Philly Leader

PHILADELPHIA – The Philadelphia Phillies secured a 8-7 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Sunday afternoon at Citizens Bank Park, taking the series and handing the Dodgers their first losses of the season. While the outcome of this early-April matchup may not have significant implications for October, the Phillies players expressed satisfaction and confidence moving forward.

Phillies outfielder Nick Castellanos said, "I know we have a good team. I know we have the team that is not going to roll over for anybody. I know that we also have the environment where it's the next man up."

In the third inning, Dodgers pitcher Tyler Glasnow struggled in the rain, leading to a sequence that opened the door for the Phillies. "We kind of picked up that he was getting flustered, maybe after the first three pitches of the inning," Castellanos explained.

Glasnow's control issues resulted in three consecutive walks. Bryce Harper then delivered a single to left-center, bringing home Rafael Marchán. Castellanos capitalized later, hitting a grand slam on the first pitch from Dodgers reliever Alex Vesia, marking his first such achievement since 2021.

In the seventh inning, Phillies reliever Jordan Romano faltered as the Dodgers tied the score. Romano noticed a decrease in his fastball velocity, stating, "Usually when I rear back and want to get one, it’s 96, 98. Today it just wasn’t there."

Yet, the Phillies managed to retake the lead. Harper doubled off right-hander Blake Treinen, followed by a timely hit from Bryson Stott. Edmundo Sosa played a pivotal role by sprinting to first base, allowing a run to score through his determined effort. "Stud," Castellanos commented on Sosa's vigorous return to batting after a high pitch.

Reflecting on the series, Phillies manager Rob Thomson underscored the team's resilience, saying, "They’re grinders. They're fighters. They just grind, fight, they claw. And that's who they are."

The Phillies look to maintain their competitive spirit as the season continues.