Phillies 7 - 3 Dodgers
Final
  for this game

Haren, Dodgers shoot for 4-game split with Phils

Apr 24, 2014 - 2:26 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - The Los Angeles Dodgers have a good chance at splitting a four-game set versus the Philadelphia Phillies with Dan Haren scheduled to pitch in Thursday's series finale from Chavez Ravine.

The Dodgers have won each of Haren's first four starts and has a 3-0 record to go along with a 2.16 earned run average in that time. Haren has struck out 20 batters and walked only two and was able to remain in the win column with a subpar performance in Saturday's 8-6 win over Arizona.

Haren allowed five runs, two of which were earned, and seven hits in 7 1/3 innings with five strikeouts and no walks. He has fanned at least five batters in three of his four appearances. The right-hander has struggled in his career against the Phillies and is just 1-4 in eight starts with a 5.09 ERA.

Dodgers starting pitcher Zack Greinke didn't seem to have a problem with Philadelphia in Wednesday's 5-2 win and he recorded 11 K's and one walk across seven innings of two-run ball. Greinke improved to 4-0 on the season, which is what Haren will try to do.

"It wasn't like everything was incredible, but I could use anything in or away at any time," Greinke said. "For the most part, throughout my whole career, I've had at least two pitches. There have been very few games where I don't have two pitches working, and usually there's three."

J.P. Howell threw a scoreless eighth inning and Kenley Jansen worked the ninth to register his eighth save. Jansen is second in the majors in saves.

Yasiel Puig was 2-for-4 with a triple and two RBI, Hanley Ramirez hit a solo homer and Juan Uribe added an RBI for the Dodgers, who lost the first two portions of this series and were 3-5 in the previous eight games.

Los Angeles has a 3-3 record on its 10-game homestand and will close the stay with three games versus Colorado this weekend. In other news, Dodgers ace left-hander Clayton Kershaw (back) is slated to start a rehab assignment Friday at Class A Advanced Rancho Cucamonga against Lancaster. He is expected to make 50 to 60 pitches, according to manager Don Mattingly.

Kershaw has been on the disabled list since his Opening Day start in Australia and tossed a bullpen session Monday.

The Phillies had a season-high three-game winning streak come to an end on Wednesday and 2008 World Series MVP Cole Hamels made his season debut after missing the start of the season with left shoulder inflammation.

"I knew what I was going into. It was just a matter of preparing myself just like I normally have and getting ready in a spring training-type setting. It was just a couple of weeks later than everybody else," Hamels said.

Hamels was dealt the loss after he permitted two runs in six innings and threw just 86 pitches before coming out. Hamels struck out five and walked one.

Jayson Nix homered and Ryan Howard drove in a run in defeat. Howard is batting .429 with two homers and seven RBI during a five-game hit streak.

The Phillies are 3-3 on a 10-game western swing and will visit Arizona next.

Kyle Kendrick gets the ball for the Phils in Thursday's finale at Dodger Stadium and is winless (0-2) on the season after four starts. Kendrick took the loss in a 3-1 decision at Colorado last Saturday, giving up three runs and six hits in seven innings. His ERA dropped to 3.60.

Kendrick has given up nine runs in his past three starts. In 12 career games (9 starts) against Los Angeles, the right-hander has a 5-6 record to go along with 6.84 ERA.

Los Angeles went 5-2 against the Phillies last season and won three of four games at Dodger Stadium from June 27-30.






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