The Los Angeles Dodgers and Philadelphia Phillies are locked in a tense battle in Game 3 of the National League Division Series, with superstar players trading massive home runs. With the Dodgers holding a 2-0 series lead, they entered the contest at a roaring Dodger Stadium looking to push the Phillies to the brink of elimination, while Philadelphia fought desperately to keep their championship hopes alive.
Early Innings Set a Tense Stage
The game began as a high-stakes pitcher’s duel, with the Dodgers’ ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto facing off against the Phillies’ veteran Aaron Nola. The tension was palpable from the very first inning. Dodgers superstar Mookie Betts, who has solidified a Hall of Fame-worthy career with a spectacular transition to shortstop this season, ignited the home crowd early. He smoked a one-out triple, putting himself just 90 feet away from giving Los Angeles an immediate lead.
However, Aaron Nola showcased the poise of a seasoned veteran. Facing the heart of the potent Dodgers lineup with a runner on third, Nola dug deep. He managed to strike out the dangerous Teoscar Hernández, bringing up the formidable Freddie Freeman. After hitting Freeman with a breaking ball, Nola faced another All-Star in Will Smith. With the pressure mounting, Nola induced a crucial inning-ending strikeout from Smith, masterfully escaping the jam and keeping the game scoreless. It was a pivotal moment that demonstrated the Phillies’ resilience under fire.
Dodgers Strike First with a Strategic Twist
Phillies manager Rob Thomson entered the game with a clear and unconventional strategy: limit the exposure of Aaron Nola, who has had an inconsistent season. True to his plan, Thomson pulled Nola after just two innings, turning the ball over to left-hander Ranger Suárez. The move was designed to disrupt the timing of the Dodgers’ hitters and play the matchups.
The strategy, however, backfired almost instantly. On the very first pitch from Suárez, Dodgers’ switch-hitting second baseman Tommy Edman was ready. Edman turned on the pitch and launched a solo home run into the left-field seats, breaking the scoreless tie and sending Dodger Stadium into a frenzy. The immediate blast gave the Dodgers a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third and put Thomson’s pitching plan under immediate scrutiny. Meanwhile, Yoshinobu Yamamoto was cruising, keeping the powerful Phillies lineup hitless through the first three innings and looking every bit the ace he has been all season.
Schwarber’s Thunderous Answer
Just as the Dodgers seemed to be seizing control, the Phillies’ most prolific power hitter delivered a deafening response. In the top of the fourth inning, Kyle Schwarber stepped up to the plate mired in a frustrating postseason slump, having gone 0-for-23. Facing Yamamoto, who had looked nearly unhittable, Schwarber unloaded.
He connected with a Yamamoto pitch and sent it soaring deep into the night, a majestic 455-foot home run that tied the game at 1-1. The sheer distance and sound off the bat left no doubt, emphatically breaking Schwarber’s slump and reminding everyone of the explosive power he possesses. As the National League’s regular-season home run king with 56 homers, Schwarber’s blast not only tied the game but also served as a massive momentum shifter, proving that no lead is safe against the formidable Phillies offense.
Will Smith Returns to the Lineup
A significant development for the Dodgers in Game 3 was the return of their All-Star catcher, Will Smith, to the starting lineup. Smith had been sidelined for nearly a month with a hand fracture and had only appeared off the bench in the first two games of the series. His presence adds another layer of depth and offensive firepower to an already stacked Dodgers team.
Before the game, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts expressed full confidence in Smith’s readiness. “The at-bats have been really good considering the arms he’s had to face in those games and the lay-off,” Roberts stated. “I wouldn’t have started him if I didn’t think he could get through the game. I feel good. He’s in a good spot. I think the at-bat quality is great.” Smith’s return to handling the pitching staff and contributing from the batter’s box is a crucial element for the Dodgers as they navigate the pressures of the postseason.
Game 3 Starting Lineups
Philadelphia Phillies
Trea Turner (R) SS
Kyle Schwarber (L) DH
Bryce Harper (L) 1B
Alec Bohm (R) 3B
Brandon Marsh (L) CF
J.T. Realmuto (R) C
Max Kepler (L) LF
Nick Castellanos (R) RF
Bryson Stott (L) 2B
Los Angeles Dodgers
Shohei Ohtani (L) DH
Mookie Betts (R) SS
Teoscar Hernández (R) RF
Freddie Freeman (L) 1B
Will Smith (R) C
Enrique Hernández (R) LF
Max Muncy (L) 3B
Andy Pages (R) CF
Tommy Edman (S) 2B