Phillies drop fourth straight despite Pivetta’s strong outing

The Philadelphia Phillies (33-26) were unable to back a strong outing from Nick Pivetta on Sunday in Los Angeles as the Dodgers (41-19) completed the three-game sweep with a convincing 8-0 win. Nick Pivetta and Rich Hill matched each other for six innings, but when the Phillies went to the bullpen in the seventh, the Dodgers took advantage.

With the Phillies losing and Atlanta beating Detroit earlier in the day, Philadelphia’s lead in the NL East is down to just one game. They have lost four in a row for the first time this season.

The Phils head to San Diego for a three-game set with Manny Machado and the Padres next while the Braves visit the Pirates for three.

It took until the 7th inning for there to be a run scored from either team in Sunday’s match-up. With two down and one strike away from ending the inning, Vince Velasquez hung a 2-2 slider and David Freese hit it over the wall in right center to give the Dodgers a 1-0 lead.

What's cooler than being cool? Ice cold. pic.twitter.com/iFBFWs7CDm

— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) June 2, 2019

Velasquez was unable to get through the inning after allowing two more runners to reach. Edgar Garcia came in with two outs, walked Justin Turner, but luckily got Joc Pederson to ground out and end the threat.

In the eighth, Los Angeles got themselves some insurance. Max Muncy  doubled over the head of Bryce Harper and Corey Seager walked. Cody Bellinger followed with a fly out, moving Muncy to third with one down. Alex Verdugo slapped an RBI-single to right, plating Max Muncy to make it a 2-0 lead for the Dodgers.

Alex Verdugo singles in @maxmuncy9 in the bottom of the eighth! #Dodgers lead Phillies, 2-0. pic.twitter.com/fxsRENtCHx

— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) June 2, 2019

David Freese tallied his second RBI of the day with a run-scoring single up the middle to extend LA’s lead to three. That’d be all for Edgar Garcia.

Unfortunately, things didn’t go any better for Yacksel Rios. Chris Taylor laid down a squeeze bunt with runners on the corners, and Rios overthrew Hoskins at first. Two runs scored to make it a 5-0 ballgame. Enrique Hernandez hit a sac fly and Joc Pederson followed with a two-run bomb to really blow things open, 8-0.

#JocPop it like it's hot. pic.twitter.com/KnSFfY6r6u

— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) June 2, 2019

Not a great day for the Phillies bullpen. Vince Velasquez gave up the go-ahead homer in the seventh before Edgar Garcia surrendered four. Yacksel Rios came in and gave up three unearned runs, but it was his error that allowed those runs to score. All three relievers could not help continue the strong outing from Nick Pivetta, who was pinch-hit for in the seventh.

Shibe Vintage Sports Starting Pitching Performance

Nick Pivetta had his best start of the season, by far, against Major League Baseball’s best team. In six innings, Pivetta allowed just three hits and struck out nine. He only threw 82 pitches throughout those six shutout frames before being pinch-hit for in the 7th with two runners on base for the Phils.

Rich Hill shut out the Phillies for seven dominant innings. He walked three and struck out nine. The Phillies were 0-for-4 with runners in scoring position against Hill.

Phillies Nuggets Player of the Game: David Freese

Sure, Rich Hill hurled seven scoreless, but David Freese had two big hits for the Dodgers on Sunday afternoon. His solo home run to right center put Los Angeles up 1-0 after Nick Pivetta departed. He also hit an RBI-single in the eighth to give the Dodgers a 3-0 lead.

Next Game

• Monday, June 3 vs. San Diego Padres at Petco Park
• 10:10 p.m.
• NBC Sports Philadelphia 
• SportsRadio 94 WIP