Through what felt like biblical amounts of rain and a battered bullpen, the Phillies were able to split a 4 game series against the best team in the National League.
The split puts the Phillies 50-47 as they head into a series with their cross-state foe, the Pittsburgh Pirates. Before we look ahead, let's look back at this rollercoaster of a 4 game set.
Game 1: Dodgers Dominate
This game didn't happen. You can't convince me it happened. In fact, I have a hunch that Philadelphia native Will Smith used one of his Men in Black mind erasers on me so I could forget.
Anyway speaking about forgetting, you might forget that the Phillies had a lead in this game. The Phillies actually loaded the bases twice against Clayton Kershaw and failed to score.
They did, however, score an early lead off of a leadoff Scott Kingery home run in the 3rd inning. Starting pitcher Zach Eflin was even looking like 1 run was enough as he didn't allow a hit in the first 3 innings.
But then the 4th inning happened.
Six runs. SIX RUNS AFTER NOT ALLOWING A HIT. Eflin finally looked good again and then the Dodgers hit him like a bus.
The rest of the game happened. Roman Quinn pitched. It was a thing that happened. Dodgers won 16-2.
Game 2: Depressed to Impressed
Vince Velasquez started this game for the Phillies and fan expectation couldn't have been lower. He was facing down the barrel of a loaded gun in the form of young star starter Walker Buhler and the potent Dodgers line up.
A peculiar thing happened though.
Vinny Velo looked to be back as he struck out 6 Dodgers in his first 3 innings. The Phillies even scored 6 runs for Vince in the form of Scott Kingery's 13th, Brad Miller's 4th, and Bryce Harper's 17th home runs.
Of course, that was all an illusion though, as Velasquez allowed 4 home runs on the night and couldn't get out of the 5th inning.
The score of 6-5 held for a while as Alvarez, Nicasio, and Morgan of the notorious Phillies Bullpen Gang pitched a combined 3.1 innings of scoreless ball.
And then the 9th inning happened.
Hector Neris didn't look sharp whatsoever for what felt like the 5th time in a row. He walked Max Muncy, gave up a single to AJ Pollock, and for good measure surrendered a home run to pinch hitter Matt Beaty.
Frustrated, Neris plunked the next batter David Freese and was ejected.
It was after these events unfolded that Philadelphia was collectively ready to ram their heads through the wall. They had seen enough. This team had disappointed them for the last time in 2019.
Nothing would ever bring joy to Phila-HOLY CRAP BRYCE HARPER JUST WALKED IT OFF. THE PHILLIES ARE STILL ALIVE. WHAT IT DO BAY BEE!!!
Dodgers closer Kanley Jansen imploded. A double to Knapp(?!?), a single to Cesar and Kingery, and finally a double to Harper ended the night in spectacular fashion for the 2019 Phillies.
The Phillies won 9-8.
Before we leave this, do yourself a favor and listen to Scott Franzke's call of the walkoff.
https://twitter.com/nickpiccone/status/1151324190039007232
Continued on the page below.
Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Game 3: God is Crying and I'm Tired
Torrential downpour loomed as flashes of lightning in the distance served as a warning for the citizens of Philadelphia.
Narrator: MEANWHILE in South Philly...
Baseball was being played! The matchup was Nick Pivetta vs Kenta Maeda and both took no-hitters into the 3rd inning. Yet somehow, Pivetta found a way to give up a run.
Unbeknownst to most people, God tuned into this game. When God saw how many walks there were he couldn't help but shed a tear. The grounds crew, being privy to God's sadness, called for the tarp to be put on the field and for the fans to be warned of their impending doom.
The game was halted in the top of the second with 1 out and 1 on. If you were sane like I was, you took a nice Knapp (heh).
Narrator: TWO HOURS AND THIRTY SEVEN MINUTES LATER
Pivetta was now long gone as JD Hammer now stood in his place. Kenta Maeda, too, was out of the game.
Mr. Hammer was the first to allow a hit in the game in the fourth inning. It wouldn't be until the 6th inning when the Phillies recorded their first hit. That inning was also when they tied the Dodgers.
Brad Miller would walk in a run and Adam Haseley would ground out for an RBI, the score now deadlocked at 2-2.
The Phillies bullpen didn't feel like winning tonight, so Juan Nicasio and Austin "Big Fudge" Davis both allowed multiple runs.
The Dodgers would win at around 1:30 in the morning by a score of 7-2. There were a total of 16 walks issued in the game.
These 2 weary teams would meet each other in just 11 hours.
Nobody slept.
Probably.
Game 4: YouTube Famous Phillies
The 12:35 pm game is exclusively available on YouTube. Fans on Facebook and Twitter are in an uproar. An angry mob forms similar to that of the mobs against the Facebook exclusive games of yesteryear.
The Dodgers commentary is represented by the great Orel Hershiser. The man representing the Phillies in the booth is none other than...Ben Davis.
Oh Boy.On the field, it is Aaron Nola vs Ross Stripling.
Neither Nola nor Stripling would make it past the 5th inning. Nola didn't have the same stuff that he had shown over his past 5 starts.
The Dodgers are up 5-3 and there are still 3 more innings to be pitched by Phillies relievers, oh joy!
In the bottom of the 7th, the Phillies would realize that they were still playing a series and woke up. Adam Hasely nobly sacrificed his body with a HBP to start the inning off HOT. Roman Quinn took up a bat to pinch-hit and was subsequently walked. After a pitching change, Jean Segura singled home a run for the Phillies.
Another pitching change followed. Offseason acquisition Joe Kelly took on the duty of facing Bryce Harper and Rhys Hoskins.
Lucky for the Phillies, it didn't go well at all. Harper drove Quinn home and Rhys followed by singling Segura AND Harper home.
With the score now 7-5, 8th inning pitching duties fell to Adam Morgan. For the sake of every Philadelphians' sanity, Morgan pitched a relatively clean inning.
Another potential mental breakdown lied ahead. In his last 7 games coming into today, Hector Neris had a 13.50 ERA in 6ip.
Neris recorded the first 2 outs rather quickly, fooling Phillies fans into a lull. Just when we thought we could breathe, rookie Alex Verdugo slammed an opposite-field home run.
Neris now faced the ginger wonder, Justin Turner. Each pitch was more dramatic than the last. Phillies fans held their breath as an 0-2 fastball turned into a deep fly ball. Both Scott Kingery and Bryce Harper seemed to call for it. Finally, Harper ended the madness.
Phillies split the series, winning 7-6.
