Dodgers' perfect start ends as miscues pile up vs. Phillies - ESPN

The best start in Dodgers history stays with Brooklyn.

The World Series champions ran themselves out of a shot at keeping their undefeated season alive in a 3-2 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies on Friday that stuck them at 8-1 on the season.

The Brooklyn Dodgers got off to a 10-0 start in 1955.

This year's Dodgers can blame their first loss on sloppy and silly baserunning.

«When you give a good team outs and shorten the game,» manager Dave Roberts said, «then it's hard to win. It's hard to beat a good team.»

Shohei Ohtani always has the green light to run, but the Dodgers superstar made the puzzling decision to try to steal second base with two outs in the eighth inning and eight-time All-Star Mookie Betts at the plate. Phillies catcher J.T. Realmuto nailed him at second to end the threat.

Ohtani had a 93.7% stolen base success rate last season, third-best in the majors.

«With Shohei in that situation, you've got to make sure you're safe,» Roberts said. «Realmuto is one of the best throwers in the game. When you're down three with Mookie at the plate, you've got to make sure you're safe if you're going to go.»

The Dodgers are champs for a reason and wouldn't go down easy.

Tommy Edman hit a two-run homer, his fifth this season, with no outs against Phillies reliever Jordan Romano to make it 3-2, as the Dodgers avoided being shut out for the first time since July 26. Romano then escaped on a strike-him-out, throw-him out double play to end the game. Pinch-hitter Max Muncy whiffed, and pinch-runner Chris Taylor was out at second.

«Chris, right there, took a chance,» Roberts said. «Unfortunately, Realmuto made another great throw.»

For added baserunning embarrassment, Andy Pages was picked off to end the sixth inning.

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