Dodgers complete four-game sweep with 8-3 victory over Phillies

L.A. has the best record in MLB at 37-21

Los Angeles rallied from an early 3-0 deficit to post an 8-3 win and complete a four-game sweep at Philadelphia on Thursday.

The Phillies (28-31), who have lost six straight games, threatened in the first two innings before pushing across the game’s first three runs in the third.

Cole Hamels and Jimmy Rollins produced consecutive singles to start the frame. The duo moved into scoring position when L.A. rightfielder Alex Castellanos made a throwing error after fielding Rollins’ hit. Hamels crossed the plate when Hunter Pence hit into a fielder’s choice to give Philly a 1-0 advantage. Rollins moved 90 feet away on another throwing error—this one by third baseman Elian Herrera on Pence’s groundball.

Ty Wiggington’s sac fly made it 2-0. Then, following a walk to Shane Victorino, Mike Fontenot delivered a single to extend the lead to 3-0.

After managing just one run in the first three innings, the Dodgers got one back in the fourth.

L.A. had runners on the corners after Elian Herrera and Juan Rivera reached on back-to-back errors. Jerry Hairston, Jr. proceeded to produce a sac fly that made it 3-1.

The Dodgers continued to get to Hamels two innings later when James Loney, Tony Gwynn, and Matt Treanor delivered consecutive run-scoring singles to propel L.A. into the lead at 4-3.

Then, L.A. took control of the contest with a four-spot in the ninth off Phillies’ reliever Chad Qualls.

Treanor, Abreu, and Gordon reached on three straight singles. Treanor scored when Herrera reached on another error. Andre Ethier drove in two with a double before Hairston Jr.’s single made it 8-3.

Hairston Jr., who went 2-for-4 with two RBI, was one of four Dodgers to finish with two hits.

Aaron Harang, who settled down after a shaky start, allowed three runs—all earned—on eights over six innings to improve to 5-3.

Mike Fontenot was 3-for-4 to lead three Phillies with multi-hit games.

Cole Hamels (8-3) suffered his third loss of the season after giving up four runs—three earned—on six hits in six innings. He struck out six and walked just one.

By: Thomas "Bubba" Rosenbaum
MLBCenter.com Staff Writer