Franco's homer pushes Phillies past Dodgers
PHILADELPHIA -- Maikel Franco hit a go-ahead two-run homer in the seventh inning as the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 5-4 on Thursday night.
Ryan Howard added a solo homer for Philadelphia, which salvaged the finale of a three-game series. The Phillies also won for the fifth time in seven games.
Justin Turner and Yasmani Grandal went deep for the National League West-leading Dodgers.
The Dodgers were up 4-3 when Philadelphia's Freddy Galvis led off the seventh with a single off reliever Grant Dayton (0-1). Franco followed with his 21st homer, a blast over the center field fence.
Michael Mariot (1-0) earned the victory by pitching a scoreless inning in relief. Jeanmar Gomez worked a perfect ninth for his 32nd save.
Dodgers starter Ross Stripling went five innings, allowing three runs (two earned) and six hits while striking out five and walking two.
In his first nine pitches of the night, Phillies starter Jerad Eickhoff yielded singles to Chase Utley and Corey Seager, followed by Turner's 23rd homer of the season, to fall behind 3-0.
With one out and a runner at second in the bottom of the second, Utley, the Los Angeles second baseman and a former Phillie, threw a potential double-play ball wide of second, putting runners at second and third. Aaron Altherr then singled home a run, making it 3-1.
Grandal's 20th homer of the season came off Eickhoff with one out in the fourth, and Howard answered with his 19th of the year in the bottom of that inning. Two outs later Altherr, singled and Taylor Featherston delivered him with an RBI double into the gap in left center, cutting the Los Angeles lead to 4-3.
Howard's homer was the 376th of his career, moving him into a tie with Carlton Fisk for 75th on the all-time list.
NOTES: Los Angeles LHP Clayton Kershaw, on the disabled list since June 27 with a herniated disk in his back, is expected to throw off a mound Saturday in Cincinnati, according to MLB.com. ... The Dodgers will activate RHP Bud Norris from the disabled list to start the first contest of a four-game series Friday in Cincinnati. Norris (mid-back strain) has been idle since Aug. 1. A corresponding roster move has yet to be announced. ... Phillies RF Aaron Altherr hit seventh in the Phillies' lineup, the lowest in the order he has batted since returning from a wrist injury on July 28. "I don't want these guys to think they're going to (automatically be Nos.) 2-3-4-5 hitters," manager Pete Mackanin said. "I don't want them to think that no matter what I do I'm hitting second, third or fourth. You've got to earn that." ... Philadelphia 2B Cesar Hernandez, who has reached base in 23 straight games, was a late scratch. He was replaced in the lineup by Taylor Featherston, who made his third start. ... Dodgers 1B Adrian Gonzalez extended his hitting streak to 11 games with a sixth-inning double.