The Phillies secured a 4-3 victory over the Dodgers thanks to Edmundo Sosa’s late-game heroics.
Sosa’s Go-Ahead Homer
Edmundo Sosa launched a go-ahead two-run homer in the eighth inning. This hit lifted the Phillies to a 4-3 win over the Dodgers. Sosa’s homer flipped the momentum after what had looked like another quiet offensive night at Dodger Stadium.
Tanner Scott was the pitcher Sosa hit against.
Bryce Harper lined a two-out, two-strike RBI single to cut the deficit before Sosa’s at-bat.
Sosa’s Earlier Opportunity
Sosa had come up empty in one of the Phillies’ biggest spots earlier in the game. Interim manager Don Mattingly went to Sosa to pinch-hit for Brandon Marsh in the sixth inning with the bases loaded. This decision was made against Dodgers lefty Alex Vesia.
Mattingly said he liked the matchup. He felt like that was a spot they needed to try to score.
Sosa’s career record against Vesia was 2-for-5, while Marsh was 1-for-6. Marsh has been solid against southpaws, slashing .333/.375/.524 with an .899 OPS in 21 at-bats against them since Mattingly took over.
Sosa has been the Phillies’ go-to option against lefties over the past several years but entered with a .642 OPS against left-handers this season.
Sosa saw four pitches from Vesia, all out of the zone. He had a swinging strike, ball, swinging strike, swinging strike.
Alec Bohm grounded out to end the inning.
Phillies’ Offensive Struggles and Shift in Bullpen
For most of the night, the Phillies were held down by a Dodgers starter. After Alec Bohm led off the fourth with a homer, Roki Sasaki retired the next 13 batters he faced. The Phillies managed little against him and had already wasted one major scoring chance by the time the Dodgers handed the game to the bullpen.
On Friday, Dodgers lefty Justin Wrobleski spun seven innings of one-run ball with nine strikeouts. All nine came on the fastball. At one point, he had retired 10 in a row.
Marsh’s Perspective
Marsh understood the move to have Sosa pinch-hit. He said he wanted the at-bat and to come through for the guys, but it just wasn’t his night, it was Sosa’s night.
The Phillies got to the bullpen, changing the game’s dynamic.