Dodgers extend winning streak with dominance over Phillies
Los Angeles extends its winning streak to six games with a 4-2 victory over Philadelphia, marking their longest run since last April.
The Los Angeles Dodgers extended their winning streak to six games on Friday night, securing a 4-2 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies at Dodger Stadium. The win marks the team's longest consecutive winning run since April 26 to May 3 of the previous year, when they recorded seven straight victories.
Justin Wrobleski was the standout performer for Los Angeles, pitching seven innings and striking out a career-high nine batters without issuing a walk. The 25-year-old left-hander maintained a no-hitter until the sixth inning, when Kyle Schwarber hit a 411-foot home run to dead centre with two outs. Wrobleski had previously struck out the side in the first and fifth innings, setting down batters including Schwarber, Trea Turner, and Bryce Harper in the opening frame.
The Dodgers' offence was powered by solo home runs from Freddie Freeman, Max Muncy, Shohei Ohtani, and Will Smith. Freeman opened the scoring in the first inning with an opposite-field shot on the first pitch from Phillies starter Zack Wheeler. Muncy added a home run in the second, while Ohtani hit a drive into the Phillies' bullpen in right field in the third. Ohtani's home run marked his sixth consecutive season with double-digit home runs. Will Smith extended the lead to 4-0 with a solo shot in the fifth inning.
Wrobleski's only baserunner before Schwarber's home run was Trea Turner, who reached on an error by right fielder Kyle Tucker in the fourth inning. Turner advanced to second base after Tucker and centre fielder Andy Pages appeared to miscommunicate on a ball hit to the warning track. The Phillies' second run came in the eighth inning when Steward Berroa singled with two outs off reliever Edgardo Henriquez.
Tanner Scott recorded his fifth save of the season by retiring the side in the ninth inning. Former Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw watched the game from the front row. The matchup served as a rematch of last year's National League Division Series, which the Dodgers won 3-1 en route to their second straight World Series championship. The teams are scheduled to meet again on Saturday, with Phillies left-handed pitcher Jesús Luzardo starting against Dodgers right-handed pitcher Roki Sasaki.
