LOS ANGELES – The Phillies landed in L.A. a little before 2 a.m. on Monday, several hours later than scheduled because of plane problems.
But Monday night’s game would begin at 7:10 p.m. at Dodger Stadium, regardless of the Phillies’ travel woes. Their magic number was one, meaning they could clinch their second consecutive NL East title with a victory over the Dodgers.
Kyle Schwarber’s solo homer in the first inning gave them an early lead. It was his 53rd homer of the season. But the Dodgers carried a 3-1 lead into the seventh, when the bottom half of the Phillies’ lineup provided a jolt. Otto Kemp hit a ground-rule double to left field to start the inning. Bryson Stott’s one-out single scored Kemp to cut the Dodgers’ lead to 3-2. Weston Wilson then demolished a 2-0 fastball down the middle for a go-ahead, two-run home run to center field.
But after Orion Kerkering allowed a game-tying homer to Mookie Betts in the seventh, Bryce Harper seized the moment in the eighth and ripped a go-ahead homer into the right-center-field seats to give the Phillies a 5-4 lead.
Phillies closer Jhoan Duran has been a godsend to the Phillies since they got him before the July 31 Trade Deadline. He has been almost automatic.
But with one out in the ninth, Duran hung a curveball to Andy Pages, who crushed a game-tying home run into the Dodgers’ bullpen in left field. It was the first homer Duran has allowed with the Phillies, and just the second homer he has allowed this season.