• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers
• Game Tracker

Phillies continue impressive road trip, hold off Dodgers

Aug 9, 2011 - 6:27 AM Los Angeles, CA (Sports Network) - Ryan Howard and Jimmy Rollins each drove in two runs and Roy Halladay became the National League's first 15-game winner, as the Philadelphia Phillies held off the Los Angeles Dodgers, 5-3, in the opener of a three-game series.

Halladay (15-4) gave up one run on nine hits over 6 1/3 innings to pick up his fourth straight win. The right-hander struck out four and walked two.

Shane Victorino had two doubles and a solo homer for Philadelphia, which improved to 7-1 on a 10-game road trip. On Monday, Victorino was suspended three games and fined for his role in a benches-clearing incident Friday against the Giants. The Phillies center fielder has elected to appeal the suspension.

Juan Rivera, Aaron Miles and Casey Blake each had an RBI for the Dodgers, who started a six-game homestand on Monday.

Hiroki Kuroda (7-14) allowed four runs -- three earned -- on nine hits over 6 1/3 innings to set a career-high in defeats. He struck out four and walked one.

"I think we gave ourselves a chance," Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said. "We got some big hits, but just couldn't get the runs."

The Phillies got on the board in the first inning. Victorino hit a one-out double to right-center field, moved to third on Chase Utley's groundout and scored on Howard's infield single.

Philadelphia tacked on two more runs in the second. Carlos Ruiz led off with a single and advanced to third when Michael Martinez reached first on first baseman James Loney's throwing error. Rollins followed with a two-run double to right-center field.

The Dodgers finally got to Halladay in the fifth. Jamey Carroll singled to right and Kuroda reached on a bunt single. A sacrifice bunt moved the runners up a base. Blake followed with an RBI groundout.

Los Angeles failed to score after putting its first two men on in the sixth. Matt Kemp and Miles singled to begin the frame. Right fielder Hunter Pence made a nice diving catch on a James Loney liner, Rod Barajas flied out and Carroll struck out looking to leave runners on first and second.

The Phillies added a run in the seventh. Victorino hit a one-out double down the right-field line. Scott Elbert took over for Kuroda on the mound. After Utley flied out, Howard hit an RBI double to right-center field for a 4-1 lead.

The Dodgers continued to leave men on base in the seventh. Tony Gwynn singled and Blake walked with one out. Antonio Bastardo came in from the bullpen and got Andre Ethier to ground into a double play.

LA finally got some clutch hits in the eighth. Michael Stutes gave up a leadoff single to Kemp, who stole second and scored on Miles' base hit to left. Miles went to second on Stutes' throwing error and advanced to third on a Loney fly out.

Brad Lidge came in from the bullpen and walked Rod Barajas. Pinch-Hitter Rivera followed with an RBI single to left to make it 4-3. Dee Gordon hit a grounder to second baseman Utley, who was run over by Rivera. The umpires called Rivera out for interference. A wild pitch put men on second and third. Gwynn put down a nice bunt that Lidge picked up with his glove and tossed to first for the final out.

Victorino added a key insurance run with a homer off Mike MacDougal in the ninth.

"We found a way to scratch out some runs early," Victorino said. "Anytime you can add an extra run it's great."

Ryan Madson worked around a leadoff single in the home ninth to record his 20th save of the season.

Game Notes

Philadelphia won two of three games versus the Dodgers in early June.... Halladay improved 4-1 lifetime against LA...Kuroda fell to 2-2 in his career during the regular season against the Phillies. He entered Monday's game with a 0.84 ERA versus Philly...Rivera extended his hitting streak to 10 games...The Phillies optioned pitcher Scott Mathieson to Triple-A Lehigh Valley...Philadelphia third baseman Placido Polanco left Saturday's game in San Francisco because of soreness in his left hip. He flew to Philadelphia on Sunday for a MRI exam on Monday. The results revealed a chronic sports hernia injury. He will receive an injection Tuesday and be evaluated Friday...The Dodgers went 2-for-13 with runners in scoring position and stranded 11.