The Los Angeles Dodgers' opening nine-game winning streak was snapped. Philadelphia Phillies catcher JT Realmuto ended the one-run game with a series of crucial stolen base denials.
The Dodgers lost 2-3 in a game against Philadelphia at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on the 5th. The Dodgers, who had a spectacular eight-game winning streak, experienced their first loss of the season.
Realmuto allowed three stolen bases to the Dodgers on that day, but he also recorded three stolen base denials. He played a key role in securing the one-run victory with crucial denials at second base in the 8th and 9th innings.
In the 9th inning, trailing 0-3, leadoff hitter Mookie Betts reached base on a walk and successfully stole second base. Tommy Edman then hit a two-run home run over the right-center wall, cutting the deficit to one run. After one out, Will Smith reached base on a walk, and Chris Taylor entered as a pinch runner at first base.
With Philadelphia pitcher Jordan Romano's quick motion being relatively slow, the Dodgers planned to continue attempting stolen bases. Max Muncy struck out swinging on a 1-2 count, and the runner at first base attempted to steal second. Realmuto quickly threw to second base, and the safe call was made. However, Philadelphia challenged the call, and it was overturned to out, ending the game.
Remarkably, Realmuto cut his right thumb while opening a water bottle during the 8th inning but kept playing without realizing it. He said he noticed the blood on the ball he returned to the pitcher in the 9th and realized it was from his thumb injury.
Realmuto also denied a very important stolen base in the 8th inning, specifically targeting Shohei Ohtani's attempt to steal second. After one out in the 8th, Miguel Rojas had a single to left field, and after two outs, Ohtani delivered a single to right field, creating a two out, runners on first and third opportunity. Betts stepped to the plate. Betts was at a 1-1 count, and on the third pitch, Ohtani dashed toward second base. However, Realmuto's bullet throw went to second, and Ohtani was tagged out.
Ohtani's failure to steal second base is a rare sight. Last year, he attempted 63 stolen bases and succeeded 59 times, boasting an impressive success rate of 93.7%. He had been on a streak of 38 consecutive successful stolen bases, which was broken. After the game, Realmuto noted, "It was surprising that Betts was at the plate, so Ohtani's steal was unexpected." He remarked coolly about his thumb injury, stating, "I couldn't feel the cut. It was just bleeding."
Before the 2021 season, Philadelphia signed Realmuto to a five-year contract worth $115.5 million (approximately 168.8 billion won). At that time, it was the highest contract for a catcher in Major League history. Realmuto has been selected as an All-Star three times and has won two Gold Glove Awards and three Silver Slugger Awards. He possesses top-class abilities in both offense and defense in Major League Baseball. He will become a free agent again after this season.
In this game, Philadelphia's starting pitcher Jesús Luzardo dominated the Dodgers lineup, pitching seven innings (95 pitches) with two hits, two walks, and eight strikeouts without allowing any runs. In the 1st inning, after one out, Trey Turner reached base with a left-field double, and when he attempted to steal third base, a throwing error from pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto allowed him to score.
Philadelphia maintained a one-run game, and in the 7th inning, Max Kepler walked, and Nick Castellanos hit a double to create a first-and-second situation with no outs. Bryson Stott's single to left field made it 2-0, and Brandon Marsh's ground ball to second base extended it to 3-0.
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