Background on Key Players and Teams
The Los Angeles Dodgers secured their second victory in the National League Divisional Series, defeating the Philadelphia Phillies 4-3. The win was largely due to a strong performance from starting pitcher Blake Snell, who allowed just one hit over six innings.
Blake Snell, a 32-year-old pitcher participating in his fourth MLB postseason, has been impressive so far. In two postseason appearances this year, he’s pitched 13 innings, struck out 18 batters, secured two wins, and maintained a minuscule 1.38 ERA.
The Phillies, one of the best teams during the regular season with a 96-66 record and a division title secured by 13 games over the New York Mets, relied on Venezuelan pitcher Jesús Luzardo for a solid start. Luzardo threw six complete innings, allowing only three hits and retiring 17 consecutive batters.
Game Summary
Despite Luzardo’s stellar performance, the Phillies’ offense failed to support him. With runners on base when he exited, the bullpen couldn’t maintain the lead either.
The Dodgers eventually broke the tie in the top of the seventh with an out sacrifice by Puerto Rican Enrique Hernández, scoring Dominican Teoscar Hernández. Known for his postseason prowess, Hernández has driven in four runs across the first two games this year and boasts 39 career RBIs in MLB since 2015.
Singles from Will Smith and Shohei Ohtani extended the Dodgers’ lead to four runs, putting pressure on the Phillies’ bullpen.
Philadelphia’s response came from Nick Castellanos, who hit a double in the ninth inning and drove in two runs, offering hope to the 45,653 fans at Citizens Bank Park.
Japanese reliever Roki Sasaki secured the final out of the game with runners on first and third, confirming another crucial victory for the defending champions.
Series Outlook
With the 2-0 series lead, the Dodgers are in a strong position to close out the series in the next two games at home. The Phillies, facing elimination, will play the final three games starting Wednesday at the historic Dodger Stadium.
Key Questions and Answers
- Who are the key players in this matchup? Blake Snell (Dodgers) and Jesús Luzardo (Phillies) were the starting pitchers, while Enrique Hernández contributed significantly for the Dodgers with his sacrifice fly.
- What was the significance of Enrique Hernández’s performance? Hernández, known for his postseason effectiveness, drove in crucial runs to help the Dodgers secure the victory.
- How did the Phillies’ offense perform? Despite a solid start from Luzardo, the Phillies’ offense struggled to produce runs and support their pitching staff.
- What is the current series standing? The Dodgers lead 2-0, putting them in a favorable position to win the series.
- What are the next steps for both teams? The Dodgers will aim to close out the series in the next two games at home, while the Phillies face elimination and will play the final three games starting Wednesday at Dodger Stadium.
