Dodgers suffer first loss of season after rally | College News

PHILADELPHIA — To many across the sport, the Dodgers have grow to be villains for the way in which they’ve outspent the remaining of the league, loaded their roster with worldwide expertise, and stockpiled depth at seemingly each place.

To the Philadelphia Phillies, nevertheless, it makes them the usual; one with which their own big-money, star-studded roster is making an attempt to compete.

“I don’t know if people will like this,” stated the Phillies’ largest star, two-time MVP Bryce Harper, when requested Friday in regards to the Dodgers’ juggernaut standing, “but I feel like only losers complain about what they’re doing. I think they’re a great team, they’re a great organization. That’s why guys want to go there and play.”

In different phrases, Harper added, “they’re doing what the Dodgers do.”

That’s why, on Friday night time, there was a distinct buzz round Citizens Bank Park when the Dodgers got here to city. Why, for the first week of April, this collection had a litmus-test sort of really feel.

“I think that both teams like to use each other as a barometer, or a benchmark,” Dodgers supervisor Dave Roberts stated.

But proper now, no crew units the bar greater than the Dodgers.

And for one night time, at the least, the first-place Phillies have been capable of measure up.

In a 3-2 defeat, the Phillies handed the defending World Series champions their first loss of the season; dropping the Dodgers to 8-1 in a sport that, yes, proved this yr’s $400 million crew is, in reality, beatable.

“Uncharted territory,” Roberts deadpanned of the crew’s first loss.

“We were bound to lose eventually,” added Tommy Edman. “But still a tough loss for sure.”

Indeed, knocking off the Dodgers was no straightforward feat.

Over six innings towards Yoshinobu Yamamoto, the Phillies had one unearned run. Yamamoto misfired on a pick-off throw to 3rd that allowed Trea Turner to attain.

“That was very regrettable,” Yamamoto, who was in any other case flawless in a three-hit, three-walk, five-strikeout begin, stated by means of interpreter Yoshihiro Sonoda. “It was a very fundamental play.”

Philadelphia’s starter, burgeoning 27-year-old left-hander Jesús Luzardo, produced one of his best profession begins, blanking the Dodgers over seven scoreless innings on two hits, two walks, eight strikeouts — and a few help from a howling wind blowing in from middle, which saved seemingly surefire home runs from Shohei Ohtani and Teoscar Hernández within the ballpark.

“I thought Shohei’s ball, on any normal night, would’ve been a homer. I thought Teo’s ball, any normal night, would’ve been a homer,” Roberts stated. “But you can’t take credit away from Luzardo. He pitched a heck of a ballgame.”

And the few occasions the Dodgers did have alternatives to erase the deficit — which grew to 3-0 after the Phillies scored twice within the seventh off reliever Kirby Yates — they squandered them with both empty at-bats (equivalent to Kiké Hernández’s inning-ending strikeout with two aboard within the seventh) or, more frustratingly, miscues on the bases.

Andy Pages was caught stealing to finish the sixth inning, getting caught in a rundown after a untimely soar that triggered a pick-off throw from Luzardo.

Philadelphia first baseman Bryce Harper, left, tags out Dodgers baserunner Andy Pages in a rundown during the sixth inning Friday.

(Matt Rourke / Associated Press)

“As a young player, you still got to play the game the right way,” Roberts stated. “He was doubled off a couple games ago. And this one, you go and you stop — you just can’t. … Gotta eliminate those outs on the bases.”

Ohtani gambled with runners on the corners and two outs within the eighth, getting thrown out by star Phillies catcher JT Realmuto at second to finish the inning with Mookie Betts on the plate.

“Realmuto is one of the best throwers in the game,” Roberts stated, noting Ohtani had the inexperienced mild to steal. “But when you’re down three with Mookie at the plate, you got to make sure you’re safe if you’re going to go.”

Then, after a two-run, ninth-inning homer from Edman (who’s tied for the early National League lead with 5 long balls) cut the three-run deficit to 1, Chris Taylor was thrown out making an attempt to steal second as a pinch-runner, ending the sport on a strike ‘em out, throw ‘em out double-play that also saw Max Muncy go down swinging.

“Giving those guys three outs on the bases,” Roberts said, “that’s one thing that we now have to clean up.”

As a outcome, the Dodgers’ excellent begin to the season fell two wins shy of the all-time franchise document of 10-0, set by the 1955 “Boys of Summer” World Series squad.

And they acquired their first reminder that, on this yr’s National League pennant race, they are going to nonetheless be examined by fellow contenders, from divisional rivals just like the San Francisco Giants (who’re 6-1) and San Diego Padres (who additionally misplaced their excellent document Friday, dropping to 7-1), to maybe the World Series-starved Phillies (additionally 6-1) most of all.

“It’s hard to beat a good team,” Roberts stated. “That’s what happened tonight.”

As for Harper’s “losers” remark about people who take situation with the Dodgers’ approach of doing business?

“I guess that’s probably why Bryce is one of my favorite players,” Roberts stated with a snigger. “I agree.”