*Photo from the Associated Press*
The rain delay robbed the baseball world of another exciting edition of Max Scherzer vs Aaron Nola, as both had their starts cut short because of the rain. But, if you're a fan of the Los Angeles Dodgers, it was still a good night. Corey Seager homered, Max Muncy homered, and the Dodgers shut out the Phillies 5-0 on Tuesday night.
Dodgers infielder Trea Turner said "When we got to the bullpen, we just didn't miss our pitches. Corey got us going with that homer and we just kept rolling from there. It came down to bullpen matchups and who can get some runs against the bullpen. We had good at-bats after the rain delay and that was the difference."
Scherzer was limited to 3 1/3 innings in his start, allowing no runs on 3 hits, walking no one and racking up 6 strikeouts in his start, getting the no decision. Alex Vesia came in after the game resumed, and picked up the win to move to 2-1 on the season, throwing 1 2/3 shutout innings, striking out 4 hitters while allowing just one hit.
After Scherzer and Vesia had their days end, it was up to a chorus of 5 other relievers out of the Dodgers bullpen, including Corey Knebel, who was making his season debut after spending it on the IL to start. Justin Bruihl making his second big league appearance and Conner Greene making his Dodgers debut pitched in relief, alongside familiar faces Brusdar Graterol and Blake Treinen.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said of Scherzer's start that "I thought it was good while it lasted. It was going to be a fun one as far as seeing what Max had, what he was bringing, what Nola was bringing. It was going to be a pitchers’ duel; the pace was good. After that rain delay, both managers, we felt that obviously you’re not going to run your starter back out there to put them in harm's way."
Seager got the Dodgers going in the 5th, hitting his first homer since being activated off the 60 Day IL, making it 1-0 Dodgers to start. In the 6th, an RBI single from Will Smith, and a two run single from AJ Pollock increased the Dodgers lead to 4-0. In the 9th, Muncy put the game out of reach with a solo homer to right field.
The loss for the Phillies ended their winning streak at 8 games, temporarily capping a run that saw them jump two spots in the NL East standings, as they now hold first place by a game over the New York Mets. They still have two more games against the Dodgers to try and get another streak started.
Nola only lasted 4 innings due to rain, but it was a beauty of a start, allowing just one hit, which was the only baserunner he allowed, while striking out 7 hitters in 4 innings. JD Hammer got the loss for the Phillies, giving up the solo homer to Seager in the 5th. Matt Moore, Enyel De Los Santos, Damon Jones, and Mauricio Llovera also pitched for the Phillies.
Phillies manager Joe Girardi said of Nola's start that "I thought that’s the best curveball I’ve seen him have all year long. They were swinging through it. He was throwing strikes with it. He was throwing it below the zone. He was backdoor-ing it. He was doing everything, whatever he wanted with it. This is a good lineup that doesn’t necessarily strike out a lot. He was doing a really good job."
The Dodgers and Phillies play the second of a 3 game series tonight, with David Price getting the start for Los Angeles, and new acquisition Kyle Gibson will make his 3rd start for the Phillies.
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