Rushing, Muncy, and Edman back the invincible Eric Lauer, who has won 8 in a row – Dodgers Digest

After yesterday’s close and tense came throughout that ended amusingly, the Dodgers and Phillies played one that was more like the first game, as it was tight early but a team ran away with it late. Thankfully, that team was the Dodgers this time, as they rode a late offensive explosion to cruise to a 9-5 victory. Eric Lauer has now won all eight appearances he’s made for the Dodgers. Unreal.

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Eric Lauer came into today with a 3.12 ERA as a Dodger and has won all seven appearances he’s made thanks to the bats usually being very supportive of him.

He started today in style with a behind-the-back play on a comebacker, second time he’s done that, actually.

Eric Lauer with a behind-the-back play on a comebacker. Man. pic.twitter.com/5e3vYQMRzu

— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) July 22, 2026

However, a single followed that, and with two outs Alec Bohm continued to stay hot with a two-run homer to make it 2-0 Phillies just like that in the 1st.

Bohm Run ? pic.twitter.com/JZsef5xUCH

— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) July 22, 2026

Lauer then did what he usually does and settled in, surrendering just a walk in the 2nd and getting a clean frame in both the 3rd and 4th. He got some help in the latter inning with a Max Muncy gem.

Max Muncy with a gem to save a double. pic.twitter.com/R8Jos3EBqi

— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) July 22, 2026

He was keeping them in it, and that paid off.

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Aaron Nola has been one of the worst regular starting pitchers in baseball this year, so it somehow makes complete sense that he started by retiring eight Dodgers in a row.

Thankfully, Dalton Rushing battled back from an 0-2 hole to work it full and then crushed a homer to center to make it 2-1 Phillies in the 3rd.

Dalton Rushing homers to center cut the lead in half. pic.twitter.com/v8cUMKr4rL

— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) July 22, 2026

They tried to rally again in the 4th after a one-out double but stranded that chance, and perhaps this was all a sign that Nola was about to capitulate.

Indeed, a one-out infield single by Teoscar Hernandez and a conventional single by Tommy Edman left them cornered in the 5th. And it was again Rushing who came through with a double down the line in right to score two and give the Dodgers a 3-2 lead.

After homering for their other run, Dalton Rushing comes through with another two-strike hit by ripping a double to right that scores two and gives them the lead. Credit to Rushing, who got down 0-2 both times and battled back. pic.twitter.com/a6rJKtmweI

— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) July 22, 2026

After an intentional walk to Shohei Ohtani, they seemed to have a chance to add on, but Andy Pages grounded into a double play to kill the chance.

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That seemed a bit important when Lauer started the 5th by giving up a homer to Bryan De La Cruz that glanced off Pages’ glove to tie things up at 3-3.

WELCOME TO PHILADELPHIA, BRYAN DE LA CRUZ! pic.twitter.com/qVnE3KrUaj

— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) July 23, 2026

A Bryson Stott double followed that and the Phillies looked like they were in business, but they popped up a sac bunt (with Dalton adding emphasis), Stott ran into an out at third, and infield pop ended it quickly. Orel Hershiser and Joe Davis were left exasperated.

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At risk of Jomboy using this but he has driven in three today and I don’t give a shit. https://t.co/C84ocN37qM pic.twitter.com/89M6MbTYOF

— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) July 23, 2026

Stott runs into an out at third, which leaves even Joe and Orel exasperated, lol. pic.twitter.com/bZA2iIpGRv

— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) July 23, 2026

Orel in particular just doesn’t care.

He doesn’t give a fuck anymore. https://t.co/FjoSqa5vMd pic.twitter.com/VUdlc1YPto

— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) July 23, 2026

Lauer himself came back out for the 6th to get one out, striking out Bryce Harper for the third time.

I mean, not great, but he did his job yet again: 5.1 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 1 BB, 5 K, 91 Pitches.

Eric Lauer strikes out five and continues to roll along. pic.twitter.com/p1qNhQeDL8

— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) July 23, 2026

Then Dave Roberts turned to the pen, starting with Brock Stewart getting the last two outs of that frame.

Anyway, going back a bit the Dodgers made that chance sting off Nola, as Freddie Freeman started the 6th with a double and Max Muncy followed by smashing his 20th homer of the year to make it 5-3 Dodgers.

Max Muncy moves past Ron Cey on the all-time Dodgers homer list, smashing his third go-ahead homer of the second-half already. pic.twitter.com/46rnSdjDWs

— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) July 23, 2026

Nola got just one out before their pen entered and got out of the 6th for him. After a lead-off single in the 7th, their pen faced the minimum thanks to double play.

They finally faltered a bit in the 8th, as Andy Pages started with a single, stole second, Freddie also walked, and then a double steal was executed to put a pair in scoring position. After a pop foul for an out, Mookie Betts also drew a walk to load things up, and Kyle Tucker came through with a sac fly to make it 6-3 Dodgers.

Thank you, Kyle. Sac fly after Pages singles and steals two bases. pic.twitter.com/Vgw4nbbEZr

— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) July 23, 2026

That wasn’t the end of it, though, as Teoscar Hernandez drew a walk to re-load things and then Tommy Edman came up and stayed hot with a bases-clearing triple to make it 9-3 Dodgers before it ended.

Tommy Edman unloads the bases with a triple and the game is blown open. He has been massive since returning. pic.twitter.com/kTlgD9Md79

— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) July 23, 2026

They managed a single in the 9th but nothing further.

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Back to the Dodgers, Jack Dreyer got the 7th, and he surprisingly cruised through it showcasing his new velocity. Next up and now with a big lead was Will Klein in the 8th, who did what you really can’t in that situation and walked two batters. He then gave up a single to score a run and make it 9-4 Dodgers, then Edman saved further damage with a nice sliding play.

Tommy does it all. pic.twitter.com/5eVfaqXbNF

— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) July 23, 2026

Edgardo Henriquez then closed the game out in the 9th, but not before giving up a run on a one-out single, a defensive indifference, and another single to make it 9-5.

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This could’ve been very bad.