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The Phillies are Still Alive, Thanks in Part to Dummy Dave Roberts and Clayton Kershaw’s Meatballs
Published:
Two Schwarbombs in one game:
Phillies win, 8 to 2.
The Dodgers had a chance to pull off a comeback in this game. The Phils were up 3-1 and just couldn’t get an insurance run across the plate with Ranger Suarez ready to be pulled. And yet, Dave Roberts decided to send Clayton Kershaw out for another inning after the 37-year-old barely escaped the inning prior.
Promptly, he was shelled.
It felt like managerial malpractice considering that the Dodgers had survived a dicey situation two innings prior with Anthony “fake Vance Worley” Banda on the mound, benefiting from a fugazi pitch clock violation that led to a two-pitch strikeout of Brandon Marsh.
Rob Thomson, for whatever faults he may have, got the pitching plan right in this game. Ironically, Ranger Suarez gave up a homer on his very first toss, but then locked in from there and gave up absolutely nothing the rest of the way. Aaron Nola conceded one hit in two innings of work and got his way out a jam created by a goofy centerfield dive from Marsh that resulted in a Mookie Betts triple.
The top of the 8th felt like something the Phillies can ride into Game 4. Not only did they get the bats going, finally, but they were able to spare Jhoan Duran and save him for Thursday, turning to Orion Kerkering, Taijuan Walker, and Tanner Banks to close this one out instead.
The very last thing LA needed was to give the Phils some life and some reason to believe, and that’s exactly what they did.
Game 4 Thursday evening. Cristopher “the Sanchize” Sanchez vs. Tyler Glasnow.
Kevin has been writing about Philadelphia sports since 2009. He spent seven years in the CBS 3 sports department and started with the Union during the team's 2010 inaugural season. He went to the academic powerhouses of Boyertown High School and West Virginia University. email - k.kinkead@sportradar.com