Gonzalez Homers Twice To Lift Dodgers Over Phillies
PHILADELPHIA — Adrian Gonzalez hit two home runs and had five RBIs to help the Los Angeles Dodgers extend their lead in the NL West with a 7-2 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies on Wednesday night.
Justin Turner also homered and Joc Pederson reached base four times for the first-place Dodgers, who moved 1 1/2 games ahead of the San Francisco Giants, who lost to the Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday. On Tuesday, Los Angeles took over sole possession of the division lead for the first time since May 10.
With the Dodgers trailing 1-0 in the fourth, Gonzalez lined a 3-1 fastball into the seats in right-center field for a three-run homer. Turner singled and Josh Reddick walked to lead off the inning.
Gonzalez followed that up with a two-run homer in the seventh after Corey Seager led off the inning with a double.
It was the first baseman's first multi-homer game of the season and the 20th of his career. Gonzalez, who has 12 homers, extended his hitting streak to 10 games and is 18 for 40 in that span.
Turner hit his 22nd home run after Seager singled in the fifth, pushing the Dodgers ahead 5-1.
Scott Kazmir (10-6) allowed eight hits and two earned runs in five-plus innings to pick up his first win in four starts and improve his road record to 6-0. He escaped a bases-loaded jam in the fifth and reliever Grant Dayton got out of another bases-loaded jam in the sixth after Kazmir allowed a leadoff homer to Tommy Joseph followed by three straight singles.
Making the third start of his career, Jake Thompson (1-2) surrendered just one hit through the first three innings before allowing five runs, four hits and three walks over the next two to get chased after five.
Chase Utley went 0 for 5 with two strikeouts in his second game back in Philadelphia since the Phillies traded him to the Dodgers last August. In his emotional return a night earlier, the Dodgers second baseman homered twice and received two curtain calls from the adoring Philly fans. Utley, a six-time All-Star who helped the Phillies win five straight NL East titles and the 2008 World Series, was greeted to another long standing ovation leading off Wednesday's game.
Shortstop Freddy Galvis went 2 for 4 and had an RBI double in the second to stake the Phillies to a 1-0 lead. Joseph went 2 for 4 with a double and a homer.
After going 2 for 4 with a walk, Phillies second baseman Cesar Hernandez has reached base in a career-high 23 straight games.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Phillies: RHP Aaron Nola was transferred to the 60-day DL, ending his season. Out since Aug. 3 with a right elbow strain, the 23-year-old was 6-9 with a 4.78 ERA in 20 starts.
The Phillies announced Wednesday that Nola was replaced on the 40-man roster by RHP Frank Herrmann, while Elvis Araujo was optioned to Triple-A Lehigh Valley. Herrmann made his first major league appearance since 2012, pitching a scoreless inning Wednesday.
Dodgers: The Dodgers plan to activate LHP Adam Liberatore (2-0, 1.62) on Friday. The reliever made his second rehab appearance Tuesday night, striking out two in a scoreless inning for Triple-A Oklahoma City.
UP NEXT
The Phillies and Dodgers conclude their three-game series Thursday night with Philadelphia RHP Jerad Eickhoff (8-12, 3.82) opposing RHP Ross Stripling (3-4, 4.07).
