The Los Angeles Dodgers got back to their winning ways on Saturday thanks to the long ball and holding the Philadelphia Phillies to just four hits, as the visitors won 3-1.
Enrique Hernandez hit a two-run home run, and Michael Conforto had a sixth-inning solo shot, as the Dodgers avenged their first loss of the season. Max Muncy went 3-for-4 with a run scored. Anthony Banda pitched a scoreless fifth inning for his third win in as many decisions.
Tanner Scott threw a three-pitch ninth for his third save.
Kyle Schwarber had a hit and scored on Alec Bohm’s RBI groundout. Aaron Nola (0-2) allowed three earned runs, seven hits and a walk over six innings while striking out two.
Roki Sasaki started for the Dodgers, and the offseason acquisition from Japan gave the team his best outing in three starts. The right-hander, 23, allowed just three hits, two walks and an earned run over four-plus innings while striking out four.
He overcame a shaky start. Schwarber led off the first with a single and advanced to third on Trea Turner’s base hit to right field. Turner stole second base to put both runners in scoring position, but Sasaki allowed just one run while getting the next three batters.
That started a stretch where Sasaki retired 12 of the 13 batters. However, he would not qualify for his first major league win.
In the bottom of the fifth, Sasaki gave up a leadoff walk to J.T. Realmuto followed by a line drive single to Bryson Stott.
Banda entered at that point. Realmuto moved to third on Brandon Marsh’s fly out to center field, but Schwarber flew out to Teoscar Hernandez in right. Stott was running and was doubled up off first before the Phillies catcher could score.
Los Angeles took the lead in the second. Muncy doubled with one out. Nola got Andy Pages to strike out, but Enrique Hernandez hit a fly ball that just cleared the left field fence down the line for his third homer of the season.
The Phillies had baserunners in both the eighth and ninth innings, but Dodger relievers ended Philadelphia’s four-game winning streak.
