Philadelphia — Dodgers catcher Dalton Rushing ended an 0-for-19 hitting drought with a home run and a double in Los Angeles’s 9-5 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies on Tuesday night at Citizens Bank Park.
Rushing broke through in the fifth inning against Phillies right-hander Aaron Nola, who had been challenging him with a series of off-speed pitches. After working a full count, Rushing connected on a fastball and sent it to left-center field, just short of the concourse. The blast not only provided the Dodgers with their first run of the game but also marked Rushing’s first hit in over two weeks and across nine games.
“It’s pretty obvious I’ve been fighting recently,” Rushing said afterward. “The more you try in this game to fight out of a hole, the deeper you dig yourself in a hole. I just trusted myself today.” His patience at the plate and ability to foul off several pitches before capitalizing on Nola’s mistake showed a disciplined approach that contributed to the breakthrough.
Since early June, Rushing has been starting behind the plate for Los Angeles following the placement of regular catcher Will Smith on the injured list with a neck injury. Smith’s timeline for return remains uncertain, meaning Rushing will continue to serve in a key role for the Dodgers.
Manager Dave Roberts emphasized Rushing’s ongoing adjustment to the starting role. “He’s learning on the run, learning on the job, thrust into it,” Roberts said. “The last couple weeks, some of the struggles have helped him, and I think they’ll help him down the road, whether it’s at bat, behind the plate, and staying with game plans and things like that. So yeah, there’s a learning curve, but this is going to be good for him.”
Rushing’s performance contributed significantly to the Dodgers’ offensive output, which featured multiple contributors as Los Angeles secured a solid road victory over the Phillies. The win moves the Dodgers forward with Smith sidelined, relying on Rushing to fill the void while continuing to develop in his increased role.