Dodgers put Phillies on brink of elimination with Game 2 win

The Los Angeles Dodgers are one win away from advancing to the National League Championship Series after defeating the Philadelphia Phillies 4-3 in Monday's Game 2.

"That was a heck of a ball game. Lots to unpack in that one," Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said, according to ASAP Sports. "To come away with a win right there, huge, huge momentum maintainer. So looking forward to getting back home."

Blake Snell earned the win for the Dodgers after tossing six innings of one-hit ball and striking out nine.

Snell's performance marks the fourth time he's recorded nine or more strikeouts with less than two hits allowed in a postseason game, which is the most by any pitcher in playoff history, according to Opta Stats.

"I thought Blake threw a heck of a ball game," Roberts said.

Los Angeles scored four runs in the seventh inning after chasing Phillies starter Jesús Luzardo. The left-hander retired 18 straight batters before allowing back-to-back hits to begin the seventh.

"He was getting ahead. He was attacking. The slider was really good," Phillies manager Rob Thomson said. "The changeup was good. Fastball had a lot of life. Battling a little bit of a jam in the first inning, and then he rolled from there. He was fantastic."

The Phillies made things interesting by scoring one run in the eighth and adding two in the ninth off the Dodgers' bullpen, but they couldn't secure the come-from-behind win.

Nick Castellanos was thrown out at third base with no outs in the ninth after Bryson Stott attempted to move him over from second with a bunt. Pinch hitter Harrison Bader hit a single in the next at-bat before Max Kepler and Trea Turner both grounded out to end the game.

Freddie Freeman made a game-saving pick at first base for the final out after Tommy Edman spiked a throw.

"Thankfully, I was able to catch it and stay on the base," Freeman said.

The defending World Series champions head to Los Angeles seeking one victory on their home turf to advance to their fourth NLCS since 2020.

"They fought like hell, and hopefully that carries over into Wednesday," Thomson said. "But this is a resilient group. Our backs are against the wall. We've just got to come out fighting."

Yoshinobu Yamamoto will take the hill for the Dodgers in Game 3. The Phillies will start Aaron Nola with Ranger Suárez relieving him out of the bullpen.

"Nola has never pitched out of the pen. How long he goes, I don't know. I trust him," Thomson said.