On Pattison's countdown of the 15 best Phillies games of 2024 continues with a 10-1 victory over the Dodgers on July 9.
15) April 16, 2024 - Ranger Suarez throws a complete game shutout
14) September 14, 2024 - The Cal Stevenson game
13) May 18, 2024 - Kody Clemens ninth-inning home run
12) July 9, 2024 - Phillies clobber Dodgers, 10-1, in first game of series sweep
The Dodgers won the 2024 World Series and, in hindsight, it feels like their victory was inevitable. But for three mid-summer games, the Phillies were on top of the baseball world.
It started on July 9, when LA visited Citizens Bank Park.
The Dodgers (+300) and Phils (+475) were 1-2 in Vegas championship odds as the series began, just ahead of the Yankees and Orioles. The Phillies had the best record and run differential in baseball, were on pace to break the franchise win record, and featured seven freshly-elected All-Stars.
And the Dodgers were... well, the Dodgers. Shohei Ohtani and the gang.
The teams with the two best records in the National League kick off a 3-game set tonight!
Tune in at 6:40 PM ET on @TBSNetwork to catch all the action between the @Phillies and @Dodgers. pic.twitter.com/1KOmAsilPg
Many observers decided that this series would determine whether the Phillies were "for real." There were still some who attributed the Phils' success to scheduling (even though the team swept the NL-Central leading Brewers in a three-game June series).
In front of a sellout crowd, Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber returned to the lineup for the first time since both were injured on June 27.
Schwarbs and Harp are baaaaack#RingTheBell pic.twitter.com/XzIGIr7VB4
What followed was a complete massacre. Harper and Schwarber didn't even contribute much offensively, but the Phillies dropped ten runs on the Dodgers. Trea Turner went three for four on the night, including a grand slam.
Bill Streicher-USA TODAY SportsBryson Stott hit his first home run since mid-May.
It's always sunny in Philadelphia? Not when it's raining homers 💪 pic.twitter.com/y4cBHPW9rV
And the bottom of the lineup--Brandon Marsh, Johan Rojas, and Rafael Marchan--combined for seven hits in nine at-bats.
"That depth is what makes us so good," said Turner afterwards.
Rafael Marchan’s stats since the release of Despicable Me 4
— .500 AVG
— .529 OBP
— .875 SLG
— 1.404 OPS
Is Minion Marchan the missing link to Philadelphia’s next championship? pic.twitter.com/jIfszmzQMp
Another thing that made the Phillies so good? Probably the main thing? Their starting pitching.
Zack Wheeler was on the mound in this one, and he quickly set the tone against Dodgers' leadoff hitter Ohtani.
Zack Wheeler striking out some guy on 3 fastballs pic.twitter.com/pdayxWD7xo
Wheeler would exit the game after 79 pitches with lower back tightness. But he gave the Phils five great innings for the win. Seranthony Dominguez, Gregory Soto, Orion Kerkering, and Jose Ruiz handled mop-up duty.
Following the advice of every dad in the Delaware Valley, the Phillies even "saved some runs for the next one," and ended up sweeping the three-game series by a combined score of 19-5.
Phillies fever raged out of control. Life was good.
Phillies dominate the dodgers
The boys are 59-32
What a special team pic.twitter.com/tUfbfE9wQK
Take us back...
