LOS ANGELES — For the first time this postseason, the Dodgers had to piece together their pitching puzzle by committee. Things held relatively steady for a while until the dam broke in a five-run eighth inning, blowing open an 8-2 Phillies victory in Game 3 of the National League Division Series on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium.
The Dodgers still lead the best-of-five series, but now two games to one.
The team was confident in Yoshinobu Yamamoto on the mound in a potential clinching opportunity, and with good reason considering he won his previous three such games with the Dodgers, dating back to last year’s NLDS, with only two unearned runs allowed in 17 2/3 innings.
“With the opportunity to close it out,” manager Dave Roberts said of Yamamoto before Game 3, “he’s the right guy ton