Clayton Kershaw escapes and the Phillies stay alive

The division series between the Dodgers and Phillies moved to Los Angeles for Game #3. The Phillies were trying to avoid the sweep, while the Dodgers were looking to reach the MLB Final Four.

Tommy Edman, via a home run in the third, opened the scoring.

However, the Phillies had no intention of giving up. In the fourth, they scored three runs, including runs by Alec Bohm and Brandon Marsh.

But the Phillies' first run was driven in, against Yoshinobu Yamamoto, via a (very) long ball. In the home run contest, it would have earned him an extra 30 seconds because it was so well struck. #Schwarbomb

HOLY SCHWARBOMB pic.twitter.com/Nn9HPrTCjL

– Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) October 9, 2025

The Dodgers, later in the game, felt the timing was right to offer Clayton Kershaw the chance to pitch in long relief. It turned out to be a good idea… for one inning.

But in the next inning, the legendary pitcher, who will retire at the end of the season, gave up five runs, four of them earned.

It was perhaps the last time we'd see him on a mound, since the Dodgers hadn't used him up to that point… and he didn't exactly make us want to give him another call in the bullpen. His old October demons have caught up with him, and he's never had much success in the playoffs.

Tonight at 6 p.m., the two teams meet again. Will the Dodgers finish the job at home?

On the menu today: games #4 in the Nationals. Tomorrow: the final game of the Mariners/Tigers series.

Paul Goldschmidt wants to keep playing.

https://twitter.com/snyyankees/status/1976131794865889624

Cody Bellinger wants to come back to the Bronx.

https://twitter.com/snyyankees/status/1976129365143404840

Aaron Boone doesn't expect to lose his job. He won't say otherwise.

https://twitter.com/BryanHoch/status/1976122863947010247

A single World Series for the Yankees in a quarter-century: a first.

https://twitter.com/timbhealey/status/1976126074196054145

This content was created with the help of AI.