Dodgers at Phillies
After delivering the game-winning hit in the first two contests of the series, Elian Herrera will look to lead the Los Angeles Dodgers to their third straight victory over the host Philadelphia Phillies on Wednesday. Herrera smacked a two-run double in the eighth inning off Cliff Lee in Tuesday’s 2-1 triumph and he had a tiebreaking single in the ninth off Jonathan Papelbon in Monday’s 4-3 win. Herrera is batting .304 in 20 big-league games.
The Dodgers have won three of four games after a season-worst five-game losing skid while the Phillies have lost four consecutive contests to fall a game below .500. Philadelphia hasn’t found its groove this season with stars Ryan Howard and Chase Utley injured and shortstop Jimmy Rollins just recently finding his batting stroke. The Phillies have scored just five runs over the last three games. Los Angeles (35-21) continues to have the best record in the majors despite star outfielder Matt Kemp serving his second stint on the disabled list due to hamstring woes.
TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, Prime Ticket (Los Angeles), Comcast SportsNet (Philadelphia)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Dodgers LH Chris Capuano (7-2, 2.50 ERA) vs. Phillies RH Kyle Kendrick (2-4, 4.02 ERA)
Capuano is coming off his worst outing of the season as he allowed seven runs (four earned) and seven hits in 5 1/3 innings while losing to the Colorado Rockies. He is 2-2 in his last four starts after winning his first five decisions. Capuano is 0-2 with a 2.87 ERA in six career appearances (five starts) against Philadelphia.
Kendrick has won back-to-back starts beginning with a complete-game shutout of St. Louis on May 26. He gave up two runs and eight hits in 5 1/3 innings against Miami in his last outing. Kendrick is 4-3 with an 8.01 ERA in seven appearances (six starts) against the Dodgers. Los Angeles hitters have a .339 average against him.
WALK-OFFS:
1. Dodgers first baseman James Loney is 8-for-14 with two homers against Kendrick and Andre Ethier is 5-for-13 with two homers.
2. Rollins has had two or more hits in five of the last seven games and is 12-for-31 (.387) during the stretch.
3. Los Angeles infielder Jerry Hairston Jr. is batting .422 (19-for-45) over his last 14 games.