Game 35 - Knebel Blows Chance for Sweep

1986 Fleer #452

Dodgers 5, Phillies 4
Game 35 - Sunday Afternoon, May 15th in Los Angeles
Record - 17-18, 2nd Place, 5 1/2 games behind the Mets

One Sentence Summary:  Corey Knebel couldn't secure the win for the Phillies, as the Dodgers walked off to victory, avoiding the four-game sweep.

What It Means:  I watched almost all of this game while flying from Philadelphia to Dallas for a work trip.  The game, much like the flight, was smooth and enjoyable until the end when the game, similar to the flight, hit a bit of bumpy, unpleasant turbulence.

What Happened:  Aaron Nola turned in an effective outing, pitching seven strong innings and allowing just two runs on four hits.  He struck out eight and threw 108 pitches.  Knebel retired the first two Dodgers batters in the bottom of the ninth, but then allowed a triple to Cody Bellinger that opened the floodgates.  He walked Chris Taylor and then surrendered a game-ending two-run double to Gavin Lux.

Lux was redeemed after being responsible for all four Phillies unearned run when he missed a ground ball in the second inning.  With two outs, Johan Camargo on first and Jean Segura on second, Lux couldn't field a Bryson Stott grounder and Segura scored.  Camargo came home on a Garrett Stubbs ground rule double, and Rhys Hoskins brought Stott and Stubbs home with a single to right.  The Phillies offense was fairly quiet after that.

Featured Card:  The last time the Phillies completed a four-game sweep of the Dodgers in Los Angeles was in late August/early September 1985.  The winning pitchers in those four games were Don Carman, Kevin Gross, Shane Rawley and John Denny.  Dave Shipanoff, a Phillies Room Favorite, recorded saves in two of those games, accounting for two of his three career saves.

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