EditorsNote: updates with Bellinger's MLB's leading HR
Bryce Harper capped a dramatic rally by doubling home two runs in the bottom of the ninth inning off Kenley Jansen to lift the host Philadelphia Phillies past the Los Angeles Dodgers 9-8 on Tuesday.
Harper also hit a three-run home run and finished with five RBIs, his season high in his first campaign with the Phillies. Scott Kingery and Brad Miller also homered for the Phillies, who barely avoided losing to the Dodgers for the fifth straight time this season.
Phillies starter Vince Velasquez lasted only 4 2/3 innings and gave up five hits and five runs (four earned), although he struck out seven and walked only one. Four of the hits he allowed were home runs. Ranger Suarez (1-0) earned the win in relief.
Following a 22-minute rain delay before the start of the ninth inning, Phillies closer Hector Neris was unable to secure his 18th save. With one out, pinch hitter Matt Beaty delivered a go-ahead, three-run home run for an 8-6 lead. Neris was then ejected after hitting the next batter, David Freese, with Phillies manager Gabe Kapler also getting tossed.
Max Muncy, Cody Bellinger, A.J. Pollock and Joc Pederson also went deep for the Dodgers, who had their three-game winning streak snapped.
Dodgers starter Walker Buehler allowed four hits and six runs in six innings, though only two of the runs were earned. Buehler, who struck out seven and walked three, hadn't started since July 3, but he did pitch one inning in the All-Star Game.
Jansen (3-3) took the loss after allowing four straight hits following the first out. He got an assist on a leadoff groundout by Phillies rookie Adam Haseley that initially struck Jansen hard near his foot.
Kingery hit a solo homer in the first inning, his second long ball in two nights, and the Phillies took a quick 1-0 lead.
Muncy tied the game at 1 in the second with a towering 440-foot homer to right. It was his 25th home run of the season.
The Phillies went back ahead 3-1 when Miller hit a two-run homer to right in the second. Harper extended the advantage to 6-1 with a three-run blast to center in the same inning.
In the third, Jay Bruce left the game with what was announced in the press box as an oblique injury. After the count went to 0-2, Bruce was pulled and replaced by Roman Quinn, who struck out on the next pitch -- though the official strikeout was charged to Bruce.
The Dodgers got within 6-3 when Bellinger hit his Major League-leading 34th homer, a two-run shot to right in the fourth. Two batters later, Pollock smacked a solo homer to cut the gap to 6-4.
Los Angeles' home run barrage continued as Pederson hit a solo homer in the fifth to close the visitors within 6-5.
--Field Level Media
