Phillies muster just enough offense to avoid sweep

By: Rebecca Serad, Sports Talk Philly Staff

Final: Philadelphia Phillies 5, Los Angeles Dodgers 4 ❖ Attendance: 29,187

Philadelphia, PA — The pitching staff of the Philadelphia Phillies (57-65) has had their share of struggles lately, especially in this series against the Los Angeles Dodgers (67-53). The starting pitchers had pitched fewer than six innings for eight consecutive games prior to tonight's match-up. The streak ended thanks to Phillies starter Jerad Eickhoff. He allowed four runs on seven hits over six innings to pick up the no decision. After he left the game, the bullpen compiled three hitless innings to keep the Dodgers from adding to their run total.

On the offensive front, the Phillies battled back after Eickhoff allowed three runs in the top of the first. Two homers were hit into the ivy in dead center field, by Ryan Howard and Maikel Franco respectively. Last minute line-up addition Taylor Featherston contributed with a double and RBI. Featherston started in place of Cesar Hernandez. After the game, manager Pete Mackanin said that Hernandez fouled a ball off his foot four days ago and it was feeling sore. Mackanin said that the second baseman should return to the line-up tomorrow.

WP: Michael Mariot (1-0, 4.05 ERA) ❖ LP: Grant Dayton (0-1, 2.70 ERA) ❖ SV: Jeanmar Gomez (32)

Hub: Game Summary ❖ Starting Pitchers ❖ At the Plate ❖ Bullpen ❖ What's Next

Game Summary

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
LAD	3	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	4	7	1
PHI	0	1	0	2	0	0	2	0	X	5	9	0

For the third game in a row, the game began with a loud ovation for former Phillie, and current Dodgers lead-off hitter, Chase Utley. He sparked the away team's offense with a single to right-center. Shortstop Corey Seager followed with a single of his own to put runners on first and second with no outs. Justin Turner smacked a homer just over the left field wall. However, that's all that the Dodgers would get in the inning, as Phillies righty Jerad Eickhoff retired the next three batters in order.

The Phillies fought back in the bottom of the second. With one out, Cameron Rupp singled to center. Jimmy Paredes hit what seemed like a surefire double play ball to Utley. However, his flip to second went past the bag and the runners moved up to second and third, respectively. The play was ruled a fielder's choice with an error going to Utley for allowing the runners to advance. Aaron Altherr came to the plate and hit a single to center to knock in Rupp. This put runners on first and third, but that wouldn't last for long. Altherr stole second during the at-bat of second baseman Taylor Featherston. He popped out in foul territory for the second out of the inning. Eickhoff grounded out for the final out and the Phils were unable to take advantage of the two runners in scoring position.

In the top of the fourth inning, the Dodgers were able to add on to their lead. With one out, Yasmani Grandal homered to right field for the Dodgers' fourth run. It was Grandal's fifth home-run against the Phillies this season. Eickhoff was able to retire both Joc Pederson and Howie Kendrick to end the inning.

The bottom of the frame brought some offense courtesy of the Phillies. Ryan Howard slammed his nineteenth homer of the year over the wall in center field. Two outs later, Altherr singled to right field. Featherston came to the plate and doubled into the left-center field gap to score Altherr and put the Phillies one run behind the Dodgers. Featherston ended up being stranded on second after Eickhoff struck out for the final out of the inning.

The Phillies threatened in the bottom of the fifth inning. With two outs, Maikel Franco doubled into the left-center field gap. Dodgers pitcher Ross Stripling seemed to be pitching around Howard after his home-run the previous inning and that led to the Phillies first baseman being walked. Cameron Rupp also walked to load the bases. Unfortunately, Paredes struck out and the offense was unable to capitalize on the two out rally.

In the bottom of the seventh, the Phillies finally got the big hit when they needed it. Freddy Galvis led off the inning with a single. Franco came to the plate and homered into the the ivy over the center field wall to give the Phils the lead. After a fly out by Howard, former Phillie Joe Blanton came into the game for the Dodgers and got the final two outs of the inning. The two-run homer ended up securing a victory for the Phils, as the bullpen held the Dodgers hitless the rest of the game.

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