The Philadelphia Phillies (56-46) squandered another dominant outing by Zack Wheeler and a promising walk-off situation with a befuddling baserunning blunder to allow the Los Angeles Dodgers (64-38) to even the three-game set in a 2-1 loss.
Wheeler made one crucial mistake in the fourth inning, a cutter out over the plate that Max Muncy sent to straightaway center field for a two-run homer.
On the good, Wheeler had nine K’s across his seven innings and fell one short of becoming the second Phillie ever to throw 10+ strikeouts in four straight starts.
Dodgers’ lefty, Justin Wrobleski, went toe-to-toe with Wheeler, notching seven punch outs of his own.
The Phillies’ only run came courtesy of an Alec Bohm single in the first inning. Bohm saw six pitches on the night and ended with three hits, one of which was his 15th double of the season.
Jose Alvarado and Jonathan Bowlan held the line for Wheeler in the eighth and ninth, retiring their six charges in order.
Bohm’s third hit was a leadoff single to begin the bottom of the ninth. After a three-pitch strikeout of Edmundo Sosa, JT Realmuto smoked a 3-1 slider from Tanner Scott up the left field line to put runners on second and third with one out. Brandon Marsh grounded to third and caught Bohm’s replacement, Justin Crawford, in a rundown. Realmuto, safely at third while the rundown transpired, made the confounding choice to bolt back toward second base and was tagged out easily to end the game on a double play. Tanner Scott got a five-out save.
Trea Turner showed off his range and made a couple of impressive plays a night after having a rough go in the field.
Derek Hill made a great throw in the third inning that saved a run when Shohei Ohtani tried to stretch a single into a double and was tagged out just before his lead runner crossed the plate.
Aaron Nola is set to face lefty, Eric Lauer, in the series decider tomorrow night.
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