PHILADELPHIA — Conditions were ripe for a replay of last week’s Home Run Derby at Citizens Bank Park on Wednesday night.
The wind was blowing out toward right field at 12 mph, stiffening the flags flying in the outfield and exciting the lefty sluggers who power both the Dodgers’ and Philadelphia Phillies’ lineups.
Phillies starter Aaron Nola came into the game fourth in the majors with 23 home runs allowed and Dodgers starter Eric Lauer wasn’t far behind with 18 allowed in almost 30 fewer innings.
Nola and Lauer lived up to their longball brands, giving up two home runs each, but the Dodgers made more from their slugging and beat the Phillies, 9-5.
The win secured the Dodgers’ second series victory on this extended tour of the East Coast and proved again Lauer’s greatest asset since joining the Dodgers – he pitches on the right day.
Since being acquired from the Toronto Blue Jays’ discard pile, Lauer has made eight appearances (seven starts and one hitless six-inning outing following an opener). The Dodgers have scored 65 runs in those games (8.1 per game) – and won them all.
Lauer gave up a two-run home run to Alec Bohm in the first inning and a solo home run to Bryan De La Cruz in the fifth. But he kept the ball on the ground effectively enough and struck out five, giving up just two other hits.
The Phillies might have done more damage against Lauer, but their poor fundamentals (a callback to Tuesday’s game-ending double play) got him off the hook in the fifth inning.
Bryson Stott followed De La Cruz’s home run with a double. Rafael Marchan popped up a bunt attempt for one out, then Stott ran into an out when he charged from second base to third on Trea Turner’s ground ball to third baseman Max Muncy. Muncy tagged him out, taking a runner out of scoring position for the Phillies. Lauer got Kyle Schwarber to pop out to end the inning.
Dalton Rushing did all the work for the Dodgers early. He took Nola deep for a solo home run in the third inning then drove in two runs with a double in the fifth inning.
De La Cruz’s home run tied the score at 3-3 after five innings, but the Dodgers untied it quickly.
Freddie Freeman led off the sixth with a double (one of his three hits in the game) and Muncy hit a first-pitch changeup from Nola 415 feet to straightaway center field for his third two-run home run in the first six games of this trip.
The home run was also the 229th of Muncy’s career with the Dodgers, passing Ron Cey for second most by a Los Angeles Dodger (trailing only Eric Karros’ 270).
The Dodgers scored four more in the eighth inning. Phillies relievers walked the bases loaded and Tommy Edman drove them all in with a triple. Kyle Tucker had a sacrifice fly.
That was enough even when the Dodgers’ bullpen gave up two late runs before closing the game out.
More to come on this story.