PHILADELPHIA — To many across the sport, the Dodgers have change into villains for the way in which they’ve outspent the remainder of the league, loaded their roster with worldwide expertise, and stockpiled depth at seemingly each place.
To the Philadelphia Phillies, nonetheless, it makes them the usual; one with which their very own big-money, star-studded roster is attempting to compete.
“I don’t know if people will like this,” stated the Phillies’ greatest star, two-time MVP Bryce Harper, when requested Friday concerning the Dodgers’ juggernaut standing, “but I feel like only losers complain about what they’re doing. I think they’re a great team, they’re a great organization. That’s why guys want to go there and play.”
In different phrases, Harper added, “they’re doing what the Dodgers do.”
That’s why, on Friday evening, there was a definite buzz round Residents Financial institution Park when the Dodgers got here to city. Why, for the primary week of April, this sequence had a litmus-test sort of really feel.
“I think that both teams like to use each other as a barometer, or a benchmark,” Dodgers supervisor Dave Roberts stated.
However proper now, no staff units the bar increased than the Dodgers.
And for one evening, a minimum of, the first-place Phillies had been in a position to measure up.
In a 3-2 defeat, the Phillies handed the defending World Sequence champions their first lack of the season; dropping the Dodgers to 8-1 in a sport that, sure, proved this yr’s $400 million staff is, actually, beatable.
“Uncharted territory,” Roberts deadpanned of the staff’s first loss.
“We were bound to lose eventually,” added Tommy Edman. “But still a tough loss for sure.”
Certainly, knocking off the Dodgers was no straightforward feat.
Over six innings towards Yoshinobu Yamamoto, the Phillies had one unearned run. Yamamoto misfired on a pick-off throw to 3rd that allowed Trea Turner to attain.
“That was very regrettable,” Yamamoto, who was in any other case flawless in a three-hit, three-walk, five-strikeout begin, stated by interpreter Yoshihiro Sonoda. “It was a very fundamental play.”
Philadelphia’s starter, burgeoning 27-year-old left-hander Jesús Luzardo, produced considered one of his finest profession begins, blanking the Dodgers over seven scoreless innings on two hits, two walks, eight strikeouts — and a few assist from a howling wind blowing in from middle, which stored seemingly surefire house runs from Shohei Ohtani and Teoscar Hernández within the ballpark.
“I thought Shohei’s ball, on any normal night, would’ve been a homer. I thought Teo’s ball, any normal night, would’ve been a homer,” Roberts stated. “But you can’t take credit away from Luzardo. He pitched a heck of a ballgame.”
And the few occasions the Dodgers did have alternatives to erase the deficit — which grew to 3-0 after the Phillies scored twice within the seventh off reliever Kirby Yates — they squandered them with both empty at-bats (reminiscent of Kiké Hernández’s inning-ending strikeout with two aboard within the seventh) or, extra frustratingly, miscues on the bases.
Andy Pages was caught stealing to finish the sixth inning, getting caught in a rundown after a untimely leap that triggered a pick-off throw from Luzardo.
Philadelphia first baseman Bryce Harper, left, tags out Dodgers baserunner Andy Pages in a rundown in the course of the sixth inning Friday.
(Matt Rourke / Related Press)
“As a young player, you still got to play the game the right way,” Roberts stated. “He was doubled off a couple games ago. And this one, you go and you stop — you just can’t. … Gotta eliminate those outs on the bases.”
Ohtani gambled with runners on the corners and two outs within the eighth, getting thrown out by star Phillies catcher JT Realmuto at second to finish the inning with Mookie Betts on the plate.
“Realmuto is one of the best throwers in the game,” Roberts stated, noting Ohtani had the inexperienced mild to steal. “But when you’re down three with Mookie at the plate, you got to make sure you’re safe if you’re going to go.”
Then, after a two-run, ninth-inning homer from Edman (who’s tied for the early Nationwide League lead with 5 lengthy balls) minimize the three-run deficit to at least one, Chris Taylor was thrown out attempting to steal second as a pinch-runner, ending the sport on a strike ‘em out, throw ‘em out double-play that also saw Max Muncy go down swinging.
“Giving those guys three outs on the bases,” Roberts said, “that’s one thing that we’ve to wash up.”
Consequently, the Dodgers’ good begin to the season fell two wins shy of the all-time franchise document of 10-0, set by the 1955 “Boys of Summer” World Sequence squad.
They usually received their first reminder that, on this yr’s Nationwide League pennant race, they may nonetheless be examined by fellow contenders, from divisional rivals just like the San Francisco Giants (who’re 6-1) and San Diego Padres (who additionally misplaced their good document Friday, dropping to 7-1), to maybe the World Sequence-starved Phillies (additionally 6-1) most of all.
“It’s hard to beat a good team,” Roberts stated. “That’s what happened tonight.”
As for Harper’s “losers” remark about individuals who take situation with the Dodgers’ approach of doing enterprise?
“I guess that’s probably why Bryce is one of my favorite players,” Roberts stated with fun. “I agree.”
