It got sticky late, Dodgers fans, but the Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the Philadelphia Phillies 4-3 on Monday night at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia. Roki Sasaki came on after Blake Treinen gave up two runs in the bottom of the ninth to get the Phillies out.
How sticky was it? Freddie Freeman made a game-saving scoop on a low throw from Tommy Edman with the tying run on third base with two outs. If Freeman didn't come up with the pick, the Phillies would have tied the score and maybe had a chance to pull off the victory.
Freeman knew his play was critical when he spoke after the game.
"I was really trying to do anything I could to catch it," Freeman said, according to Dodgers reporter Sonja Chen of MLB.com. "Those are one of the hardest ones, those in-between ones. The short one or the long one, that one's right in-between. I went through it, and thankfully, it stayed in my glove."
Freeman was impressed with his starting pitcher Blake Snell, who was awesome for the Dodgers. He threw six scoreless innings against the Phillies, just a dominating performance...and one that Los Angeles really needed against a tough Phillies hitting crew.
"He’s been incredible since he's come off [his] injury," Freeman said of Snell. "Everything we could have asked for. Six strong innings tonight. He had everything working. Our starting pitching has been incredible for about a month now. I'm glad everyone gets to see it on a national stage."
Now the series moves to Dodger Stadium where the Dodgers can win Game 3 and move on to the National League Championship Series.
Here are some statistics on teams that go up 2-0. In postseason history, all teams taking a 2-0 lead in any best-of-five series have gone on to win that series 80 of 90 times (88.9%). In Division Series with the current 2-2-1 format, teams to win both Games 1 and 2 on the road have advanced 16 of 18 times (88.9%), including 12 sweeps.
What stood out for Snell in his start? "Just how I'm adjusting," Snell said. "I faced them not too long ago, and just how I adjusted from the last time I faced them and just attacking the zone."
We have most of the scoring plays covered here in this story.
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Hi there, Joe Rutland here for Dodgers Roundtable on Roundtable Sports
The Los Angeles Dodgers, with lefthander Blake Snell taking the mound, try and go up by two games over the Philadelphia Phillies in Game 2 of the National League Division Series at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia on Monday night.
First pitch is set for 6:08 p.m. Eastern, which means that it's an afternoon start time in the City of Angels.
The Phillies will send Jésus Luzardo out as their starter.
The Dodgers lineup for Game 2 is out now with Shohei Ohtani in the leadoff spot.
The Phillies also have their Game 2 lineup out as well with Trae Turner back in the leadoff spot.
On Saturday night, Teoscar Hernández smacked a three-run homer to help the Dodgers overcome an early deficit and take Game 1 by a 5-3 score. Roki Sasaki came on in the ninth inning to earn his first career save.
Ohtani Would Pitch Game 5 If Necessary
According to MLB reporter Bob Nightengale, Shohei Ohtani would start a Game 5 (if necessary) for the Dodgers. He would not be available for a relief appearance.
Something To Watch For In The Game
Phillies: Outfielder Harrison Bader had to leave Saturday's game with a groin injury. Bader underwent more testing on Sunday and had some rehab work done on it. Phillies manager Rob Thomson will wait to see how Bader is doing before delivering his Game 2 starting lineup.
Dodgers: Catcher Will Smith has been dealing with an injury to his right hand after taking a foul tip off of it. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts is going to see if Smith is available to play on Monday. That decision will come before he makes out his lineup, too.
Keep an eye on Hernández in the outfield. His lack of hustle toward the ball on J.T. Realmuto's triple to right-center field put a microscope on his play. It will be worth watching how he responds if another ball is hit in that direction.
We'll have coverage of key scoring plays here on Dodgers Roundtable as the game rolls along.
Drop by our comments section and leave your thoughts during the game.
PITCHERS DUEL AT CITIZENS BANK PARK
Dodgers starter Blake Snell and Phillies starter Jésus Luzardo are dealing!
Both the Dodgers and Phillies have one hit apiece. That's it.
Snell and Luzardo have been in full command of their pitches.
While Snell was pitching in the sixth with two runners on and one out, Blake Treinen did start throwing in the Dodgers bullpen.
Snell, though, got the Phillies out.
We go to the seventh in a scoreless tie.
TOP OF SEVENTH INNING
Teoscar singles and Freddie doubles, putting runners at second and third with nobody out for Dodgers. Orion Kerkering replaces Jesús Luzardo on mound for Phillies.
Dodgers take 1-0 lead on Kike RBI infield single as Teoscar scores.
Bases loaded, one out, Max Muncy walks as pinch-hitter.
Andy Pages now up with 0-2 count and bases still loaded. Pops out to first base, two outs.
Will Smith two-run single makes it 3-0 Dodgers in seventh. Shohei with an RBI single, makes it 4-0 Dodgers
Phillies score run in eighth inning on Trae Turner RBI single. 4-1 Dodgers.
DODGERS LEAD 4-1 IN NINTH INNING
Phillies got within 4-3 after Blake Treinen gave up a couple of runs, but Roki Sasaki came on and closed it out.
Dodgers Win 4-3!