Edmundo Sosa delivered a go-ahead blast in the eighth inning after striking out as a pinch-hitter in the sixth.
Marsh’s Role and Sosa’s Opportunity
Brandon Marsh is in the hunt for a batting title amid a breakout season. Marsh has gone from a platoon player to one of the Phillies’ most consistent hitters. Marsh hasn’t yet earned a full green light against left-handed pitchers.
Marsh was called back to the dugout for pinch-hitter Edmundo Sosa in the sixth inning. The Phillies were trailing by a run with the bases loaded and one out. Interim manager Don Mattingly elected to send Sosa to the plate against left-handed reliever Alex Vesia.
Sosa struck out on four pitches. Alec Bohm grounded out one batter later to end the threat.
Sosa’s Redemption Against Scott
Two innings later, with the Phillies trailing 3-2 with one on and two outs, Sosa stepped to the plate against another southpaw reliever in Tanner Scott. After swinging at two pitches above the zone, Sosa laid off a breaking ball in the dirt. When Scott came back with a fastball over the heart of the plate, Sosa did not miss his chance.
He smashed a go-ahead two-run homer to left field, dropping his bat in one fluid motion.
Sosa looked toward his dugout briefly, then took a few moments to admire the ball in flight before finally breaking into his home run trot.
Dodgers’ Seventh-Inning Play
The Dodgers were leading 2-1 when Andy Pages appeared to slide around an attempted tag from catcher J.T. Realmuto on Mookie Betts’ single to right field. The Phillies quickly challenged the play. There was no obvious evidence that Realmuto had tagged Pages, and it also appeared as if Pages missed the plate.
Realmuto never tagged Pages and the Phillies did not appeal that the runner missed the plate prior to challenging the play. It was irrelevant whether Pages did or did not touch the plate.
Fortunately, Sosa’s swing turned it all into much ado about nothing.
It was a much-needed swing for a Phillies team that hadn’t had much going on Saturday night after having already fallen flat in Friday’s series opener.