The 2001 Dodgers - Game Reports

Game 17
Dodgers 5 - Phillies 4

In a much anticipated game that lived up to its billing, the Dodgers squeaked by the Phillies Tuesday night 5-4. After the Phillies were held in check in their half of the 1st, Keith Neuberger got things started for the Dodgers with a double down the left field line. Neuberger advanced to third on a wild pitch during a walk to Pete Loizzo. Neuberger then scored on a double steal that caught Loizzo at second.

The Phillies answered in their half of the 2nd, when Kyle Gies singled and later scored on a 2 out, 3 base error. The Dodgers stranded Gies by retiring the next batter on a nice play by third baseman Cam Hanson.

The Phillies scored once in the 3rd to take a 1 run lead. Caleb Eichman walked before Phillie leadoff man Jon Zillman grounded to second. Keith Neuberger tried to tag Eichman and force Zillman however, he missed the tag and pulled Matt Weaver off first leaving the Phillies with runners on 1st and 2nd with no outs. Both runners advanced when Matt McCulloch grounded out. The Phillies then tried to steal home, but Eichman was thrown out at the plate on a well executed play by Cam Hanson and Trevor Foss. Jordan Rave then hit a one hopper to second that took a bad bounce for the Dodgers and skipped into right-center allowing Zillman to score.

The Dodgers led off the 4th with 4 straight hits but could only push across 2 runs, both of those coming on a 2 RBI double by Matt Weaver. The Phillies cut the threat short with some outstanding defense. After Weaver had doubled, Brian Crawford singled to right. Weaver was cut down trying to score on a perfectly executed relay from Matt McCulloch. Catcher Caleb Eichman then caught Crawford trying to advance to second on the play at the plate. That followed by a strikeout ended the inning for the Dodgers.

The Phillies wasted no time answering, scoring twice in their half of the 5th to regain the lead. A pair of leadoff walks and a hit batter loaded the bases with nobody out. Another walk forced in the first run. Matt McCulloch singled to center to drive in the second Phillie run of the inning. With the bases still loaded and no outs, Keith Neuberger settled down to get a strikeout and 2 comebackers to get out of the inning with no more damage.

In the bottom of the 5th leadoff hitter Ike Neher was hit by a pitch. Nick Dawald singled and Neuberger walked giving the Dodgers the bases loaded with no outs. Pete Loizzo hit a sharp grounder to short, but with the infield in, Neher was forced out at the plate. Trevor Foss hit a fly ball to shallow center that brought in Bryant Richards who had re-entered for Dawald. When the ball skipped away from the catcher, Nuerberger tried to give score and give the Dodgers the lead, but Neuberger was thrown out at the plate.

Things got a little tense for the Dodgers in the Phillie half of the 6th when Kyle Goike hit a 2 out, routine ground ball that the Dodgers played into a triple. However, Neuberger retired the next Phillie on strikes to get out of the jam.

Sam Markham ended the game in heroic fashion for the Dodgers wrapping a 2-2 pitch just inside the left field foul pole to end the game with a walk off home run. It was Markham's and the Dodgers first home run of the season.