Dodgers vs. Phillies recap: Mookie Betts, strong bullpen key Dodgers’ comeback win

The Dodgers (27-12) completed their comeback win, scoring an insurance run in the top of the ninth on Austin Barnes’ solo home run before summoning Craig Kimbrel for his ninth save of the year.

Mookie Betts led the way offensively by going three for four with a home run and three RBIs. The bullpen combined for five scoreless innings. The win was the Dodgers’ seventh in a row, matching a season-high.

Final: Dodgers 7, Phillies 4

After wavering the last couple innings, the Phillies bullpen finally cracked.

The Dodgers took their first lead of the night in the eighth inning, going in front on three straight singles, the last of which was an RBI base hit by Gavin Lux, before doubling their advantage on a run-scoring wild pitch.

Now it will be the Dodgers bullpen to protect a lead. Six outs separate them from a seventh-straight win.

Mid 8th: Dodgers lead 6-4

Mookie Betts made a rare mistake in the top of the seventh when he got picked off at second base (and then asked Dave Roberts to attempt an unsuccessful challenge).

He immediately made up for it in the bottom half of the inning.

After the Phillies loaded the bases on a walk, hit batter and puzzling defensive decision by Will Smith — who had baserunner Odúbel Herrera seemingly caught in a run down between third and home but held onto the ball until everyone was safe — Alec Bohm sent a dipping line drive to right.

Betts first had to charge and make a shoestring catch. Then, as Herrera tagged and tried to score, Betts came up with a perfect throw to the plate, beating Herrera with ease for the third out in the inning.

It’s Betts’ third outfield assist this season.

End 7th: Still tied at 4-4

Once down 4-1, the Dodgers tied the score in the sixth inning on an opposite-field solo home run from Will Smith.

That blast chased Phillies starter Aaron Nola from the game. And once reliever Brad Hand was summoned, the Dodgers immediately positioned themselves for more.

Hand walked Max Muncy. Justin Turner then was credited with an infield single when Phillies third baseman Alec Bohm misfired on a throw to second.

A Cody Bellinger base hit in the next at-bat loaded the bases with no outs.

The Dodgers, however, couldn’t convert.

Instead, Phillies reliever Connor Brogdon entered the game and escaped the jam, getting Chris Taylor to pop out and Gavin Lux to fly out to end the inning.

Mid 6th: Tied 4-4

After the Phillies extended their lead on Kyle Schwarber‘s solo home in the fourth, Mookie Betts got the Dodgers back within one with a two-run double in the fifth.

He also seemingly weathered an injury scare.

As Betts rounded second base on the play, his gaze was fixed toward the outfield. Phillies center fielder Odúbel Herrera had misplayed the ball off the wall. And Betts seemed to be deciding whether to go for third.

A few steps past the bag, however, Betts lost his balance and crashed to the dirt. He broke his fall with his left arm, but immediately grabbed at it in pain as he retreated back to second. For several moments, he writhed on the ground.

However, Betts stayed in the game after being evaluated by a trainer, and took his place defensively in right field the next half-inning (his left arm is his non-throwing arm).

He’s now two for three with three RBIs.

End 5th: Phillies lead 4-3

Mookie Betts had no home runs in his first 11 games this season, and only two through 18.

But the Dodgers outfielder is now one homer off the National League lead after tying tonight’s game in the third inning with a solo shot to left.

Betts has been on a tear his last nine games, batting .333 with four home runs, nine extra-base hits and eight RBIs.

The tie score, however, didn’t last long.

In the next half-inning, Alec Bohm launched a two-run shot off Mitch White, bringing the Dodger right-hander’s evening to an end.

Bot 3rd: Phillies lead 3-1

After a sharp first inning from Mitch White, the Phillies got to the Dodgers starter in the second.

Nick Castellanos drew a leadoff walk and took second on a wild pitch. Jean Segura drove him in with a long double to left-center. And JT Realmuto almost doubled the lead, but saw a deep drive to right die in the glove of Mookie Betts.

White’s pitch count is at 36, so he should be able to give the Dodgers — who have just one hit against Aaron Nola so far — one more inning.

End 2nd: Phillies lead 1-0

Mitch White will start Saturday’s game for the Dodgers. But it will take plenty of relievers to finish it as the team goes for a seventh-straight win.

White, a long reliever who recently returned from a COVID-19 related absence, isn’t expected to throw more than three innings or about 45 pitches in his first start of the season.

The rest of the game will belong to the Dodgers bullpen. The group is at nearly full-strength, with only Evan Phillips unavailable after pitching last night.

The lineup remains unchanged from last night, with the team’s usual starting nine set to face Phillies starter Aaron Nola for the second time in a week. Last Sunday, Nola gave up just two runs over seven innings at Dodger Stadium before the Dodgers mounted a comeback against the Phillies bullpen.

The Phillies lineup is getting a boost Saturday, with Bryce Harper returning after a five-game absence following a PRP injection in his elbow.

Here’s the Dodgers full lineup for the game:

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PHILADELPHIA — Unlike the Dodgers’ pregame bus ride, Julio Urías’ start Friday night was smooth, seamless and stress-free.

Hours before the game, a charter bus carrying manager Dave Roberts and six players blew a tire on its way to Citizens Bank Park.

“It was my first tire bust to a ballpark,� Roberts said with a laugh after arriving at the stadium.

In the Dodgers’ 4-1 win over the Philadelphia Phillies, his starting pitcher provided the exact opposite experience.

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Here’s a look at the Dodgers broadcast and streaming schedule for the remainder of the 2022 regular season:

Dodgers/Phillies Under 9 (-110): It is going to be a hot one in Philadelphia, so maybe this game will serve as a test case for how the humidor balls will play in warm weather, but this still has the makings of a low-scoring game. It will be Aaron Nola for the Phillies and Mitch White for the Dodgers, but this will be mostly a bullpen day for L.A., as White is slated to go about 45 pitches.

White has a 4.82 ERA in 9.1 innings, but that’s because of a 56.6% LOB%. He has a 3.35 xERA and a 3.41 FIP otherwise, as a guy that has racked up a good number of strikeouts already in his young career. The expectation is that we will likely see David Price in some capacity and he has struck out eight of the 23 batters that he has faced thus far. Most Phillies hitters will see a different arm in every plate appearance and the Dodgers have plenty of hard-throwers and interesting arms.

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