Looking to rebound from a loss to the Washington Nationals, the Los Angeles Dodgers quickly jumped on Philadelphia Phillies starter Nick Pivetta in Monday’s series opener. Behind back-to-back home runs from Chris Taylor and Justin Turner, the Dodgers held a 2-0 lead five pitches into the game.
For Taylor, the homer snapped an 0-for-15 skid. He did so in unique fashion, as his drive to center field resulted in an inside-the-park home run. The ball hit off the top of the wall and rolled into left field, away from Odubel Herrera and Aaron Altherr.
Taylor raced around the bases and crossed home plate standing up. It was the first inside-the-park home run by a Dodgers player since Trent Oeltjen at Coors Field in 2011. Prior to Taylor the last Dodgers player to lead off the first inning with an inside-the-park homer was Dave Roberts did so in 2003.
Remarkably, it was the fourth inside-the-park home run the Phillies have allowed within the past month.
San Francisco Giants center fielder Denard Span did so on Aug. 19, Miami Marlins catcher J.T. Realmuto accomplished the feat five days later, Washington Nationals center fielder Michael A. Taylor hit his (a grand slam) Sept. 8, and now Taylor’s on Monday.
Per Elias Sports Bureau, it’s the most allowed by one team in a single season since the Detroit Tigers also allowed four in 1983. The 1961 Phillies surrendered five inside-the-park-home runs in 1961.
Pivetta only allowed two more hits as he worked through six innings. That kept the Phillies within striking distance, and it paid off when Altherr hit the first grand slam Clayton Kershaw has allowed in his career.
