The Dodgers hoped to avoid the series sweep, and for the second night straight played in front of a nationally televised crowd, but ended up being shut out by the Phillies and are now three games behind Arizona.
The Dodgers put up 13 hits, three more than the Phillies, so it seems they would be able to touch home at least ONCE…wrong. Apparently Torre’s scheme to cancel BP backfired, as his 3-4 combo of Kent and Manny went a combined 1 for 9 and the team left 14 men on base, nine in scoring position. Kemp and Martin each had three hit nights and Ethier and Berroa had two apiece.
Chad Billingsley had a quality start, giving up three runs through seven, but lacked run support and wound up taking the loss. Chan Ho Park gave the Phillies two more runs before Tanyon Sturtze threw an inning.
The tough four-game series with the Phillies is now over, and hopefully will be forgotten as the Dodgers head to D.C. to open a three-gamer with the Nationals. The Dodgers have lost seven of nine, but hope to gain a few W’s and chase down the Dbacks in this series against the Nats, who sport the worst record in baseball. Derek Lowe will take the mound tonight and face Collin Balester. Balester is 2-6 with a 4.99 ERA, and is 0-3 in his last three starts.
