Poor defense has plagued the Dodgers all season, and it cost them in an extra-inning loss Tuesday night to the Phillies.
Carl Crawford and Hanley Ramirez bumped into each other going after a pop fly to shallow left field in the 10th inning. The ball fell in, and Carlos Ruiz went to second base. Crawford was charged with an error.
You can guess what happened next.
- Download: NBCLA Mobile App
Dominic Brown's double into the left-center field gap rolled to the wall and Ruiz scored, giving the Phillies a 3-2 lead, and eventually, the game.
It was the Dodgers second error of the night and 22rd on the season -- most in the Major Leagues. LA's manager Don Mattingly said after the game that that play should've easily been made, and the defense, simply, has to get better.
"It's kind of become a frustration for us...we just have to get better," he said.
Both bullpens were solid. J.P. Howell (1-2) suffered the loss, but before the fatal error he and three other Dodgers relievers retired 10 of the 11 batters they faced in three-plus innings.
Philly's bullpen only allowed two hits in 3 1/2 innings of work. Antonio Bastardo (3-1) got the win, and Jonathan Papelbon picked up his sixth save of the season.
The Phillies got the scoring started in the fifth. Outfielder Marlon Byrd sounded like he broke his bat, but got enough of the ball to get it into left field for a run scoring double. Ryan Howard then came up and hit a sacrifice fly to left, and the Phillies were up, 2-0.
The Dodgers got one back by manufacturing a run in the bottom of the inning. Tim Federowicz led off with a double down the left field line. Hyun-Jin Ryu executed a sacrifice bunt to move him to third, and Carl Crawford drove Federowicz in with a sacrifice fly to center.
- Triple Threat: Dodgers, Kings, Lakers
Dee Gordon led the Dodgers charge to tie the game in the seventh. The second baseman, who celebrated his 26th birthday Tuesday, hit a ground ball into right-center field. The ball slowed down in the outfield grass, but Gordon didn't, and ended up with a double. He then stole third, and scored on a pinch-hit single by Justin Turner.
On the steal, Gordon took a knee to the face, and would leave the game after the inning. Mattingly said afterward Gordon was taken out as a precaution, and believes he was given a concussion test.
Gordon went 2-for-3, scored a run and stole two bases, giving him a Major League leading 13 on the season.
Phillies starter A.J. Burnett (0-1) kept the Phillies in it with his arm, but more so with his bat. His slider kept Dodgers hitters off balance in the 6 2/3 innings he pitched. His bat also had it going. Burnett went 3-for-3, and scored the Phillies first run. His three hits Tuesday gives him four total on the season; equaling his total for all of last year.
Dodgers starter Hyun-Jin Ryu (3-1) lasted six innings, gave up two earned runs, nine hits and struck out three.
Wednesday, Cole Hamels will make his first start of the season for the Phillies after being activated from the disabled list Tuesday. Hamels suffered from tendinitis in his left elbow. The Dodgers will counter with Zack Greinke (3-0).
