Field Level Media
Jun 17, 2021
Rhys Hoskins ended a long dry spell with a home run and Zack Wheeler pitched six scoreless innings as the Philadelphia Phillies avoided a three-game sweep with a 2-0 road victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday.
Hoskins ended an 0-for-33 slump with a first-inning home run against Clayton Kershaw as the Phillies won for just the second time in their past seven road games.
Wheeler (5-3) worked his way around five hits and four walks while striking out six. It was his second consecutive scoreless outing after he went eight shutout innings against the Atlanta Braves on June 10.
Kershaw (8-6) allowed two runs on eight hits over six innings with a walk and nine strikeouts. The left-hander has lost three of his past four decisions, pushing his ERA from 2.94 to 3.36 over that stretch.
The Dodgers, who were shut out for the first time since Sept. 14, 2019, lost for just the second time in their past nine games. They went 4-2 on a homestand that included three games against the Texas Rangers.
Hoskins, the second batter of the game, hit his home run on a full-count slider. The shot just cleared the left field wall for his 13th of the season.
The Dodgers loaded the bases with two outs in the first inning on a Mookie Betts walk, a Gavin Lux single and a walk to AJ Pollock, but Zach McKinstry struck out to end the threat. They had two aboard in the third and fifth innings against Wheeler but failed to score.
The Phillies made it 2-0 in the third against Kershaw when J.T. Realmuto's double to right-center scored Odubel Herrera from first base.
Wheeler was followed by left-hander Jose Alvarado, who pitched two perfect innings. Right-hander Hector Neris pitched around two hit batters in the ninth inning for his 10th save.
The Phillies were playing without both second baseman Jean Segura and Bryce Harper, who were injured Tuesday in the team's 5-3 defeat to the Dodgers.
Segura came away with a Grade 1 left groin strain and was placed in the 10-day injured list. Harper has a lower back strain and is day-to-day.
--Field Level Media