Dodgers Trail-Ending Victory Over Phillies Advances NLDS to Game 3 in Los Angeles

Jesús Luzardo delivered a strong pitching performance for the Philadelphia Phillies in Game 2 of the National League Division Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers, striking out five and allowing only one hit through six innings, including a stretch of retiring 17 consecutive batters. However, the Phillies' offense struggled, continuing a postseason trend of low run production, which contributed to the team falling behind 0-2 in the series and putting their season at risk. The Dodgers capitalized in the seventh inning, with Freddie Freeman breaking Luzardo's streak and driving in key runs during a rally that ultimately led to a 4-3 Dodgers victory. Phillies' reliever Orion Kerkering was unable to contain the Dodgers' offense after Luzardo's departure, allowing additional runs that sealed the loss. Despite Luzardo's masterful outing, the Phillies' offense failed to provide sufficient support against dominant Dodgers pitching, including Blake Snell’s six one-hit innings with nine strikeouts. The Phillies now face a challenging situation as the series shifts to Los Angeles, with Luzardo unlikely to start again until Game 5.