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Hamels, Kershaw duel for second time in three starts

Aug 23, 2008 - 10:18 AM LA Dodgers (65-63) at Philadelphia (69-59) 3:55 pm EDT

PHILADELPHIA (Ticker) -- The fact that the Philadelphia Phillies are coming off their highest-scoring game this month should be music to the next pitcher's ears. Cole Hamels, however, has heard this song before.

The Phillies hope to back Hamels with some rare run support when they meet the Los Angeles Dodgers on Saturday.

Philadelphia ruined the return of Greg Maddux in a Dodger uniform in the series opener on Friday on its way to an 8-1 triumph - the team's best offensive showing in August.

It's an offensive display that Hamels (10-8, 3.22 ERA) has not seen in some time as he has been provided with no more three runs of support in any of his last eight starts. In fact, he is getting 3.23 runs of support per game for the season.

However, the 24-year-old lefthander ended a seven-game winless slide in his last start and reached the 10-win plateau for the second time in as many seasons in Sunday's 2-1 victory over San Diego after allowing one run and seven hits over eight frames.

The Dodgers will counter with Clayton Kershaw (2-3, 3.59), who has been provided less margin for error than Hamels. The 20-year-old lefthander recorded his ninth no-decision in 14 career starts in Sunday's 7-5 win over Milwaukee, despite allowing one run and eight hits over six innings.

Los Angeles has backed its top pitching prospect with 27 runs in 2008, frequently wasting the efforts of Kershaw, who has yielded three runs or less in 11 of his outings.