PHILADELPHIA \u2014 Since the Dodgers acquired Eric Lauer from the Toronto Blue Jays\u2019 discard pile, the veteran left-hander has had one key asset \u2013 timing.<\/p>\n
Lauer pitched on the right day again Wednesday night, holding the Philadelphia Phillies to four hits in 5\u2153 innings and cheering on the Dodgers\u2019 offense as it powered a 9-5 win and a series victory at Citizens Bank Park.<\/p>\n
The game was Lauer\u2019s eighth appearance for the Dodgers (seven starts and one hitless six-inning outing following an \u2018opener\u2019). They have won all eight.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s told me,\u201d Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said of Lauer\u2019s perfect record. \u201cHe\u2019s told me that when he starts, we win.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lauer said he wasn\u2019t bragging when he said that \u2013 he was probably just trying to avoid being used behind an opener, something that he made clear in Toronto that he didn\u2019t care for (to some public backlash).<\/p>\n
\u201cThat was when we were discussing the opener that we used the one time (in Minnesota last month), and I just mentioned to him (Roberts) I was like, \u2018Listen, we\u2019re 4-0 when I start the game,\u2019\u201d Lauer said. \u201cBut it was more of a joke than anything.\u201d<\/p>\n
The run support Lauer has received is no joke. The Dodgers have scored 65 runs in the eight games he has pitched (8.1 runs per game).<\/p>\n
One of baseball\u2019s deep mysteries is how there always seems to be a pitcher in each rotation who doesn\u2019t get enough run support \u2013 and another who gets more than he needs. The past two seasons, Yoshinobu Yamamoto has been that first pitcher for the Dodgers. This year, Lauer has been his polar opposite.<\/p>\n
\u201cGuys know (Yamamoto) isn\u2019t going to give up many runs, so they only have to score one or two for him,\u201d Lauer said, offering a self-deprecating explanation. \u201cWith me, they figure, \u2018Come on, we\u2019ve got to get going.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n
Roberts has seen the dynamic play out over the years.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s something to it,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s hard to kind of understand it. It changes every year. But I do think that he\u2019s a guy that just makes everybody relaxed. We somehow show out offensively when he\u2019s pitching.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t know the science behind it.\u201d<\/p>\n
The science of meteorology said conditions were ripe for a replay of last week\u2019s Home Run Derby at Citizens Bank Park on Wednesday night.<\/p>\n
The wind was blowing out toward right field at 12 mph, stiffening the flags flying in the outfield and exciting the lefty sluggers who power both the Dodgers\u2019 and Philadelphia Phillies\u2019 lineups.<\/p>\n
Phillies starter Aaron Nola came into the game fourth in the majors with 23 home runs allowed and Lauer wasn\u2019t far behind with 18 allowed in almost 30 fewer innings.<\/p>\n
Nola and Lauer lived up to their longball brands,<\/p>\n
Lauer gave up a two-run home run to Alec Bohm in the first inning<\/a> and a solo home run to Bryan De La Cruz in the fifth<\/a>. But he kept the ball on the ground effectively enough and struck out five, giving up just two other hits while pitching into the sixth inning.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s a pro. Since he\u2019s been with us he\u2019s been fantastic,\u201d Roberts said.<\/p>\n The Phillies might have done more damage against Lauer, but their poor fundamentals (a callback to Tuesday\u2019s game-ending double play) got him off the hook in the fifth inning.<\/p>\n Bryson Stott followed De La Cruz\u2019s home run with a double. Rafael Marchan popped up a bunt attempt for one out, then Stott ran into an out when he charged from second base to third on Trea Turner\u2019s ground ball to third baseman Max Muncy. Muncy tagged him out, taking a runner out of scoring position for the Phillies. Lauer got Kyle Schwarber to pop out to end the inning.<\/p>\n Dalton Rushing did all the work for the Dodgers early. He took Nola deep for a solo home run in the third inning<\/a> then drove in two runs with a double in the fifth inning<\/a>. The three-RBI night snapped an 0-for-19 stretch for Rushing including four strikeouts in Monday\u2019s game.<\/p>\n \u201cFor him to come out after a four-strikeout game and take a day to reset, come back and take good at-bats, I just saw the downshift. I saw a controlled at-bat,\u201d Roberts said. \u201cEven with the homer, he fell behind 0-2, 1-2 and got to a 3-2 count, fouled a ball off then hit a homer. There was a breaking ball after a mound visit that he hits a double on. He made a quick adjustment and that was good to see.\u201d<\/p>\n De La Cruz\u2019s home run tied the score at 3-3 after five innings, but the Dodgers untied it quickly.<\/p>\n