After a playoff-type of game yesterday to start the series between the Phillies and Dodgers, tonight was hopefully not another preview. The lineup of the Dodgers got to another ace early, jumping out to a four-run lead, but their pen continued to have meltdowns of almost impressive levels. Immediately after Shohei Ohtani exited, the pen gave up five runs in five straight batters to lose the lead. The Dodgers then mounted a comeback against their pen to tie things up, which the pen immediately blew again in a 9-6 loss.
This is gonna be an all-timer of a Tungsten Arm.
— Chad Moriyama (@chadmoriyama.bsky.social) September 16, 2025 at 6:26 PM
======
Another game against the Phillies, another top-line starter as they drew ace Cristopher Sanchez. They started with a Shohei Ohtani lead-off single in the 1st but got nothing else, though the 2nd went much better.
With one down, Alex Call made it 1-0 Dodgers with his fifth dinger of the year in the 2nd.
Need a homer? Make the Call. pic.twitter.com/6UEwvNdG8a
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) September 17, 2025
Following that, Andy Pages reached out and poked a single and Enrique Hernandez followed by smashing his 9th homer to left to put them up 3-0 just like that.
Kiké is pheelin’ good! pic.twitter.com/mZ2lEad8eM
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) September 17, 2025
After a quiet 3rd, Tommy Edman reached on an infield single to start the 4th and Andy Pages singled with one down to corner the runners. Enrique Hernandez then hit a sac fly to drive in his third run of the game to make it 4-0.
After singles from Edman and Pages corner things, Enrique adds on to the lead with a sac fly. pic.twitter.com/m3XYliCEsv
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) September 17, 2025
They then weren’t able to add anything on in the 5th.
——
While all of this was going on, Shohei Ohtani was just cruising along on the mound. Like literally there wasn’t much to talk about here, as Ohtani issued a two-out walk in the 1st and then gave up nothing else for the next four innings. Just complete and utter dominance.
Man. pic.twitter.com/x7aLiyi02t
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) September 17, 2025
AHHHHHHHHHHHHH pic.twitter.com/4An0yHj3q1
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) September 17, 2025
Controversially, despite throwing a no-no, Dave Roberts stuck to the innings limit and went to the pen: 5 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 5 K, 68 Pitches.
68 low-stress pitches. He’s cruising. Fuck. I get it, but fuck.
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) September 17, 2025
Freddie laughing at Dave stressing cause if he lets him go he’s gonna get The Call from the boxes.
[image or embed]
— Chad Moriyama (@chadmoriyama.bsky.social) September 16, 2025 at 5:33 PM
The laughs changed quickly, as the pen had an absolute meltdown again.
Justin Wrobleski started the 6th with an out, then gave up a single, single, single, double for two runs, and homer for three runs to make it 5-4 Phillies in the span of five fucking batters.
Bring us back, Bryce pic.twitter.com/uMYegQAjw2
— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) September 17, 2025
SHOOK OFF THE COBWEBS pic.twitter.com/cWD4jzWzeL
— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) September 17, 2025
What do you even say at this point?
Edgardo Henriquez then entered and got the second out before giving up a homer of his own to make it 6-4 Phillies. He also issued a walk before he got out of the frame thanks to Ben Rortvedt throwing out a runner.
Keep ’em comin’ Kep! pic.twitter.com/yCQMMKWay9
— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) September 17, 2025
The 7th belonged to Jack Dreyer, who got a 1-2-3 inning this time, but like many others out of the pen, not when he needed to with a lead yesterday.
Anthony Banda got the 8th and faced the minimum after seeing a walk erased by a double play.
——
Meanwhile, Sanchez continued to pitch, now with the lead, and all he did was get clean innings in the 6th and 7th.
Taking over for him in the 8th was David Robertson, who promptly surrendered Shohei Ohtani’s 50th homer of the year to give him back-to-back 50-dong seasons. It also made it a one-run game at 6-5 Phillies.
50 homers and five no-hit innings? Shohei, you are incredible! pic.twitter.com/STFZ75PEwT
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) September 17, 2025
50 homers but Shohei had the stadium at 100. pic.twitter.com/GBqmlNxN48
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) September 17, 2025
After an out, Teoscar Hernandez doubled, and so Tanner Banks entered the game. He issued a walk to Freddie Freeman, then gave up a single to Tommy Edman to load things up. Alex Call then flied a ball to left for a sac fly to tie things up at 6-6.
Call it a tie! pic.twitter.com/DmwWZ1nPPo
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) September 17, 2025
Unfortunately, they still weren’t able to get the big hit in these situations, as Andy Pages fouled out on a 2-0 pitch.
——
So now with things tied up, it was leverage time again for the pen, and Blake Treinen entered in the 9th. He got the first two outs before giving up a double, intentional walk, and then a three-run homer.
WE’RE MARCHÁN BACK OUT IN FRONT pic.twitter.com/y0YsUudrh5
— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) September 17, 2025
9-6 Phillies.
Tanner Scott is the only used reliever to not give up a run this series, lol.
— Chad Moriyama (@chadmoriyama.bsky.social) September 16, 2025 at 6:55 PM
I dunno.
Dodgers became 1st team since at least 1906 to get 5+ no-hit innings from a starting pitcher and have bullpen allow 9+ runs in the game.
— Josh Dubow (@JoshDubowAP) September 17, 2025
Jhoan Duran closed things out without any fuss.
Yeah, they are unarguably playing better, and everything is trending in the right direction other than the dumpster fire of the pen, but I would like to see them finish the job for once is all. https://t.co/Vjn9rJ5gx3
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) September 17, 2025
======
The series concludes tomorrow on MLB Network and SNLA at 4:10 PM HT/7:10 PM PT/10:10 PM ET with Blake Snell on the bump against Jesus Luzardo.
