Rob Thomson’s Gamble Pays Off: Phillies Crush Dodgers to Stay Alive
Oct 8, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Philadelphia Phillies designated hitter Kyle Schwarber (12) celebrates after hitting a solo home run during the fourth inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers during game three of the NLDS round for the 2025 MLB playoffs at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
The talk since Monday night’s loss has been about the controversy of Phillies manager Rob Thomson naming Aaron Nola the starting pitcher for game 3 in Los Angeles, down 0-2 in the series over Ranger Suarez, who by all metrics had a much better season, and just made sense in all ways.
Watching Nola warm up was reminiscent of the Nola of the past. There was something different in his eye, and the way he got through the Dodgers first, after a triple off the bat of Mookie Betts, which Brandon Marsh dove for and missed. Nola remained unfazed.
He got through 2 very solid innings and went a long way to calm the frazzled nerves of Phils fans.
When Ranger Suarez entered the game in the third, Tommy Edman greeted him with a solo homer, but after that, he tightened up and looked as even-keeled as ever.
Suarez did his part, going 5 innings, following up Nola’s solid 2. The 2 starters combined for 7 innings pitched with only 1 earned run. Suarez’s career ERA in the postseason drops to 1.28, and an unheard of 0.41 in postseason road games. This should come as no surprise, given his demeanor on the mound in the game. He is one of the most composed pitchers in the game, reminiscent of Phillies postseason heroes of the past such as Roy Halladay and Cliff Lee.
Thomson’s plan worked to absolute perfection. Nola and Suarez combined to throw an absolute gem, and the offense erupted for 8 runs, which is the most scored by a road playoff team since game 1 of the 2009 NLCS, which just so happened to be at Dodger Stadium.
Though the Dodgers scored a “garbage time” run in the 9th, the 8-2 score showed the world that the Phillies mean business, and there is still a pulse.
Though there are many positives in this huge win, Topper didn’t have to stress the bullpen too much. Orion Kerkering pitched well, so Jhoan Duran didn’t come in and can give more in game 4 if needed.
When asked what needs to change with the Phillies veteran 1-3 hitters in this series to can change their combined .095 average against the Dodgers, Thomson’s answer is very emblematic of the Phils when they have gone into offensive struggles this season: “I think those guys are trying to do a little too much right now instead of just being themselves, looking for base hits.”
For once, all Phils fans agree with Topper. Against a team like the Dodgers, they need to mimic the potent offense they had in August and September. Just like Thomson said, “the power will come.”
Tonight, that was the case.
After Edman hit a solo shot off of Suarez to start the third, when the Phils came up to bat in the bottom of the inning, Kyle Schwarber ended his 0-22 stint in the most cathartic way — he took his frustrations out on the ball with a 455 foot home run that hit the right field roof at Dodger Stadium off of Yoshinobu Yamamoto.
Directly after this, Bryce Harper hit a single by taking what Yamamoto gave him, didn’t try and kill the ball, shortened up, and did whatever it took to get on base. Alec Bohm drove him in and ended up on third with a single and a throwing error.
Marsh drove him home with a sac fly. They did what they haven’t done all postseason — manufactured runs. They stopped hunting the home run ball and instead worked the count and took what the Dodgers pitchers gave them, and it resulted in 3 runs. If there was ever any doubt that this was the best way to dethrone the Dodgers, this erased all doubt.
The Phils’ offense may have woken up, but took a nap after this. They had a chance in the 4th. Bryson Stott singled, Trea Turner did his part with a single, and after a double steal, the table was set for the Phils’ big hitters. Schwarber proceeded to strike out trying to make it two long balls. Harper came up trying to kill the ball and popped out. They went outside of the plan and tried to play hero ball like in games 1 and 2.
But that was until the 8th, when the Phils tacked on 5 runs. It started with J.T. Realmuto‘s home run, and they tacked on 2 more with small ball, a Turner 2 RBI single, culminating with a Schwarber 2-run home run, all 5 runs coming off of future Hall of Famer Clayton Kershaw.
The Phillies’ 1-4 hitters tonight were 9-16 with a double, 2 home runs, and 5 RBI. This felt cathartic, but it has been necessary all series. The Fightins put up 2 crooked numbers in the game, and if you want to beat LA, this is how you need to do it. Tonight’s game was the perfect mix of small ball and Schwarber and Realmuto bringing the thunder.
This is the kind of performance that is just what was needed; it shows the Phils that they can do it. But it also shows the Dodgers that there is a reason the team is called the Fightin’ Phillies. It proved exactly what Thomson said yesterday: tonight, the 1-4 were just themselves, and the hitting was contagious. His decisions have been questionable at best in this series, but tonight he pulled all the right switches, and the top 4 hitters responded the way you expect champions to, hitting the ball and letting the power come to them.
You could feel the urgency, but it didn’t manifest in desperation; the urgency was channeled into keeping their foot on the throttle all game, and not settling. Only a perfect throw from Kike Hernandez kept it from being 9-2. I love the aggressiveness, and that we live to see another game. Another chapter was written in the playoff rivalry between the Phillies and Dodgers.
The Phillies look to keep it rolling with Cristopher Sanchez tomorrow, taking on Tyler Glasnow, and keep “1hatever the hell it takes” going.
Steve Hamilton
Steve may have been born in California, but don’t let that fool you. After dating a local woman and clashing with her and her family over sports for decades, he has an affinity for Philly sports. Balancing love for Philly and Bay Area sports teams may seem impossible, we can all agree that the Cowboys are the true evil.
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