• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Dodgers look for series victory against Phillies

Aug 23, 2007 - 1:52 PM LA Dodgers (65-61) at Philadelphia (66-59) 1:05 pm EDT

PHILADELPHIA (Ticker) -- With the offense breaking out, the Los Angeles Dodgers will aim to take the rubber game of their three-game series with the Philadelphia Phillies on Thursday.

After the Phillies ace Cole Hamels was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a left elbow strain hours before he was scheduled to start on Wednesday, the Dodgers routed Philadelphia, 15-3, in the middle game of the series.

With the win, Los Angeles remained 2 1/2 games behind the San Diego Padres (67-58) in the National League wild card. Philadelphia slipped into second - one game back - after the Padres won, 7-5, against the New York Mets.

Juan Pierre had two hits and two runs scored, extending his current hit streak to 10 games. The speedy center fielder has not been caught stealing since July 3, setting a career high with 18 consecutive stolen bases.

Chad Billingsley (7-4, 3.63 ERA) will look to break out of a slump when he takes the mound for the Dodgers. The rookie righthander has lost four of his last five starts, including a pair of 1-0 setbacks.

Billingsley allowed three runs and eight hits in five innings in his last start, but did not factor in a 7-4 loss to the Colorado Rockies on Saturday.

Billingsley has faced the Phillies once this season, taking a no-decision in which he allowed four runs and seven hits in five innings of the Dodgers' 5-4 win on July 18.

Fabio Castro (0-0, 12.27) will be called up from Class AAA Ottawa to make his first major league start for Philadelphia. The 22-year-old has made five appearances out of the bullpen for the Phillies this season, pitching 3 2/3 innings while allowing five runs and four hits.

The 22-year-old lefthander also struck out five and walked five before being optioned to the minors on May 20.

The Phillies, who are five games behind the Mets in the NL East, have lost three of their last four games.