A seemingly star-studded matchup between two powerhouse teams saw excellent performances from unlikely sources. This game was a classic pitcher’s duel with solid performances from the starters Rich Hill and Nick Pivetta. Both starters struck out 9 batters with Pivetta setting a new season high. Hill was once again the model of consistency and showed why he is one of the cornerstones of the Dodger’s staff completing 7.0 innings of work, giving up 3 hits, 3 walks (two intentional) and 9 strikeouts, lowering his ERA from 2.73 to 2.25. Pivetta matched Hill with a gem of his own, working for 6.0 innings, gave up 3 hits, no walks and also struck out 9 batters.
The pace of the game was relatively quick until the bottom of the 7th inning when veteran infielder David Freese came in to pinch-hit with the score tied 0-0. With two outs and a 2-2 count, Freese put a jolt into a pitch that barely found its way over the fence in straightaway right field. This proved to be the spark that the Dodger’s offense needed and they rattled off a 7-run 8th capped by an opposite field 2-run shot by Joc Pederson.
After the conclusion of this series, the Dodgers come away with a sweep of the NL East leading Phillies and have won 9 of their last 10 games. Needless to say the Dodgers are feeling good right now and it shows in the standings as they have a 9 game lead in their division and they are the only team in the National League that has reached the 40 win mark. The Dodgers will now head on an 8-game road trip to Arizona and the neighboring California teams and they hope to continue the great run they are on, facing sub .500 team in the Diamondbacks, Giants and Angels.
Thomas Gaudio Baseball Journalism 