Los Angeles Dodgers starter Blake Snell was instrumental in keeping Dave Roberts’ team protected during the early innings of Game 2 against the Philadelphia Phillies, whom they already lead 2-0. His dominant start from the mound is worthy of applause, as the pitcher achieved a mark that few possess in the MLB postseason.
The Phillies quietly packed the equipment bags in front of their lockers Monday night at Citizens Bank Park. Their season is on the verge of collapse. They know it. They suffered a crushing 4-3 loss to the Dodgers in Game 2 of the National League Division Series. Los Angeles has an imposing 2-0 lead in the best-of-five series, forcing the Phillies to pray for a miracle and save a season.
Blake Snell and Jesus Luzardo make history
Snell (Dodgers) and Jesus Luzardo (Phillies) allowed just one hit each in six innings as the duo combined for 13 strikeouts. While Snell’s night ended before the seventh, Luzardo allowed two hits in the top of the seventh that were eventually batted. “It’s huge,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said of Snell’s performance and the Dodgers’ Game 2 win
“The guys are really stepping up. I thought Blake threw a great ballgame, Blake Snell.” Snell made MLB history in several ways in Tuesday’s win. Snell had the fourth postseason start of his career with nine strikeouts and two or fewer hits allowed, the most for any pitcher in MLB history.
In addition to making individual history in MLB, Snell joined Luzardo to become the second pair of starting pitchers to allow one hit or less in the first six innings of the same postseason game. The only other duo to do so was Woody Williams and Brandon Backe in Game 5 of the 2004 National League Championship Series.
Rob Thomson explains decisions made in Phillies’ loss
Philadelphia’s dramatic ninth-inning comeback in the 4-3 loss to the Dodgers in Game 2 of their National League Division Series fell short, and manager Rob Thomson was questioned for multiple moves. After Nick Castellanos drove in two runs with a run-scoring double and no outs to cut the deficit to one, Thomson asked Bryson Stott to bunt
However, Castellanos, who was running slowly, was put out at third base with the bunt at a key moment. “Just left to left, we tried to tie the score,” the manager told reporters in explaining why he called for a bunt. “I liked the position of our bullpen compared to theirs. We played for the tie at home.”
He also explained that injured Harrison Bader‘s inability to run effectively played a part in the decision not to pinch-run Weston Wilson for Castellanos because they needed Wilson in case Bader got on base. That’s exactly what Bader did with a pinch-hit single in the next at-bat. “It is what it is. There wasn’t much you could do about it,” Thomson said.
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