The Dodgers (37-20) launched four solo home runs in a 4-2 win over the Phillies (29-278) ace Zack Wheeler Friday night at Dodger Stadium in the opener of a three-game weekend series.
Dodgers left-hander Justin Wrobleski earned the win by pitching one of the best starts of his career. He struck out nine and allowed just one earned run.
The Dodgers flexed their power with home runs from Shohei Ohtani, Freddie Freeman, Max Muncy, and Will Smith. Wheeler took his first loss of the season after giving up
all four runs over six innings, while Kyle Schwarber provided a solo home run for the Phils in the loss.
Wheeler had been absolutely dominant this season, carrying a microscopic 1.67 ERA and allowed only one home run going into Friday’s game. The Dodgers hit four solo home runs against the Philly ace, serving him up his first loss of the season.
Wrobleski struck out the side in the first inning for the first time in his career. He struck both Schwarber and Trea Turner looking to open the game, and Bryce Harper went down swinging. His fastball velocity was quite a bit faster than his career average in the frame.
Wheeler struck out Ohtani to open his night. Freeman continued to find success in his career against Wheeler and blasted a solo home run against him to the left field corner. That was Freeman’s third career homer off Wheeler.
Muncy also took Wheeler deep with one out in the bottom of the second to make it 2-0 Dodgers.
Ohtani crushed his 10th home run of the season in the third against Wheeler, a solo blast to right field.
The Dodgers had already collected three home runs in the game before the Phillies could even muster a base runner against Wrobleski through four innings.
The Phillies did catch a break with one out in the top of the fourth after a defensive miscue in the outfield allowed Turner to reach second base. Kyle Tucker was tagged with the error when the ball dropped between himself and Andy Pages. The Phillies failed to cash in on the mistake.
Wrobleski continued to cruise through the order working quickly. He picked up a career-high eighth strikeout when he whiffed Brandon Marsh to cap off five hitless innings.
Will Smith took a Wheeler sinker for a ride over the right center wall for the fourth solo home run of the night for the Dodgers.
The usual culprit, Schwarber, was the one who broke up Wrobleski’s no-hit bid with a two-out solo home run in the sixth.
The Dodgers bullpen allowed a rare run in the top of the eighth after Wrobleski ended his night. Edgardo Henriquez allowed two hits and a run before Dave Roberts went to Alex Vesia to face Schwarber who represented the tying run at the plate.
Channeling that Bobblehead Night energy, Vesia reared back and struck out Schwarber swinging on a full count to keep it a two-run game into the ninth.
Tanner Scott got the ball in the ninth and sent the Phillies down in order. He struck out Harper who fanned three times on the night and secured his fifth save of the year.
Friday particulars
HRs — Freddie Freeman (8), Max Muncy (13), Shohei Ohtani (10), Will Smith (6), Kyle Schwarber (22)
WP— Justin Wrobleski (7-2): 7 IP, 1 hit, 1 run, no walks, 9 strikeouts (88 pitches)
LP— Zack Wheeler (4-1): 6 IP, 5 hits, 4 runs, 1 walk, 4 strikeouts (90 pitches)
SV— Tanner Scott (5): 1 IP, 1 strikeout
Up next
Roki Sasaki (3-3, 4.93 ERA, 1.42 WHIP) starts the second game of the series against the Phillies at (7:10 p.m. PT, SportsNet LA). Lefty Jesús Luzardo (4-4, 4.38 ERA 1.28 WHIP) counters for Philly.
