It was a bad start and a bad finish for the Phillies in their series opener with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Despite the Phils’ efforts in the bottom of the fifth, it wasn’t enough in a 7-6 loss.

Zach Eflin took the mound and looked like he would dominate early on, getting two outs in the first two at-bats. But then he gave up back-to-back homers to Max Muncy and Yasmani Grandal to put the Phils down early. He gave up another home run and only lasted 2 2/3 innings, giving up five hits and walking three batters with just a strikeout.

But down 4-1 in the fifth, Rhys Hoskins and Odubel Herrera hit back-to-back home runs to give the Phillies a 5-4 lead. Somehow, they were back in it, then the Dodgers would strike back with a Muncy RBI sac fly in the seventh to tie the game.

In the ninth, Seranthony Dominguez struggled in only a third of an inning, walking three. A wild pitch that was really a passed ball gave the Dodgers the lead and Matt Kemp sealed the win with an RBI single against Luis Garcia. A Maikel Franco homer gave the Phils a chance, but it was only a chance.

But at least this fan made an unbelievable catch! –

The big positive Dodgers moments where when Chase Utley was introduced and came up for his first at-bat. He loved Philly so much he planned on retiring before his series with the Phillies:

Utley was cheered at the start, and I don’t think he ever got booed later in the game.

Despite some bad games, like this one, the team is still in first place in the NL East. Atlanta won last night, putting the two teams in a tie. But the Phils will probably need plenty of help in multiple places by next week’s trade deadline. The latest name to be rumored: Curtis Granderson.

As for the current team, they’ll play the Dodgers again tonight at 7:05 PM on NBC Sports Philadelphia. Aaron Nola will take the mound.

The Roundup:


Kevin ranked the top 25 Philly athletes.


The Eagles report to training camp tomorrow, with their first practice Thursday. Safeties and special teamers are previewed by Jimmy Kempski.

Who will replace Patrick Robinson as the slot corner?

Depending on the talented Jones’ development this summer – he played in just one game as a rookie — Darby and Mills could wind up as the two corners in base, with Mills then sliding inside to the slot and Jones replacing him on the outside in sub-packages.

Other candidates for the slot job include 2017 practice-squadders De’Vonte Bausby and D.J. Killings, rookie fourth-round pick Avonte Maddox and Rasul Douglas. Bausby was very impressive in the non-contact spring workouts.

Defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz didn’t settle on Robinson as his slot corner last year until two weeks before the regular season. But Robinson ended up being a major reason for the defense’s success, particularly on third down.

The Eagles held opponents to a 66.4 third-down passer rating and intercepted nine third-down passes. That was the second most in the league.

Carson Wentz had a great honeymoon with his wife in Greece.

Doug Pederson made a cameo in the 2008 movie “The Longshots,” which starred Ice Cube:


We’re seven months away from the Penguins-Flyers Stadium Series game. The league released the logo for the game.

Which Flyer has to take the next step in 2018-19?


In other sports news, Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones plans to sit out training camp as he wants a re-worked contract. His current one has three years remaining.

David Robinson said the Kawhi Leonard Spurs situation was a weird one.

Daniel Poncedeleon threw seven no-hit innings in his major league debut 14 months after getting hit in the head by a line drive in Triple-A. The Reds eventually won the game thanks to two runs in the bottom of the ninth.

Connor Barwin signed with the New York Giants:

The Tour de France was temporarily halted as protesters blocked the race route. Some riders also got tear-gassed.


In the news, SEPTA’s Media/Elwyn line has been suspended due to a crash.

Pepperidge Farm is recalling four kinds of Goldfish due to possible salmonella.

50 people are dead after wildfires hit Greece.