Recap: Dodgers Unable To Overcome Maikel Franco’s Grand Slam
Coming off a successful homestand, which included a sweep of the crosstown rival Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, the Los Angeles Dodgers began a six game road trip Tuesday evening in Philadelphia. Alex Wood, who the Dodgers recently acquired in a trade from the Atlanta Braves, made his Dodger debut against a familiar National East opponent in the Phillies. He was opposed by veteran right-hander Jerome Williams.
Jimmy Rollins returned to Philadelphia for the first time since playing 15 year with the team and received a standing ovation while coming to the plate to leadoff the game. His at-bat did not go as scripted though, as he struck out. The only Dodger to get on base in the first was Adrian Gonzalez, who walked with two outs but did not advance past first.
Wood did not have much time to get comfortable in a Dodger uniform as his first pitch was launched to deep center for a double off the bat of Cesar Hernandez. Odubel Herrera then moved him to third with a ground out to second, but Wood was able to settle in and get a strikeout and a groundout to end the inning without allowing a run.
Joc Pederson drew a two-out walk in the bottom of the second. That normally wouldn’t be much news for the rookie as he ranks sixth in walks, but it was his first since July 18. However, the Dodgers once again weren’t able to take advantage of getting a man on, as Alex Guerrero struck out to end the inning.
Wood worked around base hits by getting Carlos Ruiz to bounce into an inning-ending 5-4-3 double play to throw a scoreless second. Williams surrendered his first two hits of the game when Wood led off the top of the third with a single followed by a Rollins double that put runners on second and third with no outs.
Williams escaped the jam without allowing a run as he got Howie Kendrick to ground out to third, struck out Gonzalez and induced Andre Ethier into a groundout. The Phillies got on the board in the bottom of the third behind a Herrera RBI double down the right field line.
The Dodgers loaded the bases with no one out in the fourth, but Williams struck out Alex Guerrero and got Wood to ground into a double play to end the inning once again without allowing a run.
CONTINUE READING: Dodgers Tie Game, Hurt By Missed Opportunities
