Smoke And Mirrors?: Phillies Making Statements With Sweep Of Dodgers

A big series right before the All-Star break.  Both teams with playoff aspirations…Dodger 20-20 and 1 game back of the 21-19 Phillies who hold the slimest of leads over the Rockies. (A 4-0 Sweep earlier in the year helps with that) What would happen?  This series had huge implications

GAME 1

Aaron Nola vs Y. Yammato

Brandon Marsh hits a solo shot in the bottom of the seventh, and that was all Aaron Nol would need. Nola was masterful throwing 8 innings allowing 4 hits while striking out 11.  Jesus Tinoco with the save

PHILLES 1 DODGERS 0

WP: A. Nola (5-2) LP: Y. Yammoto (5-4) SV: J. Tinoco (2)

GAME 2

MacKenzie Gore vs Reynoldo Loperz

Phillies jump out early thanks to a Bryce Harper 2 run homer.  A Brandon Marsh RBI single in the second and a Francisco Lindor Homerun and the Phillies have a 4-0 lead after three.  THe Dodgers score 1 in the 5^th thanks to a Brandon Marsh error.  IN the top of the 6^th we have a Shohei Otani sighting as he hit a 2 run bomb to cut the Phillies lead to 4-3.  The Phillies bullpen shut the Dodgers down the rest of the way allowing 1 hit over the last 3 1/3 innings.

PHILLIES 4 DODGERS 3

WP: M. Gore (5-2) LP: R. Lopez (1-7) SV: J. Tinoco (3)

GAME 3

Ranger Suarez vs Sean Manea

Two batters in, a Shoehei double and a Andy Pages single and the Dodgers hold a 1-0 lead (First lead of the series) Ranger Suarez would then only allow 1 more hit over 7 innings. A RBI Single by Franciso Alvarez in the second ties the game.  Solo shots by Michael Harriss (in the third) and JJ Bleday (in the seventh) staked the Phillies to a 3-1 lead that Orion Kerkering and Jesus Tinoco made stand up.

PHILLIES 3 DODGERS 1

WP: Ranger Suarez (4-2) LP: S. Mamaea ( (4-3) SV: J. Tinoco (4)

GAME 4

Javier Assad vs Brandon Pfaadt

The most offensive game by far.  After scoring 12 runs total in three games, both teams combined for 15 runs in the this game. Pfaadt got roughed up a bit as the Phillies hit 5 homeruns (Lindor -2, Marsh -2, Harper) and staked Javier Assad to a 8-3 lead after 6 innings. The Phillies tried to extend Assad (that didn’t work) and then brought in Matthew Libertore and that didn’t work either.  The Dodgers scored 3 in the 7^th and 1 in the 8^th to cut the lead to 8-7.  Following a double by India, Enter Brent Suter to face Ohtani and trying for a 4 out save.  Suter was up to the task and the Phillies complete the sweep.

PHILLIES 8 DODGERS 7

WP: J. Assad (1-0) LP: Brandon Pfaadt (2-1) SV: B. Suter (11)

OTHER NOTES:

***  Phillies are 25-19 heading into the break and sitting in the #4 position.  The Dodgers are 20-24 4 games behind the Padres and Giants for the #6 spot in the Playoffs.

***  Stats attached and updated in drop box.

*** The Phillies are 11-13 at home and 14-6 on the road. 

***  Surprises in the first half Jacob Stallings and his .337 Batting average .561 SLG and .430 OBP.  But his playing time is severely limited in the second half with only 36 AB’s left The Phillies will be significantly looking to get a catcher.  Francisco Alvarez and Henry Davis might not cut it   Other surprises: Dylan Crewes and his 20 SB, Aaron Nola and MacKenzie Gore both 5-2. 

*** THe Phillies are a minus 8 run differential but yet 6 games over .500.  They have no #1 starter, no decent middle relief, no RH power (and no Jacob Stallings is not the answer) but they are doing what t takes to win.  They are 8-4 in 1 run games and 16-9 in games decided by 3 runs or less.  Phillies management is frantically searching for upgrades and not finding them.  Should be an interesting 2^nd half.

Phillies Aaron Nola and MacKenzie Gore share a laugh after sweeping the Dodgers to close the 1st half of the season.