Sun Apr 06 20:20:00 UTC 2025: ## Dodgers’ Undefeated Streak Snapped by Phillies, Baserunning Blunders Costly
**Philadelphia, PA** – The Los Angeles Dodgers, defending World Series champions, suffered their first loss of the season Friday night, falling to the Philadelphia Phillies 3-2. Their previously undefeated 8-1 start, the best ever for a defending champion, came to an end due to a series of costly baserunning mistakes.
Manager Dave Roberts attributed the loss to giving the Phillies extra outs, stating, “When you give a good team outs and shorten the game, it’s hard to win.” The most glaring error came in the eighth inning when Shohei Ohtani, despite a high success rate in stealing bases, attempted a steal of second with two outs and Mookie Betts at bat. Phillies catcher J.T. Realmuto threw him out, squandering a scoring opportunity. Roberts commented, “With Shohei in that situation, you’ve got to make sure you’re safe.”
Further blunders included pinch-runner Chris Taylor being thrown out at second base attempting a steal, and Andy Pages being picked off at first to end the sixth inning. Realmuto, who threw out three runners in the two-game series, highlighted Ohtani’s attempt as surprising given Betts’ presence at the plate, but noted he expected Taylor’s attempt.
Despite the setbacks, the Dodgers showed resilience. Tommy Edman’s two-run homer in the ninth narrowed the deficit to 3-2, but the rally ended with a strikeout and a double play. Dodgers starter Yoshinobu Yamamoto pitched effectively, allowing only one unearned run in six innings, a run that scored due to Yamamoto’s own error.
The loss marks the first time Ohtani failed to score this season. While the Dodgers have shown a capacity for comebacks, having already recorded two walk-off wins after trailing in seven games, their baserunning miscues proved too significant to overcome against a strong Phillies team. The team now faces the challenge of rectifying their baserunning issues to maintain their championship form.
First Piper 