The Los Angeles Dodgers, the reigning World Series champions, experienced their first defeat of the 2023 season in a close matchup against the Philadelphia Phillies, falling 3-2. With this loss, the Dodgers now hold an impressive record of 8-1 for the season, but they remain just shy of the best start in franchise history, previously set by the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1955 with a 10-0 record.
The Dodgers' loss can largely be attributed to sloppy baserunning, a critical factor highlighted by manager Dave Roberts. "When you give a good team outs and shorten the game, it’s hard to win," Roberts remarked. The team made several questionable decisions on the bases, notably when superstar Shohei Ohtani attempted to steal second base with two outs in the eighth inning, while the formidable Mookie Betts was at the plate. Ohtani was thrown out by Phillies catcher J.T. Realmuto, extinguishing a potential rally.
Despite boasting a remarkable 93.7 percent stolen base success rate last season, Ohtani's decision in that moment raised eyebrows. "With Shohei in that situation, you’ve got to make sure you’re safe," Roberts advised. "Realmuto is one of the best throwers in the game. When you’re down three with Mookie at the plate, you’ve got to ensure you’re safe if you’re going to go." This critical misstep ultimately ended the Dodgers' chance of tying the game.
Even after trailing for most of the game, the Dodgers refused to go down without a fight. Tommy Edman’s two-run homer off Phillies reliever Jordan Romano brought the score to 3-2, keeping the Dodgers in contention and avoiding what would have been their first shutout since July 26. However, Romano managed to secure the win for the Phillies through a strike-him-out-throw-him-out double play, as pinch-hitter Max Muncy struck out, and pinch-runner Chris Taylor was thrown out at second base.
Reflecting on the game, Roberts expressed his disappointment with the team’s baserunning mistakes, stating, "We hate losing, but I think it does go to how we play. Giving those guys three outs on the bases makes it hard to win when you play eight innings on the offensive side. That’s something we have to clean up." The Dodgers' struggles didn’t end there, as Andy Pages was also picked off to conclude the sixth inning, adding further frustration to their performance.
J.T. Realmuto showcased his exceptional defensive abilities during the game, marking the fifth time in his career and the first since 2022 that he threw out three runners in a two-game span. "The Ohtani one surprised me a little bit just because Mookie was hitting," Realmuto admitted. "When Chris ran, I had a pretty good idea he was going to try to run because he’s the tying run and he’s usually a pretty good stolen-base guy."
Despite this setback, the Dodgers have had a strong start to their season, previously triumphing over the Atlanta Braves with a thrilling 6-5 victory in which Ohtani hit a tiebreaking home run on his bobblehead night. The team has demonstrated resilience, with two walk-off wins already under their belt, even while trailing in seven games this season. Ohtani's performance has been noteworthy, although he failed to score in this game for the first time this season.
On the mound, Dodgers starter Yoshinobu Yamamoto pitched six innings, allowing only one unearned run due to an error he made while attempting to pick off Trea Turner. This marked the fourth time in his career that he has pitched at least six innings without allowing an earned run, showcasing his potential as a key player for the Dodgers moving forward.
As the Dodgers regroup from this loss, they will need to address their baserunning issues and continue building on their early-season success. The team remains a formidable contender, and fans eagerly anticipate their next matchups in hopes of seeing a return to their winning ways.
