Joe Kelly Struggles in Crucial Game Against Phillies

The Los Angeles Dodgers suffered a tough defeat Wednesday night, with a fateful sixth inning in which Joe Kelly struggled on the mound sealing a 9-4 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies at Dodger Stadium. The inning, which unraveled quickly for the Dodgers, was fraught with both a controversial umpire call and the three-run homerun hit by Kyle Schwarber, the latter marking the turning point of the entire game.

Kelly’s being brought in to contain the damage added to the position’s misery. The closer’s appearance was packed with high-leverage mistakes, including a walk to second baseman Jean Segura and the wild pitch that let the Phillies take the lead. The situation escalated when first baseman Schwarber capitalized on the two-strike changeup from Kelly, sending the ball into the stands, and bringing three runs home.

The homerun epitomized the season of the pitcher, who has been struggling to be consistent throughout the season. As a result, Kelly’s ERA now stands at 5.23 – a significant increase compared to the previous season. The defeat not only marked a bumpy game for Kelly but also added to the intensity of the NL West race, with the Dodgers now carrying a 2 game-lead over their closest rivals. Manager Dave Roberts expressed discontent with the course of the game, adding that the disputed call and Kellys performance could not possibly happen in such a crucial moment.