LOS ANGELES — The Phillies salvaged one game in Dodger Stadium. Freddy Galvis’ three-run homer with the Phils down a run in the seventh helped propel the club to a 6-2 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Wedneday afternoon.
The Phillies were clinging to a 3-2 lead in the ninth when pinch-hitter Ryan Howard put the game away with a bases-loaded double, driving in three.
The Phils lost the first two games of the series by a combined score of 18-7.
The Phils went 3-3 on the trip to San Diego and Los Angeles.
Not all was good on the health front, however. The Phillies might have lost another pitcher in Wednesday’s game. Starter Jeremy Hellickson was pitching well until he was forced from the game after five innings because of back tightness (see story).
The Phillies have put two pitchers — Aaron Nola and Zach Eflin — on the disabled list in the last eight days and can hardly afford another. Hellickson will be evaluated in Philadelphia. The Phils have two off days before his turn comes up again on Wednesday. The Phils already have to plug Eflin’s spot on Sunday. Adam Morgan seems to be the likely candidate to make that start.
MLB
Starting pitching report
Hellickson struggled to get through the first inning. He gave up three hits, a walk and a run in the frame. After that he had four straight 1-2-3 innings and struck out seven overall. He was clearly cruising until he had to leave the game.
Hellickson has a 3.65 ERA in 24 starts.
Dodgers lefty Scott Kazmir pitched into the seventh and gave up two runs. He took a 1-0 lead into the seventh and allowed a single and a walk before exiting with no outs. Both of those runners scored on Galvis’ homer.
Bullpen report
Hector Neris got four big outs in the seventh and eighth innings to protect a one-run lead. He struck out dangerous Adrian Gonzalez with a runner on second and one out in the eighth, then got Joc Pederson to ground out (nice play by Galvis) with two men on to end the inning and preserve a one-run lead.
Galvis’ homer came off lefty Grant Dayton.
Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen gave up three in the top of the ninth as the Phils salted the game away.
At the plate
Two the Phillies’ seven hits were pinch-hits in the ninth.
In five games this month, Howard has seven hits, including two doubles and two homers, in 15 at-bats. He has five RBIs in that span.
Galvis’ homer was his 11th of the season and second in as many games. It was his first from the right side of the plate since August 26, 2014.
Gonzalez doubled home the Dodgers’ first run. Rob Segedin singled home their second run in the seventh. That cut the Phils’ lead to one.
Lineup stuff
Odubel Herrera did not start against the lefty Kazmir. It was the fourth time in the last nine games that Herrera has been out of the starting lineup (more on Herrera here). Herrera had a pinch-hit infield single in the ninth.
Up next
The Phillies are off Thursday. They host the Colorado Rockies on Friday night. Rookie Jake Thompson (0-1, 12.46) makes his second big-league start against right-hander Jon Gray (8-5, 4.26).
Jim Thome will be honored onto the Phillies Wall of Fame before Friday night’s game.