Snell Dominates as Dodgers Defeat Phillies 5-0 to Avoid Sweep

The Los Angeles Dodgers halted a potential three-game sweep by the Philadelphia Phillies with a commanding 5-0 victory on March 15, 2024. The win was powered by a stellar performance from pitcher Blake Snell, who struck out a season-high 12 batters over seven innings. Shohei Ohtani also made headlines by hitting his 51st home run of the season, contributing to the Dodgers’ offensive effort.

Snell, who improved his record to 5-4, allowed just two hits during his outing, both of which were consecutive two-out singles in the third inning. The left-hander faced a moment of pressure in the seventh when he issued two walks, putting the tying run at the plate. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts approached the mound, but decided to keep Snell in the game. The decision paid off as he struck out rookie Otto Kemp to end the inning, prompting a roar from the crowd of 50,859 fans.

Freddie Freeman also contributed offensively, hitting a home run to lead off the second inning. Ben Rortvedt added an RBI single, putting the Dodgers ahead 2-0. Andy Pages played a key role in the fourth, stealing second base and advancing to third on a pickoff error by Phillies starter Jesús Luzardo, ultimately scoring on a two-out single from Kiké Hernández.

Luzardo, who had a solid outing despite the loss, allowed four runs and four hits over seven innings, striking out six while throwing 106 pitches. This game marked a stark contrast to the previous two games, where the Phillies hit six home runs. In this matchup, key players such as Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper struggled, going a combined 0 for 7, with Schwarber striking out three times.

Ohtani’s homer extended his on-base streak to 22 games, the longest in Major League Baseball this season. His teammate Mookie Betts had briefly shared this mark before going 0 for 4 in the game.

Looking ahead, the Phillies are set to visit Arizona on March 17, 2024, though they have yet to announce a starting pitcher. The D-backs will have Ryne Nelson (7-3, 3.34 ERA) on the mound. The Dodgers will host the San Francisco Giants on March 16, with Yoshinobu Yamamoto (11-8, 2.66) starting against Giants’ right-hander Logan Webb (14-10, 3.34).

This victory not only prevented a sweep but also showcased the Dodgers’ resilience and ability to bounce back, setting the stage for an exciting remainder of the season.