The Los Angeles Dodgers and Philadelphia Phillies open up a three-game series Monday night at Citizens Bank Park
Los Angeles Dodgers at Philadelphia Phillies
Los Angeles has won three consecutive series after Sunday’s 9-6 win in Cincinnati and now head off for three games at Citizens Bank Park. Outfielder Matt Kemp went 7-for-11 with three homers, eight RBIs and four runs in the series, which led the Reds to walk him three times in the series finale. “They were trying to throw off the plate and not trying to come in too much after the first couple at-bats,” said Kemp. The Dodgers are 5-2 in their past seven games, sitting four games under .500 for the season. It’s actually a solid standing when considering the club has seen 13 players spend time on the disabled list this season. Los Angeles is 11-6 versus left-handed starters this season and 62-56 the last three years.
Dodgers starting pitcher Ted Lilly is 4-4 with a 4.22 ERA in 12 starts this season and struck out a season-high eight batters and allowed two runs on four hits over seven innings in the club’s 8-2 win over the Rockies Tuesday. The left-hander will be on the road for the seventh time this season, entering with an even 1-1 mark and 4.54 ERA, as opponents are hitting .307 against him. Lilly has struggled in his career against Philadelphia, posting a 1-4 record and 5.91 ERA in six lifetime starts, but defeated them on July 16 at Wrigley Field in his only outing last year. He has gone 1-2 with a 7.16 ERA in three career starts at Citizens Bank Park.
Philadelphia avoided a fifth straight loss with yesterday’s 7-3 win in Pittsburgh, as its four top hitters came through with nine hits in 19 at-bats. “We had some guys on base and we ended up knocking seven of them in,” said Phillies manager Charlie Manuel. “It was good to see that. Utley had three hits and he’s starting to swing better.” The offense was also missing one of its key players in leadoff man Jimmy Rollins, as the shortstop sat out the victory with a bruised knee and is considered day-to-day. Philadelphia went 4-5 on its 10-day road trip and are looking forward to returning to Citizens Bank Park, where the squad has compiled a 19-10 mark. The team is also 13-5 versus left-handed starters.
Phillies starting pitcher Cliff Lee has a losing 4-5 mark and 3.94 ERA in 12 starts this season and enters off one of his worst starts of the year. The left-hander surrendered a season-high-tying six runs and seven hits over 5 1/3 innings in a 10-2 road defeat in Washington. He has allowed 10 earned runs and 17 hits over his last 13 1/3 frames. June has been a special month for Lee, tallying an impressive 20-6 record and 3.53 ERA in 39 starts. He was 4-1 with a 1.76 ERA in six starts during the month last year. He will be making just his second career start versus the Dodgers, giving up a single run and six hits over 7 1/3 innings at Dodger Stadium in 2008.
Bettors will likely back the Dodgers due to their 5-0 record in Lilly’s last five starts with five days rest, while the Phillies are 6-1 in their last seven outings versus the National League West.
