OOTP 5/12: Phillies 13, Dodgers 1

Entering this series, the Phillies had won nine straight games, but there still seemed to be the feeling that they still needed to prove something. Beating up on the Pirates is one thing; beating up on the heavyweights of the league is another. They’d get their first crack at this test as the Dodgers came into town, admittedly a little lethargic to start the season but still dangerous nonetheless. The Phillies proved something tonight: they belong.

It started off a little rough as Gavin Lux homered off of Aaron Nola in the first inning, something that we have seen entirely too much of. However, once the bottom of the first began, things kicked into gear.

Jean Segura was hit by a pitch by Walker Buehler to lead it off. Didi Gregorius struck out next, but Bryce Harper crushed a 2-1 fastball into the bleachers for a two run home run. J.T. Realmuto struck out for the second out before Jay Bruce hit a solo home run himself, making it 3-1. In the bottom of the second, Scott Kingery and Adam Haseley had back-to-back singles before Nola bunted into a fielder’s choice, putting men on the corners. Segura hit a sacrifice fly to score Kingery, then Gregorius hit another home run, making the score 6-1. Harper walked and that brought an early end to Buehler’s night, being relieved by Brusdar Graterol.

In the bottom of the third, Andrew McCutchen walked, which was followed by a Kingery home run, making it 8-1.

*If you’re keeping score - that’s four home runs thus far.

As Nola kept cruising along, sitting Dodgers down with minimal damage, the Phillies continued crushing. The bottom of the fifth saw Andrew McCutchen join the action, hitting a solo home run of his own, increasing the lead to 9-1. That score would hold until the 8th, when Zach McAllister was brought in by the Dodgers to simply soak up innings. The Phillies decided to attack. Haseley led off with a home run, Segura singled and scored on Gregorius’s second home run of the night, and he was followed by Harper’s second home run of the night as well. When the smoke cleared, the score was 13-1 and Dave Roberts had the quote of the night:

“The Phillies definitely had our number.”

Lost in all the shuffle was how good Nola was. Seven innings of one run ball against an offense like Los Angeles has is no small feat. He was brilliant, but that was unfortunately all overshadowed by the eight home run outburst from the Phillies. Hitting some off of Buehler no less.

It was a good night.