Los Angeles, CA—-The LA Dodgers must of had a rabbit foot hidden in their pocket for Wednesday game against the Phillies.
Dodgers third baseman Max Muncy hit a game-ending grand slam who rallied from an early five-run deficit to beat the Philadelphia Phillies 10-6 on Wednesday night.
With the victory over the Phillies, the Dodgers completed a perfect six-game homestand.
The Dodgers got the sweep in the three-game series, outscoring the defending NL champions 36-11 and reaching double digits in every contest.
Bryce Harper hit a rope for a double to start a four-run third inning and reached base five times in his second game of the season for the Phillies, who lost their fourth straight.
The lack of rotation depth has magnified the weakness of the bullpen. The Dodgers started Wednesday with the eighth-worst bullpen ERA in MLB.
The team’s infield defense have been an issue this season. Muncy, who committed his fourth error Wednesday doesn’t look comfortable at third. Miguel Vargas is playing second base for the first time in his career. The absence of an everyday shortstop has forced the Dodgers to rotate Chris Taylor, Miguel Rojas and Mookie Betts at the position.
Muncy is stroking the ball well of late. He leads the majors with 12 homers.
Muncy could be the game changer the Dodgers need, as he and rookie James Outman could lengthen a lineup that was expected to be extremely dependent on Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman and Will Smith.
“You hate to say that one guy is sort of a key figure, but if you had to pick one guy who is going well, guys feed off, it’s Max,” Roberts said.
The Dodgers scored 36 runs in their three games against the Phillies and 50 over this homestand, which started with a three-game sweep over the St. Louis Cardinals.
Dodgers rookie Miguel Vargas had a two-run home run and Gavin Stone gave up five runs, four of them earned — on eight hits over four innings in his major league debut.
Aaron Nola pitched six stellar innings for Philadelphia, who completed a 2-4 road trip. They took two of three at Houston in a World Series rematch.
After going 0 for 4 with three K’s Tuesday in his return from Tommy John surgery, Harper was 3 for 3 with two walks. But Philadelphia Phillies couldn’t hold the lead.
Chris Taylor singled leading off the bottom half against former Dodgers reliever Craig Kimbrel (1-1) and swiped second base. Betts struck out before Freddie Freeman was walked intentionally. Will Smith drew a walk that made the bases juiced, and Muncy smashed the next pitch into the right-field bleachers for his major 12th homer of the season.
Los Angeles stretched the lead to 5-4 on a sacrifice fly from Freeman in the seventh.
“The makeup is really starting to show itself,” said Dodgers manager Dave Roberts. “I really love the culture of the guys. As the season has started to progress, they’re absolutely willing to concede playing time or at-bats or innings for their teammates. Just guys playing for each other, so for me, it’s coming together the way it’s supposed to.”
UP NEXT:
Phillies: RHP Zach Wheeler (3-1, 3.86 ERA) starts Friday’s series opener at home against Boston.
Dodgers: Kershaw (5-1, 1.89 ERA), the NL pitcher of the month for April, goes Friday in San Diego.
