Gavin Stone endured a bumpy MLB debut but the Los Angeles Dodgers rallied for a 10-6 walk-off to sweep the Philadelphia Phillies, extending their season-best winning streak to six games and completing an undefeated homestand.
The Dodgers’ defense didn’t do Stone any favors in the first inning as Miguel Vargas dropped a pop-up on his attempt at a running catch in shallow right field, and Max Muncy inexplicably dropped a chopper that would have been a double play.
Muncy’s error instead left the bases loaded with one out, and Bryson Stott immediately took advantage by providing the Phillies a 1-0 lead on his sacrifice fly.
Although the misplays led to a high pitch count in the first inning, Stone did manage to hold the Phillies to just the one run.
He retired the side in order in the second inning but saw matters snowball in the third. Bryce Harper and Nick Castellanos combined for back-to-back doubles with one out, extending the Phillies’ lead to 2-0.
Harper went 3-for-3 with two walks in his second game back from Tommy John surgery. He failed to reach base in four plate appearances and had three strikeouts on Tuesday night.
Four consecutive singles with two outs brought in an additional pair of runs before Stone could get through the frame. He wound up pitching four innings with five runs (four earned) allowed on eight hits and one walk.
The Dodgers trimmed into their deficit in the bottom of the third behind Mookie Betts’ RBI single. However, that was the lone run they scored in the inning despite the first three batters reaching.
James Outman and Miguel Vargas then looked to pick up their fellow Dodgers rookie in the fourth inning with a double and home run, respectively, off Aaron Nola.
Nola pitched into the seventh inning before coming out after allowing a triple to Chris Taylor on a fly ball that dropped in front of and rolled past Castellanos.
Seranthony Dominguez walked Betts upon entering the game and nearly gave up a go-ahead, three-run home run to Freddie Freeman. His drive to right field was caught by Castellanos at the wall for a sacrifice fly.
Miguel Rojas’ pinch-hit single and Outman’s second double of the game put the tying and go-ahead runners on base with one out in the eighth inning.
Rojas was thrown out at home plate on a fielder’s choice, but pinch-hitter Austin Barnes hit a line drive that went under Edmundo Sosa’s glove to bring in two runs.
Brusdar Graterol was one out away from his third save of the season but allowed the Phillies to rally. Harper started it with a flare single to left field, Castellanos walked, and Stott’s blooper fell for the game-tying RBI single.
The Phillies tasked Craig Kimbrel with getting the game to extra innings but his former teammates got the better of the match up. Taylor led off with a single and later scored on Max Muncy’s walk-off grand slam.
Dodgers rotation plans for Padres series
With Stone inserted for a spot start, the Dodgers further adjusted their starting rotation. Clayton Kershaw is now scheduled to start the series opener against the San Diego Padres, with Dustin May taking ball Saturday on seven days’ rest. Julio Urías, not Noah Syndergaard or Tony Gonsolin, is starting the series finale.
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