NEW YORK — After a long day of doubleheaders at Yankee Stadium, it wasn’t until the eighth inning of the nightcap that someone finally delivered the decisive hit.
With the score tied and the Dodgers facing off against the Yankees, New York’s second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. stepped up to the plate. He hit a crucial home run off Dodgers relief pitcher Evan Phillips, securing a 2-1 win for the Yankees.
New York probably felt they should have wrapped things up sooner, especially with the Dodgers opting for a bullpen game.
Will Klein, who batted first, scored an unearned run in the initial inning, keeping the Dodgers in contention. They missed multiple opportunities to build on their lead.
In the fourth inning, with one out and runners on second and third, third baseman Max Muncy made a key defensive play, preventing any runs from scoring. Later, in the fifth, the Yankees managed to load the bases with no outs against Jack Dryer, but Brock Stewart came in and struck out two batters, limiting the damage.
As the eighth inning unfolded, the Dodgers surprised the crowd with Tommy Edman, who came off the bench to hit a pinch-hit home run, tying the game.
However, the Dodgers couldn’t capitalize. With one out and two runners on, Shohei Ohtani struck out, and Andy Pages popped out against Yankees closer David Bednar, setting the stage for Chisholm’s game-winning hit—a low fastball driven deep into left field.
what it means
The Dodgers, unable to defeat the Yankees for a third consecutive time, walked away with a series victory as they began a lengthy nine-game road trip.
Holding a record of 63-37, they maintain the best record in the majors, along with an 11-and-a-half game lead in their division.
Even with the loss on Sunday, the bullpen performance was a positive takeaway, especially as the team may rely more on bullpen games due to Ohtani’s ongoing absence from the rotation.
who is hot
The Dodgers didn’t achieve much with their batting on Sunday night.
However, rookie catcher Eliezer Alfonzo delivered a memorable moment when he hit a line drive to center field, marking his first MLB hit after struggling with an 0-for-9 record since his debut two weeks prior.
This single provided the Dodgers’ best early opportunity. Following Alfonzo, Ohtani recorded an infield hit, but ultimately, the inning ended without any more scoring chances until they faltered in the eighth.
Who is not?
Reflecting on Mookie Betts’s earlier performance, it’s clear he has slid back into a slump.
Going hitless in four at-bats on Sunday, he now sits at 4-for-38 over his last 11 games, with only one extra-base hit. This downturn has sharply dropped his season batting average from .248 to .226 and affected his OPS, which plummeted from .750 to .689 during this stretch.
to the next
The Dodgers will continue their East Coast journey with a three-game series against the Phillies starting Monday. In the opening match at Citizens Bank Park, Emmett Sheehan (4-6, 4.81 ERA) will take on Phillies ace Christopher Sanchez (11-4, 2.62 ERA).
