Philadelphia Phillies vs Los Angeles Dodgers Game 3 June 2
Los Angeles-- After a drama-filled, thrilling game last night, today's game was the opposite. More like, the exact opposite. The Los Angeles Dodgers tamed the Philadelphia Phillies in an 8-0 win this afternoon to complete the three-game sweep and push their record to 41-19.
Rich Hill once again did Rich Hill things on the mound, shutting out the Phils in seven scoreless innings with nine strikeouts, three hits, and three walks. Phillies starter Nick Pivetta cruised against a potent Los Angeles lineup going six innings, with three hits and nine strikeouts on only 82 pitches. Pivetta has struggled to say the least this season maintaining a 6.14 ERA. He was sent down to triple-A at one point this season.) But he is finally showing the Phillies what they expected coming out of Spring Training. Gabe Kapler inexcusably removed Pivetta from the game after six innings, and all I have to say is: thank you!
Failed Philadelphia starter Vince Velasquez pitched on consecutive days for the first time, and unfortunately, you see why he is not used on consecutive days as he gave up a 2-out home run to David Freese in the seventh inning. After Pedro Baez shut down the eighth inning, things started to get very bad for the Phillies relief core. Los Angeles scored seven runs to put the game out of reach. Max Muncy started off the inning with a rocket over Bryce Harper's head that became a double. Corey Seager followed with a walk, and Bellinger moved Muncy over on a fly out to right field. Fan favorite Alex Verdugo hit an RBI single - it could have been a double play if the infield was not in - and immediately thereafter Freese drove in his second run of the game. Chris Taylor laid down an outstanding squeeze bunt to score Verdugo easily, and Yacksel Rios threw the ball down the first base line to push the lead to 6-0 in a blink of an eye. Last but not least, Joc Pederson slugged an opposite-field two-run shot to put smiles on everyone's faces in the Dodgers dugout. Joe Kelly produced an easy 1-2-3 inning to finish the game out and hopefully instill some confidence in him. NBC Sports Philadelphia commentator Tom McCarthy said in the broadcast "How did this game turn like this?" Let me tell you how: Gabe Kapler!
Los Angeles travels into the hot Phoenix desert against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Monday night.