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Dodgers return home for four against the Phillies

Aug 11, 2008 - 1:25 PM Philadelphia (64-53) at LA Dodgers (58-59) 10:10 p.m. EDT

LOS ANGELES (Ticker) -- The Los Angeles Dodgers hope to leave their bullpen troubles on the road when they open a 10-game homestand against the Philadelphia Phillies on Monday.

The Dodgers were three outs away from victory in consecutive games against the San Francisco Giants, but a pair of two-run ninth innings doomed Los Angeles. Jonathan Broxton blew the lead in a 3-2, 10-inning loss on Saturday and Hong-Chih Kuo, who suffered his first loss since April 22, let the win escape in a 5-4 defeat on Sunday.

Derek Lowe (8-10, 4.10) looks to get Los Angeles back on track when he takes the mound against the National League East leaders. The righthander is coming off his worst start of the season. He lasted just 3 1/3 innings against the St. Louis Cardinals, getting pounded for eight runs and 13 hits. It was the most runs Lowe's allowed since he surrendered nine to the New York Mets in July 2007.

The Dodgers lost a chance to overtake the Arizona Diamondbacks (60-58) for first place in the NL West with their series loss to the Giants. They now find themselves 1 1/2 back of the frontrunning Diamondbacks.

Philadelphia starter Kyle Kendrick (10-5, 4.37) will be searching for wins in three consecutive starts for the first time this season. Last time out, the righthander threw six shutout innings, allowing four hits and five walks in a 5-0 Phillies win over the Florida Marlins.

The Phillies (64-53), who begin a seven-game road trip to Los Angeles and San Diego, hold a two-game lead over the New York Mets (62-55) and sit 3 1/2 ahead of the Marlins (62-56).