In a series between the top two teams in the National League, the Philadelphia Phillies emerged victorious, winning two of three games against the Los Angeles Dodgers this week. The Phillies won the final game of the series on Wednesday, 9-4.

Philadelphia took control of the game with a decisive five-run sixth inning, although Los Angeles would argue that an erroneous obstruction call changed the game and ultimately the series.

Either way, the Phillies were the winners in what was undoubtedly an important NL matchup, and that’s a bright spot for Philadelphia in a shaky stretch since the All-Star break. After this series, Philadelphia is 6-12. That’s a far cry from the high level of play the team showed in the first half of the season, although they still hold the best record in the National League at 68-46 before a four-game series at the Arizona Diamondbacks.

After the Phillies’ recent win, manager Rob Thomson was aware of the importance of this series for his team.

“Well, it’s good to finally win a series because we’ve wanted to do that for a while,” he said. “We’ve been playing really good baseball lately and we’ve been playing against a really good team, so it’s good to come out of here with a series win.”

“I thought we played pretty well even in Seattle – at least at the end of the series. So, yeah, hopefully we can get back to where we were.”

Philadelphia’s most recent series win before Wednesday was a home victory against the Dodgers on July 11. Losses since then include a win against the New York Yankees and two of three losses to the weaker Oakland Athletics.

Kyle Schwarber, who had a fantastic game to close the series with three home runs and seven RBIs, said the game was more meaningful than the highlight of his career.

“I mean, I’m sure we’ll remember it, but I think the most important thing is that we win a series there against a really tough opponent and then head into another big series in Arizona,” Schwarber said. “So it’s going to be important that we keep the momentum on our side.”

These Diamondbacks (63-52) are just three games behind the Dodgers in the NL West. After playing the Snakes, the Phillies have games against the Nationals and Marlins before playing a Braves team firmly in the race for the NL wild card; Atlanta is eight games behind Philadelphia in the NL East.

The next few series should not only give Philadelphia a chance to extend its lead over first place in the NL, but also to gain momentum for the final stretch of the regular season.

Dodgers’ lead in NL West shrinks, but Mookie Betts expected back soon

The Dodgers also haven’t played at their level since the All-Star break. LA won the first two series and lost just one of seven games. After that, however, the Dodgers lost three of four series. This latest series loss was especially bitter considering that, according to the Dodgers, a controversial umpiring decision played a large role in the loss.

An interference whistle early in the sixth inning on Wednesday ultimately led to Philadelphia taking the lead it would hold for the rest of the game. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, whose initial appeal of the whistle earned him an ejection from third-base umpire Hunter Wendelstedt, said the whistle changed the entire course of the game and the Series as a whole.

“It was a blatant mistake,” Roberts said afterwards.

The missed decision and the loss will not get over the Dodgers as they continue to struggle for wins while dealing with injuries to many of their star players. Next up for them is a series against the Pirates starting Friday before facing another NL division leader, the Milwaukee Brewers, next week. This matchup is significant because it is a chance for the Dodgers to make a statement about their standing in the NL and, perhaps more importantly for their postseason aspirations, Mookie Betts is expected to return early in the series. Betts has been out of the lineup since June 16, when he was hit by a pitch that broke his left hand.

The return of a former MVP will undoubtedly give the Dodgers a huge boost. Before his injury, Betts had a batting average of .304 with 10 home runs and nine stolen bases.

Max Muncy’s return is still a long way off for the Dodgers. The two-time All-Star has been out since May with an oblique injury and is scheduled to begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Oklahoma City this weekend.

As for the pitcher, Yoshinobu Yamamoto threw 30 pitches in the bullpen on Tuesday afternoon, according to the AP. The rookie starting pitcher is battling right triceps tightness and has been out of action since June. The timetable for his return is unclear.

With the recent return of longtime Dodgers star Clayton Kershaw and the signing of starter Jack Flaherty from the Tigers at the trade deadline, Yamamoto’s return would bolster an impressive but frequently injured group of starting pitchers that also includes Gavin Stone and Tyler Glasnow.

For the Dodgers, health will be the most important factor as they look to finish the regular season as one of the top teams in the NL. If they finish in the top two spots in the league, they can rest while the wild card round is played. That rest could be crucial in getting all of their guys ready for the long postseason run they’ve been aiming for since last winter.