The Los Angeles Dodgers had a modest three-game winning streak snapped in a 2-0 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies and head out on the road having won four of six games on their homestand. It was the first time the Dodgers were shut out since Sept. 14, 2019, a stretch of 162 games when including the postseason.
Clayton Kershaw turned in a quality start but saw the Phillies take an early lead that Zack Wheeler and their bullpen were able to uphold. Rhys Hoskins ended an 0-for-33 drought with a solo home run in the first inning that L.A. never overcame.
Kershaw then was hurt by being unable to put J.T. Realmuto away in the third inning as he lined a low pitch into the right-center field gap for a two-out RBI double. Kershaw faced traffic throughout his start as the Phillies put at least one runner on in each of his six innings.
Kershaw managed to keep the damage to a minimum behind nine strikeouts on a season-high 110 pitches.
The Dodgers certainly had their share of opportunities against Wheeler throughout the night. Mookie Betts and Gavin Lux both reached with nobody out in the bottom of the first, and AJ Pollock’s walk loaded the bases with two outs.
They were stranded, which was indicative of what was to come. Pollock left a pair on base in the third and fifth innings, and nothing came of Zach McKinstry’s leadoff single in the sixth.
The Phillies bullpen took over from there, holding the Dodgers to just two baserunners over the final three innings. Both of those came via a Hector Neris hit by pitch in the ninth.
Souza makes Dodgers debut
Prior to the game the Dodgers selected the contract of Steven Souza Jr. and designated Nate Jones for assignment. Souza started in right field and went 1-for-3 with an infield single in his Dodgers debut.
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