How Justin Turner helped Gavin Lux redeem himself with walk-off double in Dodgers’ win
When the ball went between his legs, Gavin Lux tried not to show much emotion.
After committing a two-out error in the second inning Sunday, when his missed ground ball at second base led to four unearned runs for the Philadelphia Phillies, the Dodgers infielder tucked his glove into his arm.
He took off his cap and looked at the scout card for the next batter.
And when he returned to the dugout, he sat down next to starting pitcher Michael Grove, who was making his MLB debut, and didn’t say a word.
He didn’t need to.
“I gotta make that play,” Lux later acknowledged. “Everybody knows that … Those runs are on me.”
Dodgers mount comeback, get walk-off double from Gavin Lux in 5-4 win
This time, the Dodgers completed the comeback.
And it was Gavin Lux who keyed the late-game rally.
After drawing a leadoff walk and scoring on a Mookie Betts double in the eighth to make it a one-run game, Gavin Lux hit a walk-off two-run double with two outs in the ninth to give the Dodgers a 5-4 win over the Phillies on Sunday.
The victory lifts the Dodgers to 21-12, and avoid their first four-game home sweep since May 2018.
Final: Dodgers 5, Phillies 4
Aaron Nola completes seven-inning gem with caught stealing third out
The Dodgers couldn’t do much today against Phillies starter Aaron Nola.
In seven innings, the former All-Star gave up just two runs on four hits and two walks. He struck out eight batters. And after 108 pitches, he got the third out in the seventh when Chris Taylor was caught stealing second (Taylor was initially ruled safe, but the call was overturned on review).
Today was the second-straight game the Phillies’ starter went seven innings, following up Ranger Suárez’s performance last night. Prior to this weekend, only two opposing pitchers had done that all year (Atlanta’s Max Fried and Colorado’s German Marquez).
End 7th: Phillies lead 4-2
Dodgers get another run, but still trail after squandering chances for more
The Dodgers chipped away at the Phillies lead thanks to a Max Muncy RBI single in the fourth, but they missed chances for more.
After Muncy’s single, the team had runners on first and second with no outs. Justin Turner came up to the plate and hit a hard ground ball to the left side, but Phillies third baseman Johan Camargo stopped it with a diving effort and turned a double-play. Cody Bellinger struck out in the next at-bat to end the inning.
In the fifth, Chris Taylor drew a leadoff walk and stole second. But both Gavin Lux and Mookie Betts struck out before Freddie Freeman grounded out to retire the side.
End 5th: Phillies lead 4-2
Mookie Betts homers, but Michael Grove exits with Phillies still leading
Michael Grove got through 3 2/3 innings before being replaced in his MLB debut (Phil Bickford got the final out in the fourth, stranding a runner at second).
Grove finished the day charged with four runs (all unearned), four hits, three walks and three strikeouts.
It was a mostly decent day that could have been much different if not for Gavin Lux’s two-out error in the second inning. He couldn’t stop the bleeding during that sequence, but showed good stuff otherwise.
Mookie Betts, meanwhile, put the Dodgers on the board in the third inning with a solo home run — his seventh of the season.
They still have a big hole to dig out of.
Mid 4th: Phillies lead 4-1
After sharp first inning, Michael Grove and Dodgers defense shaky in second as Phillies surge in front
After an impressive opening inning in his MLB debut, Michael Grove was on the verge of getting through another scoreless frame in the second.
Despite letting two men get aboard, the Dodgers’ rookie right-hander got Bryson Stott to hit a slow ground ball to the right.
Second baseman Gavin Lux shuffled to get in position, seemingly primed to make an inning-ending play — but then he let the ball bounce between his legs.
The error allowed one run to score. Then the Phillies tacked on three more with an RBI double and two-run single in the next two at-bats.
All four runs were unearned, and Grove evenutally ended the inning on a bases loaded flyout from Nick Castellanos. Still, the Dodgers find themselves in another early hole in this series.
Mid 2nd: Phillies lead 4-0
Dodger notes: Clayton Kershaw plays catch; a couple roster moves for the pitching staff
Clayton Kershaw’s back was still sore during a session of catch on Sunday afternoon, according to Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, but the team is hoping the left-hander will be able to throw a bullpen session on Wednesday.
Kershaw went on the 15-day injured list Friday because of inflammation to a SI joint in his back. He said he was hopeful he would be back as soon as (or shortly after) the 15 days were up. He also had an epidural shot Thursday to help with the pain.
Roberts said Kershaw might have been feeling the residual effects of the epidural during catch on Sunday, and said the soreness was “commonplace” for his injury.
Roberts still didn’t give an exact return date for Kershaw, but remained hopeful his absence won’t be long-term.
“We’ll see kind of how it’s progressing,” he said.
Dodgers shakeup pitching depth
The team made a couple changes to its pitching staff Sunday, adding starter Michael Grove to the roster for his MLB debut and selecting the contract of Shane Greene, an eight-year MLB veteran who had been with the club’s triple A affiliate.
Reyes Moronta and Garrett Cleavinger were optioned in corresponding moves. To clear a space on the 40-man roster for Greene, the Dodgers also placed Victor González on the 60-day injured list following his elbow scope last week.
Grove, a former second-round draft pick who has never pitched above double A, can go as many as 4-5 innings today, according to Roberts.
“As well as he’s pitching will dictate how long he goes,” Roberts said. “It’s an exciting day for him, for the Dodgers. It’s a good mix. Fastball, slider, curveball, change.”
Here’s the Dodgers full lineup for Sunday:
Other Dodger notes
Here are a couple other pregame notes from Roberts:
Bryce Harper, Phillies overwhelm Julio Urías in third straight win over the Dodgers
The Dodgers took heat for not aggressively pursuing free agent Bryce Harper after the 2018 season. They were flush with money from their TV deal and had yet to splurge on the likes of Mookie Betts, Trevor Bauer and Freddie Freeman.
They made Harper an 11th-hour offer of about $160 million over four years, but the outfielder opted to sign with the Philadelphia Phillies for $330 million over 13 years.
Not that the Dodgers regret failing to reel in Harper, not after winning a World Series in 2020 and having stacks of cash to spend on Betts and Freeman (let’s leave Bauer, ahem, out of the equation).
Harper was the National League MVP last season, but the Phillies haven’t come close to matching the Dodgers in the win column despite their own spending spree.
How to watch and stream the Dodgers this season
Here’s a look at the Dodgers broadcast and streaming schedule for the remainder of the 2022 regular season: