LOS ANGELES – Kyle Schwarber hit three homers and drove in seven runs, helping the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 9-4 on Wednesday night.
The Dodgers have lost two of three in the matchup between the National League’s two best teams, cutting their lead in the NL West to three games over Arizona — their smallest margin since late April.
Schwarber’s three-run homer capped a five-run sixth, during which the NL East-leading Phillies tied and then took the lead. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts was ejected by third base umpire Hunter Wendelstedt after interfering with Miguel Rojas during the Phillies’ outburst.
With Philadelphia down 4-3, Alec Bohm doubled to left field and Brandon Marsh was selected by the fielder to third. Third baseman Kiké Hernández held the ball to left field and threw to Miguel Rojas. Bohm slipped and was deemed safe by Wendelstedt, who ruled Rojas interfering.
Rojas was accused of a mistake. He was furious and gaped at Wendelstedt when Roberts came off the bench.
Wendelstedt raised his hands indicating that Roberts should stop. He didn’t and Wendelstedt turned his back on Roberts before throwing him away. It was the 12th ejection of Roberts’ career and his first this season.
Bohm scored on JT Realmuto’s RBI groundout to third against Joe Kelly, tying it at 4.
Kelly walked Nick Castellanos and Johan Rojas to load the bases. Marsh scored on Kelly’s wild pitch to make it 5-4. Schwarber’s 426-foot blast to right center extended the lead to 8-4.
Schwarber’s hit is his 27th home run, leading off his ninth against Michael Grove.
The Phillies closed to 4-3 in the fifth on Schwarber’s double to the right field corner chasing down Gavin Stone.
Stone gave up a two-hit home run to Schwarber early in the game.
Dodgers reliever Alex Vesia (2-4) took the loss.
After Gavin Lux’s single in the third, the Phillies team retired 12 consecutive times.
Grove hit Nick Castellanos in the eighth and Matt Strahm punched Lux in the bottom of the inning.
Freddie Freeman drove in three of the Dodgers’ four runs, leading them to a 4-1 lead.
Both of Freeman’s RBI singles came on first pitches from Phillies starter Tyler Phillips (4-1). Teoscar Hernández doubled, Phillips hit Kevin Kiermaier and Freeman singled up the middle, scoring Hernández to tie the game at 1-1. Freeman scored on a single by Miguel Rojas, who was playing in his first game since July 21.
In the second, Freeman’s two-run RBI single to left extended the lead to 4-1.
The Phillies went 3-for-3 on challenges, having decisions overturned in the first, second and fifth innings.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Phillies: LF Austin Hays left the game in the third with left hamstring tightness.
Dodgers: RHP Brusdar Graterol had an MRI that showed a Grade 1 hamstring strain after leaving eight pitches in Wednesday’s game. He played 15 days of IL and the team hopes he can play again this season. … SS Mookie Betts (hand), 3B Max Muncy (oblique) and newly acquired utilityman Tommy Edman (ankle and wrist) will participate in a simulated game at Dodger Stadium on Thursday. … RHP Walker Buehler (hip) starts for Triple-A Oklahoma City on Thursday.
NEXT
Phillies: LHP Kolby Allard (0-0, 4.50 ERA) starts Thursday at Arizona.
Dodgers: RHP Jack Flaherty (8-5, 2.80) makes his second start since arriving in Los Angeles at the trade deadline Friday against Pittsburgh. He pitched six shutout innings in a 10-0 win at Oakland last weekend.
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