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Phillies try to continue recent success vs. Dodgers

Aug 24, 2008 - 6:45 AM LA Dodgers (65-64) at Philadelphia (70-59)

PHILADELPHIA (Ticker) -- The Los Angeles Dodgers used a four-game home sweep last week to ruin the Philadelphia's trip to Southern California. The Phillies are halfway through returning the favor.

Philadelphia attempts to continue its recent offensive surge on Sunday when it meets the Dodgers.

The Dodgers welcomed the Phillies to Chavez Ravine last week, starting Philadelphia's seven-game road trip with four straight losses.

The Phillies recovered in time to take two of three from the Padres before returning home to win two of three from the Nationals. That momentum has carried over into this series, as Philadelphia has handed consecutive losses to Greg Maddux and rookie Clayton Kershaw while outscoring Los Angeles, 17-3.

With their latest triumph, the Phillies moved within 1 1/2 games of the first-place Mets (72-58), who lost on Saturday to Houston.

In hopes that Philadelphia can win three straight games in a series over the Dodgers for the first time since May 18-20, 2004, it will turn to Joe Blanton (1-0, 4.50 ERA). The righthander took his third consecutive no-decision in Tuesday's 5-4 victory over Washington despite permitting four runs and eight hits over five innings.

Los Angeles, which fell three games back of Arizona (68-61) in the NL West with its fourth loss in five games, will counter with Hiroki Kuroda (7-9, 3.97). The righthander took the loss in Tuesday's 8-3 loss to Colorado after surrendering four runs and six hits over six frames.