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Kershaw hopes to bounce back against Phillies

May 23, 2014 - 2:49 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - Clayton Kershaw's last start didn't go as planned and he will try to erase those painful memories when the Los Angeles Dodgers begin a three-game series against the Philadelphia Phillies Friday night.

Kershaw was trounced by the Arizona Diamondbacks in Saturday's 18-7 loss, as he lasted only 1 2/3 innings -- the second-shortest start of his career -- and was done in by a seven-run second inning. Kershaw pitched just 1 1/3 innings against Milwaukee on May 4, 2010.

"I just got hit hard tonight. I don't know why," Kershaw said following the loss. "I left some balls up and they got hits. I can't really make excuses saying they found holes. They hit balls hard and they hit balls in gaps. I just got hit hard tonight."

The left-hander and reigning National League Cy Young Award winner is 2-1 in four starts to go along with a 4.43 earned run average. Kershaw, who took a line drive off his right shin in Wednesday's batting practice, has a 2-1 record in three road starts this season and will face the Phillies for the 10th time in his career. He hasn't performed well in the first nine starts in this series, going 1-4 with a 3.70 ERA (56 IP).

Kershaw, though, threw eight scoreless innings of three-hit ball against the Phillies last Aug. 17 in a 5-0 win and struck out eight with one walk. He is 1-2 at Citizens Bank Park in five career starts.

Los Angeles will begin the final leg of its nine-game road trip (3-3) and failed in an attempt of a three-game sweep of the New York Mets with Thursday's 5-3 loss. Zack Greinke gave up three runs -- one earned -- in five innings for the no-decision and Chris Perez gave up two crucial runs in 1 1/3 innings of relief to suffer the loss.

"I threw a lot more strikes and the slider was the best it's been all year, but I have to get results," Perez said on LA's website. "I'll keep working. They're not going to take it easy on you. You can't feel sorry for yourself. It's a work in progress, but no excuses."

Justin Turner hit a two-run homer in the seventh inning for the Dodgers. Yasiel Puig had a hit in four at-bats and is batting .391 with eight homers, eight doubles, 17 runs and 27 RBI in his last 23 games.

Philadelphia is back home for the next 11 games against the Dodgers, Colorado Rockies and Mets, and just lost two of three at Miami.

The Phillies won the opener on Tuesday, but dropped the next two games, including Thursday afternoon's 4-3 decision. Marlon Byrd tied the game with a two-run homer during a three-run eighth inning, but the Marlins won it in the bottom of the ninth on Christian Yelich's RBI single to center field.

Phils reliever Jake Diekman allowed four straight singles and Marcell Ozuna crossed the plate to send the visitors back to south Philly losers in 10 of the last 15 contests.

"He's nasty -- a lefty that throws 97. You can't really do much off those guys," Yelich said of Diekman. "Especially a situation like that, you probably only get one pitch or two pitches to do something with. You try to keep it simple and not do too much."

Chase Utley had two hits and an RBI in defeat and Ryan Howard drove in the other run for the Phillies. Jimmy Rollins surpassed Richie Ashburn for second place on the club's all-time hit list. Rollins now has 2,218 hits, 16 behind Mike Schmidt for the franchise lead.

Roberto Hernandez gets the call for the Phillies Friday and last pitched on May 16 in a 3-0 loss to Cincinnati. He pitched an inning in relief of Kyle Kendrick, who lasted seven innings and gave up all three runs. Hernandez is 2-1 in 10 games (7 starts) with a 3.98 ERA this season and lost his only career start against the Dodgers last Aug. 10 as a member of Tampa Bay.

The Dodgers reached Hernandez four five runs in four innings of a 5-0 win.

Philadelphia won three of four meetings at Dodger Stadium from April 21-24 this season. The Dodgers are 6-1 in their last seven trips to Philly.