Recap: Philadelphia vs. Los Angeles
Sports Network | August 23, 2008
Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - Pat Burrell had three hits, including a three-run homer, and matched his career-high with five runs batted in, as the Philadelphia Phillies thumped the Los Angeles Dodgers, 9-2, in the second of a four-game set from Citizens Bank Park.
Ryan Howard and Shane Victorino each knocked in two runs for the Phillies, who have won five of their last six contests. Chase Utley finished 2-for-3 with two walks and three runs scored.
Cole Hamels (11-8) tossed seven solid innings, allowing two runs on five hits to pick up his second straight victory following a career-long, seven-game winless streak. He struck out five and did not walk a batter.
Russell Martin clubbed a two-run homer for Los Angeles, which has dropped four of its last five games.
Clayton Kershaw (2-4), the youngest player in the majors, was saddled with the loss after he gave up six runs on seven hits in four-plus innings of work. The 20-year-old left-hander struck out five and walked two.
The Phillies raced out to a 3-0 lead before an out had been recorded in the first. Jimmy Rollins was hit by a pitch and Utley followed with a single before Burrell drilled an offering from Kershaw off the left field foul pole for his 30th home run. Los Angeles, though, came back with two runs in the third on Martin's 12th homer.
Philadelphia created some separation with a three-spot in the fifth. Rollins singled and Utley walked to begin the inning. Burrell then lofted a seemingly harmless fly ball to center, but Matt Kemp lost it in the sun and Burrell was credited with an RBI double. Howard continued the barrage with a two-run double to the gap in right-center for a 6-2 Phillies lead.
The Phillies added three more runs in the sixth. Jason Johnson, who relieved Kershaw in the previous inning, hit Hamels to open the frame. One out later, Utley and Burrell stroked consecutive singles to score Hamels. Joe Beimel was then summoned from the bullpen and walked Howard to load the bases for Victorino, whose broken-bat blooper gave the Phillies a 9-2 advantage.
Howard (34), Utley (31) and Burrell (30) became the third trio in Phillies history to hit at least 30 homers in one season. Last year, Howard (47), Burrell (30) and Rollins (30) accomplished the feat and, in 1929, it was done by Chuck Klein (43), Lefty O'Doul (32) and Don Hurst (31)...The Phillies have recorded an extra-base hit in 54 straight games...Before the game, the Phillies placed outfielder Geoff Jenkins on the 15-day disabled list with a right hip flexor strain and purchased the contract of infielder Andy Tracy from Triple-A Lehigh Valley...Los Angeles' Hiroki Kuroda (7-9) and Philadelphia's Joe Blanton (1-0) are scheduled to start on Sunday.
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