Just as the Los Angeles Dodgers and Philadelphia Phillies were underway, the San Francisco Giants defeated the Miami Marlins. The Giants’ victory momentarily moved them a half-game ahead of the Dodgers for first place in the National League West. 0-11 with a walk entering fifht
Los Angeles entered play Wednesday afternoon with Scott Kazmir on the mound and looking to complete a three-game sweep. The Phillies countered with Jeremy Hellickson, who’d pitch well of late.
Cesar Hernandez hit the first pitch of the game over Chase Utley’s head for a leadoff single. Kazmir then got a strikeout and 6-4-3 double play ball to end the inning.
Josh Reddick and Corey Seager hit back-to-back singles with one out in the bottom of the first. Adrian Gonzalez had luck on his side as he hit a ball off the first base umpire, resulting in an RBI double.
Hellickson walked the bases loaded with two outs but was able to escape the jam without allowing more runs to score, although it took him 31 pitches to do so. Kazmir worked around a one-out walk in the second inning to keep the Dodgers’ slim lead intact.
Hellickson singled with one out in the third, and Aaron Altherr doubled down the left field line with two outs. Kazmir induced a grounder to end the inning and keep the Phillies scoreless. Their next baserunner came on a Tyler Goeddel leadoff walk in the fifth.
But Freddy Galvis fouled out, Hellickson struck out after failing to get a bunt down, and Hernandez also struck out. Meanwhile, Hellickson continued to cruise through the game. He threw a 1-2-3 fifth inning to give him 13 consecutive batters retired since walking Joc Pederson in the first.
Kazmir continued to match Hellickson’s effort, setting the Phillies down in order in the sixth. Elvis Araujo took over in the bottom half of the inning, with Hellickson being removed due to back tightness.
Reddick slapped a leadoff single to left field, then the Dodgers held their breath as Seager was hit by a pitch on his right wrist. He dropped down in pain and was checked on by head athletic trainer Nate Lucero before remaining in the game.
Nothing came of having two on with no outs, as a pair of fly outs followed, and the Dodgers ran themselves out of the inning with Seager breaking for second and Reddick ultimately getting caught in a rundown.
A Carlos Ruiz leadoff single and Jimmy Paredes walk marked the end of the road for Kazmir in the seventh. Grant Dayton struck out the first batter faced but then gave up a three-run homer to Galvis. The hit was the first Dayton allowed in his fourth career Major League appearance.
After doubling with one out in the bottom of the seventh, Howie Kendrick scored on Rob Segedin’s base hit to center field. Josh Fields came on in the eighth bookended a 1-2-3 inning with strikeouts.
In his first at-bat since being hit on the wrist, Seager doubled with one out in bottom of the eighth. Grandal kept the inning alive by drawing a two-out walk, but both runners were stranded as Galvis made a nice sliding stop and throw on a Pederson grounder.
Kenley Jansen issued a leadoff walk to Ruiz, who then stole second base. Jansen struck out Paredes, then gave up an infield single to pinch-hitter Odubel Herrera, who also swiped a bag. That prompted Jansen to intentionally walk Galvis.
Pinch-hitter Ryan Howard cleared the bases with a double, extending the Phillies’ lead to 6-2. Jansen struck out another batter but gave the ball to Josh Ravin to finish out the inning. Jeanmar Gomez allowed a leadoff single and issued a two-out walk in the bottom of the ninth before shutting the door.
