The Los Angeles Dodgers have relinquished their hold on the best record in Major League Baseball following a 10-7 defeat to the Philadelphia Phillies on Monday night. Phillies shortstop Trea Turner, a former Dodger, was instrumental in his team's victory, hitting two home runs against his former club.
Turner's performance, however, was a mix of offensive brilliance and defensive lapses that allowed the Dodgers to remain in contention for much of the game. He initiated the scoring for the Phillies in the second inning with a two-run home run off Emmet Sheehan, following a four-run rally. Despite committing a fielding error earlier in the game and later struggling with a ground ball that allowed a run to score, Turner delivered the decisive blow in the seventh inning. With runners on base and the Phillies leading by two runs, Turner hit a three-run homer that extended Philadelphia's lead.
The Dodgers managed to tie the game briefly in the sixth inning after an RBI double by Max Muncy and a run scoring on a throwing error by Turner. However, Brandon Marsh added to the Phillies' lead with a solo home run in the sixth, and Turner's decisive homer in the seventh ultimately sealed the win.
Despite the loss, Mookie Betts had a standout performance for the Dodgers, recording four hits and two home runs, snapping a recent hitting slump. This marked his best game of the season, improving his on-base plus slugging percentage to .731.
On the pitching front for the Dodgers, Emmet Sheehan struggled, allowing multiple hits in the second inning and giving up a home run to Marsh. His ERA rose to 5.03, and he has not completed six innings in his last seven starts.
The Dodgers' loss, combined with their previous defeat on the road trip, means they no longer hold the sole claim to the best record in MLB. They now share the distinction with the Milwaukee Brewers, pending their Monday night result. While the Dodgers still lead the NL West by 11 games and maintain a four-game cushion for a top-two finish in the NL standings, they have given themselves work to do to reclaim the league's top spot.
Looking ahead, the Phillies will start Justin Wrobleski (10-2, 2.69 ERA) on Tuesday, facing Zack Wheeler (10-1, 2.13 ERA) for the Dodgers.