Yasiel Puig hit a three-run homer in the top of the first inning, and the Los Angeles Dodgers hung on to beat the Philadelphia Phillies 4-3 on Wednesday night at Citizens Bank Park.
Brett Anderson (6-6) made his 21st start of the season for Los Angeles, the most he's made since his rookie season in 2009. The Dodgers lefty racked up another quality start allowing just one run on four hits in six innings. It was Anderson's seventh quality start in his last 10 appearances and first victory since July 1st.
"My velocity was the best it's been all year," Anderson said of the start. "I was able to make some pitches and got an early 3-0 lead, it's another quality start, and another team win."
Former Dodger Aaron Harang (5-12) got beat up by Puig in the first, but stayed steadfast allowing four runs on seven hits in five innings before leaving the game for a pinch-hitter in the bottom of the fifth.
Puig opened his stance after LA's last homestand, and crushed a hanging curveball into the seats in left field to give the Dodgers an early 3-0 lead.
"We got a big hit by Yasiel early, and were able to hold them off," Dodgers' shortstop Jimmy Rollins said.
The Phillies would come back, after an RBI double by Maikel Franco in the third, Jeff Franceour belted a two-run blast off new Dodgers setup man Jim Johnson in the bottom of the eighth to shrink LA's lead to one.
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Franceour punished the Boys in Blue with the bat for the second consecutive night finishing 2-for-4 with two RBIs and a run scored.
It was an ugly game for the Dodgers as they left 12 men on base a day after stranding 14 on Tuesday. Both Joc Pederson and Puig committed base-running blunders with the latter ending a bases-loaded rally in the top of the seventh.
"At the end of the day we got a W," Dodgers' manager Don Mattingly said. "But, you hope it doesn't come back to haunt you like it did last night."
Gold Glove first baseman Adrian Gonzalez uncharacteristically committed an error in the game, and was unable to come up with a one-hopper on a throw by Albert Callaspo in the fourth.
Kenley Jansen struck out the side in the bottom of the ninth, earning his 20th save of the season.
"Kenley was able to turn that gun up today and blow them away," Rollins said.
Rollins, Philadelphia's prodigal son, returned to the city where he spent the first 15 years of his career on Tuesday. Rollins received a standing ovation for the second consecutive game when he stepped into the batter's box before the first pitch.
Game Notes:
Despite holding a two-game lead in the NL West, the Dodgers are a subpar 24-28 on the road this season.
Puig's homer in the first inning extended the Dodgers' streak of most consecutive games on the road with an extra-base hit at 97. It currently stands as the second longest streak in the live-ball area behind only the St. Louis Cardinals from 2005-2007 when they went 127 straight road games with an XBH.
