, who gave up a run and four hits, has won each of his last three starts and lowered his ERA as a starter to 2.18, with a 1.68 mark overall.Kemp had an RBI double in the first inning, a two-run home run in the third and a sacrifice fly in the eighth as he recorded his team-leading 16th multi-hit game and second in two nights. His two hits moved him into the National League lead with a .345 batting average.Phillies starter Zach Eflin (1-2) lasted just four innings, giving up five runs and seven hits. Nick Williams homered for Philadelphia, his sixth of the season and second in two games.Max Muncy also hit a home run for the Dodgers, his seventh, just two batters before Kemp also went deep against Eflin.The Dodgers will send Clayton Kershaw, coming off the disabled list, to the mound Thursday as they attempt to win their fourth consecutive series. The Dodgers had not won more than two consecutive series before this current run.Kershaw is making his first start in nearly a month after being sidelined with left biceps tendonitis.Stripling got his chance to start after a bevy of injuries in the rotation. In addition to Kershaw, Rich Hill (blister), Hyun-Jin Ryu (groin) and Kenta Maeda (hip) are all currently on the DL.Stripling gave up four runs over four innings in a start at Arizona on April 30, but since then he has not given up more than two earned runs in any outing. He even helped himself on offense in this game, delivering an RBI single in the fifth inning. It was just his second career RBI after also recording one in 2016.The Dodgers have won five of their last six games against the Phillies at Dodger Stadium, going back to April of last season. Since the start of 2015, the Dodgers have won 10 of 13 against the Phillies in Los Angeles.Cody Bellinger had two hits for the Dodgers, his first multi-hit game since May 8.TRAINER'S ROOMPhillies: A further examination on the jaw of OF Rhys Hoskins revealed a fracture, after he was hit in the face by his own foul ball Monday. Hoskins is expected to go on the DL. ... Pedro Florimon, who was placed on the DL with a fracture in his left foot, will need to undergo a surgical procedure, manager Gabe Kapler said.Dodgers: LHP Hill participated in his second simulated game since Saturday, pitching three innings with a protective covering over the blister on his left middle finger. There remains no timetable for Hill's return. ... A day after leaving his outing in the second inning, RHP Maeda was placed on the 10-day disabled list with a mild hip strain. ... INF Chase Utley also went on the 10-day disabled list with a left thumb sprain.ROSTER SHUFFLEWith Maeda and Utley each going on the disabled list, the Dodgers recalled RHP Dennis Santana and ambidextrous pitcher Pat Venditte. It is Santana's first time on a major league roster. He will be available out of the bullpen for now, but could start in the upcoming weekend series at Colorado.The Phillies also added to their roster, recalling infielder Mitch Walding. He replaced Florimon, who fractured his foot in Tuesday's game.UP NEXTLHP Kershaw (1-4, 2.86 ERA) is expected to return from the disabled list and start in the series finale. RHP Aaron Nola (6-2, 2.27), who has given up one earned run of less in four of his five May starts, is set to make his second career start against the Dodgers.---More baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball)
Dodgers try to bounce back versus Phillies 25m ago• 2 min read LOS ANGELES -- Asked to pick up the slack when Clayton Kershaw went on the disabled list, Ross Stripling is now expected to stick around even when Kershaw returns from biceps tendonitis Thursday.Stripling will take the mound against the Phillies on Wednesday, helping to lead the charge of a resurgent Dodgers' rotation that has guided the club to nine victories in 11 games prior to Tuesday's 6-1 loss to Philadelphia.Stripling (2-1) has done his part over five starts this season, delivering a 1.74 ERA in 41 1/3 innings. Perhaps more impressive are his 10.89 strikeouts per nine innings as a member of the rotation.Stripling, along with rookie Walker Buehler, has entered the Dodgers' rotation mix and has pitched like he has always belonged."I think it's (pitch) execution," Los Angeles manager Dave Roberts said about how the Dodgers' rotation has pitched better without Kershaw. "You look at Ross Stripling and the boost he has given us and how he's executed his pitches. Walker has done the same thing." In three appearances against the Phillies (one start), Stripling is 0-0 with a 6.14 ERA.The Phillies are also boasting a strong starting staff as they have played a far better brand of baseball in 2018. They even held sole possession of first place for one night this past weekend.Like Stripling and Buehler with the Dodgers, Zach Eflin (1-1, 3.27 ERA) has been called upon to shore up the Phillies' starting staff. He arrived at the start of May and his four starts have been a mixed bag. He has lasted only 4 1/3 innings in each of his last two starts, but gave up only one total run over his first two outings.The right-hander has made two career starts against the Dodgers, both in Los Angeles. He was rocked for seven runs in three innings of a 2016 outing, but was much better in giving up two runs on four hits over seven innings last season.Since May 5, four days after Elfin joined the Philadelphia starting staff, the Phillies' rotation had a combined 2.09 ERA heading into Tuesday night's game. Over 116 innings, the staff had 135 strikeouts and allowed two earned runs or fewer in 17 of 20 games.Elfin would like to add more of those types of games, but he will have to improve on an outing Friday against the Blue Jays, when he gave up six runs (five earned) on nine hits.The Phillies remain intent on distancing themselves from a crushing defeat Monday when the Dodgers scored three times in the eighth inning for a 6-5 victory. Their victory Tuesday started the healing.Philadelphia also lost a heartbreaker in L. A. last year and went on to lose 24 of their next 30."Tomorrow is a new day. We'll come in with a new energy and expect to win," Phillies infielder Maikel Franco told the Philadelphia Inquirer. "What happened last year is not going to happen. It's not going to be the same thing. Try to forget the day and be ready to go."
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