Altherr alters outcome in Phillies' 7-5 win over Dodgers
PHILADELPHIA -- The Los Angeles Dodgers' celebration is on hold. Aaron Altherr has a lot to do with it.
Altherr had four late-inning RBIs, including the game-deciding double in the eighth inning, as the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Dodgers 7-5 on Wednesday night at Citizens Bank Park.
The loss prevented the Dodgers from having a chance to clinch their fifth consecutive National League West title. Their magic number to win the division remained at two with the second-place Arizona Diamondbacks playing the San Diego Padres later Wednesday night.
Los Angeles (96-56) lost its fourth game in a row, the past three to the Phillies (61-91). Philadelphia will attempt to sweep the series on Thursday.
The Dodgers -- who have already clinched a playoff berth -- took a 4-2 lead in the seventh when Cody Bellinger lined a two-run double to right field. However, it was another tough night for the Dodgers' bullpen.
The Phillies retook the lead in the bottom of the seventh. Altherr crushed a two-run homer to tie the score, and Tommy Joseph put the Phillies ahead 5-4 with a towering shot to left field. Both homers came off Dodgers reliever Ross Stripling.
Los Angeles tied the score 5-5 in the eighth as Austin Barnes avoided Andrew Knapp's tag at the plate on fielder's choice. The Dodgers' bullpen then came unraveled again.
Cesar Hernandez led off the bottom of the eighth with a walk, and Los Angeles pitcher Luis Avilan (2-3) made a throwing error on Freddy Galvis' bunt attempt to put runners at second and third. After a strikeout and intentional walk, Altherr lined a double to the gap in left-center field to score two runs and put the Phillies ahead for good.
Altherr, who was 3-for-4, also hit a grand slam off Clayton Kershaw in the Phillies' Monday win over the Dodgers. The outfielder has nine RBIs in his past three games.
It was the fourth straight loss for the Dodgers, who are 5-20 in their past 25 games. They will try to avoid the sweep in Philadelphia during the finale of the four-game series on Thursday afternoon.
Before the Dodgers' bullpen blew the lead, starter Alex Wood turned in a quality start. Wood went six innings, allowing two runs and three hits -- all of which came in the second inning.
Phillies starter Jake Thompson held the Dodgers to one run and three hits in five innings. Chris Taylor's solo homer in the third inning was the only damage off Thompson.
Luis Garcia (2-4) tossed a scoreless inning for the win.
Hector Neris posted his 23rd save with some help from center fielder Odubel Herrera, who made a leaping grab on a Yasiel Puig fly ball to end the game.
NOTES: Dodgers RHP Kenta Maeda (12-6, 4.21 ERA) opposes Phillies RHP Mark Leiter Jr. (3-6, 4.93) on Thursday in the series finale. ... Dodgers manager Dave Roberts announced pregame that RHP Pedro Baez would be given a few days off. Baez gave up four runs in two-thirds of an inning Tuesday, blowing a lead against the Phillies. ... Phillies LF/1B Rhys Hoskins went 0-for-2 with two walks. He is 3-for-18 (.167) in his past six games, though he has five walks in that span.