial objection to the call earned him an ejection from third-base umpire Hunter Wendelstedt, said the ruling completely changed the complexion of the game and the series as a whole.
“It was a glaring mistake,” Roberts said afterward.
The missed call and the loss will stay with the Dodgers as they continue to fight for wins while dealing with injuries to many of their star players. Next up for them is a series against the Pirates that begins Friday before they face another NL division leader, the Milwaukee Brewers, next week. That matchup holds significance because it’s a chance for the Dodgers to make a statement about their standing in the NL, and perhaps more importantly for their postseason aspirations, Mookie Betts is expected to make his return at the start of the series. Betts has been out of the lineup since June 16, when he was hit by a pitch that fractured his left hand.
The return of a former MVP will certainly be a big boost for the Dodgers. Before the injury, Betts was hitting .304 with 10 homers and nine stolen bases.
The Dodgers are still a long way from returning Max Muncy. The two-time All-Star has been out since May because of an oblique injury. He is scheduled to begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Oklahoma City this weekend.
On the pitching side, Yoshinobu Yamamoto threw 30 pitches Tuesday afternoon, according to the AP. The rookie starting pitcher has been dealing with right triceps tightness and has been out since June. The timetable for his return is unclear.
With the recent return of Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw, plus the Tigers’ acquisition of starter Jack Flaherty at the trade deadline, Yamamoto’s return would add to a formidable but oft-injured group of starting pitchers that includes Gavin Stone and Tyler Glasnow.
For the Dodgers, health will be the most important factor as they look to finish the regular season as one of the top teams in the National League. Earning one of the top two spots in the league would allow them to rest while playing in the wild-card round, a break that could prove crucial to getting all of their players ready for the big postseason they’ve been seeking since last winter.