The Los Angeles Dodgers once again were in position to complete a three-game sweep of the Philadelphia Phillies, but failed to do so despite jumping out to an early lead.
Chase Utley and Corey Seager combined for back-to-back singles to start the game. One pitch after a fastball got away from Jerad Eickhoff and went near Justin Turner’s face, the third baseman pulled a three-run homer down the left field line.
The home run was Turner’s second in as many games, both of which were skyscrapers that he pulled. Eickhoff quickly settled in after that, retiring the next three batters faced, including two by strikeout.
Ross Stripling was efficient in the bottom of the first, needing just 11 pitches to retire the side in order. Eickhoff remained sharp in the second inning as he kept the Dodgers off the bases and picked up another strikeout.
Cameron Rupp lined a one-out base hit into center field, which was followed by an uncharacteristic error by Utley. He fielded a taylor-made double play ball but the backhanded toss to Seager went wide of second base and into left field, leaving runners on second and third with one out.
Aaron Altherr cashed in on the error by lining an RBI single into center field. He then stole second base, but Stripling retired Taylor Featherston and Eickhoff to limit the damage to just one run.
Turner hit the chalk down the left-field line for a two-out double but was stranded by Josh Reddick. Stripling tossed a 1-2-3 inning in the bottom of the third, his second time doing so on the night.
Yasmani Grandal extended the Dodgers’ lead to 4-1 with a line-drive solo home run in the fourth that hit off the scoreboard in right field. That proved key as the Phillies answered back in the bottom half of the inning.
Ryan Howard led off with a solo home run to center field, then Altherr’s base hit to right field sparked a mini two-out rally. Featherston followed with an RBI double that cut the Dodgers’ lead to 4-3 before Stripling got out of the inning.
Seager kept the fifth inning alive with a base hit to center field, and Turner worked a walk, but both were stranded as Reddick popped out. Maikel Franco doubled with two outs in the bottom of the fifth, and Stripling then walked Howard and Rupp to load the bases.
Stripling worked his way out of the jam by getting a fastball by Jimmy Paredes. Gonzalez led off the sixth with a double to right field. After Kendrick was intentionally walked with two outs, Eickhoff struck out pinch-hitter Rob Segedin.
Casey Fien recorded two outs in the bottom of the sixth but was lifted after walking pinch-hitter Tyler Goeddel with two outs. Grant Dayton came on and struck out Odubel Herrera to end the inning.
However, Dayton was tagged by Franco for a two-run homer in the seventh that gave the Phillies a 5-4 lead. That would be all Philadelphia needed as Hector Neris retired the Dodgers in order in the eighth inning, and Jeanmar Gomez followed suit in the ninth to earn a save.
