Phillies Aim for Series Win Against Shohei Ohtani, Dodgers

The Philadelphia Phillies kicked off their three-game road series against the Los Angeles Dodgers in dramatic fashion. They pulled off a wild 6-5 win in 10 innings on Monday night.

This one had everything: clutch home runs, late-inning chaos, and a real playoff vibe. Both teams are fighting for postseason spots, so every pitch felt like October already.

Phillies Prevail in Extra-Inning Nail-Biter

The Phillies rolled into Dodger Stadium with some swagger after clinching their second straight NL East title. Right away, Kyle Schwarber hammered his NL-best 53rd home run of the year.

That blast set the tone. The Phillies’ lineup just wouldn’t back down, answering every Dodgers rally with something of their own.

Down in the seventh, the unlikely hero was Weston Wilson — the number nine hitter. He ripped a two-run homer and gave Philly a brief lead.

The Dodgers answered, but Bryce Harper crushed a solo shot in the eighth to tie things up again. Harper’s knack for the big moment? Still very much alive.

Realmuto Seals It in the Tenth

By the 10th inning, both bullpens looked gassed. J.T. Realmuto stepped up and drove in the go-ahead run with a sacrifice fly.

Sometimes it’s the little things that win games. That fly ball was all it took for the Phillies to notch their 14th win in 18 games.

Winning Through Adversity

Manager Rob Thomson looked relieved after this one. The Phillies just lost ace Zack Wheeler for the year after blood clot surgery, which is a gut punch for any team.

Still, they keep finding ways to win. That kind of resilience says a lot about this group’s mindset.

Sunday’s win nudged Philadelphia closer to a top-two seed in the National League playoffs and a much-needed first-round bye. The late-season surge? It’s fueled by power, pitching, and a stubborn belief that they’ll figure it out under pressure.

Next Up: Sanchez vs. Ohtani

On Tuesday, Cristopher Sanchez gets the start for Philadelphia. He’s 13-5 with a 2.57 ERA and has strung together three straight one-run outings.

Sounds solid, but here’s the catch: he’s facing Shohei Ohtani (1-1, 3.75 ERA), who’s making his first-ever start against the Phillies. Ohtani’s only pitched once since September 5 after dealing with illness, so who knows what to expect?

Dodgers’ Struggles Continue in the Bullpen

The Dodgers still sit atop the NL West, but their lead’s down to two games. Monday night made it pretty clear: the bullpen’s a problem.

Dodgers relievers coughed up four of the six Phillies runs, undoing some solid work from their starters. That’s gotta sting.

The Dodgers’ bats showed fight, though. Max Muncy, Mookie Betts, and Andy Pages all went deep.

Betts is on a tear, with five homers in his last eleven games. But if the bullpen keeps leaking runs, even those big swings might not be enough when it matters most.

Postseason Stakes Rising

For both clubs, these head-to-head battles are about more than pride. The Phillies want a better playoff seed and a shot at some extra rest.

The Dodgers, meanwhile, are just trying to hold off a late push from their division rivals. Every game feels huge now—one mistake could change the whole playoff picture.

Both teams get back on the field Tuesday night. Big arms, big bats, and honestly, even bigger stakes for what’s coming in the next few weeks.

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Here is the source article for this story: ‘Grinding’ Phillies chase series win vs. Shohei Ohtani, Dodgers