Dodgers Complete 1st 4-Game Sweep In Philly In 66 Years

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — This was one nifty day for Aaron Harang and the Los Angeles Dodgers. It was simply more of the same for the sliding Philadelphia Phillies.

Harang pitched six effective innings to earn his 100th career victory and the Dodgers won 8-3 Thursday to complete their first four-game sweep at Philadelphia in 66 years.

Juan Rivera, Jerry Hairston Jr., Matt Treanor and James Loney had two hits apiece for the Dodgers, who had not swept a four-game series at Philadelphia since Brooklyn accomplished the feat from May 24-26, 1946, according to STATS LLC.

Manager Don Mattingly was not aware of the significance of the sweep until told by reporters afterward, and acknowledged it was "pretty cool."

"We really just got the momentum going here," he said.

Los Angeles, which improved its major league-best record to 37-21, scored three runs in the sixth to take a 4-3 lead, then broke it open with four more runs in the ninth.

The last-place Phillies (28-31) have dropped a season-high six straight games. They are 12-19 at Citizens Bank Park for the worst home mark in the NL.

Asked about his frustration level, manager Charlie Manuel said: "I never put it up to a level. I just feel how hot my face gets." And it is, he said, "pretty damn hot."

He also said that while teams used to fear facing the Phillies in their cozy ballpark, that is no longer the case.

"We don't scare (anybody)," he said.

The Phillies have been beset by injuries, notably to Ryan Howard, Chase Utley and Roy Halladay. But infielder Ty Wigginton said: "That's just an excuse, in my mind."

"I think we're a better team," outfielder Shane Victorino said. "We've all got to get a gut check, including myself."

Harang (5-3) allowed three runs and eight hits while improving to 100-97 in 11 seasons.

"Early on I was getting swings and misses from my fastball," he said. "Later I just tried to work on location. Fortunately I got some quick outs and kept my pitch count down."

Cole Hamels (8-3) also pitched six innings for the Phillies, yielding four runs, three earned, and six hits. The left-hander struck out six and walked one while dropping to 3-1 with a 1.64 ERA in six career starts against Los Angeles.

Hamels carried a 3-1 lead into the sixth, but he couldn't hold off the Dodgers, who have won five of six overall.

Elian Herrera started the rally with a leadoff walk and Rivera followed with a single. Loney drove in Herrera with a one-out base hit, and Tony Gwynn Jr. and Treanor added two-out RBI singles. Treanor's tiebreaking hit was a broken-bat flare to left.

Los Angeles added four runs in the ninth against Chad Qualls. Herrera hit a run-scoring grounder with the bases loaded that second baseman Mike Fontenot booted for one of Philadelphia's three errors. Andre Ethier stopped an 0-for-16 slide with a two-run double, and Hairston followed with an RBI single.

Philadelphia took a 3-0 lead in the third following throwing errors by Alex Castellanos in right and Herrera at third. Hunter Pence hit an RBI grounder as Herrera threw wildly to the plate. Wigginton delivered a sacrifice fly and Fontenot had a run-scoring bloop single.

Wigginton, starting at third base in place of injured Placido Polanco, misplayed consecutive grounders by Herrera and Rivera starting the fourth, leading to Hairston's sacrifice fly.

NOTES: The Phillies recalled INF-OF Michael Martinez from Triple-A Lehigh Valley to fill the roster spot vacated when 2B Freddy Galvis was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a lower-back strain. ... The Phillies open interleague play Friday night in Baltimore, with Joe Blanton (4-6) opposing Jake Arrieta (2-7). ... The Dodgers send Nathan Eovaldi (0-2) to the mound Friday night in Seattle, against Kevin Millwood (3-5). ... The Phils announced that retired catcher Mike Lieberthal will be added to the team's Wall of Fame during ceremonies before the Aug. 10 game against St. Louis. ... The announced attendance was 44,096, the Phils' 235th consecutive regular-season sellout. ... Paula Abdul danced with the Phillie Phanatic on the field after the fifth inning.