Dodgers break losing skid with 5-2 win over Phillies
ON THE MEND: Clayton Kershaw is scheduled to pitch Friday for Class-A Rancho Cucamonga, Dodgers Manager Don Mattingly confirmed. The minor league rehabilitation assignment will be the first for Kershaw, who had never been on the disabled list. Kershaw is expected to throw about 55 pitches. Mattingly said the left-hander will pitch in the minor leagues more than once before he returns to the major leagues.
ON THE MOUND: The Dodgers ended their losing streak at two games behind Zack Greinke’s best start of the season. Greinke pitched more than six innings for the first time this season, limiting the Phillies to two runs and five hits over seven innings. The second run didn’t come until the eighth inning, when Jayson Nix hit a home run. Greinke had 11 strikeouts, his most as a Dodger. J.P. Howell pitched one inning, as did Kenley Jansen, who recorded his eighth save.
AT THE PLATE: Yasiel Puig drove in two runs, getting a hard-hit single in the fifth inning to drive in Drew Butera and a seventh-inning triple to drive in Greinke. Hanley Ramirez hit a home run in the eighth inning. Ramirez also hit a double and showed signs he could be breaking out of his slump. Matt Kemp, who started the game hitting .196, had two doubles.
A DAY OFF: Adrian Gonzalez was out of the lineup for the first time this season because Mattingly wanted to give the 31-year-old first baseman a day off. The timing had nothing to do with Gonzalez’s splits against Phillies starter Cole Hamels. Gonzalez is a .296 hitter in 27 at-bats against the left-hander. Scott Van Slyke started in place of Gonzalez at first base. Mattingly said he expects to sit Ramirez this week.
FREE STUFF: The first 50,000 spectators at Dodger Stadium on Thursday will receive Kershaw bobblehead dolls.
UP NEXT: Dan Haren (3-0, 2.16 ERA) will face the Phillies right-hander Kyle Kendrick (0-2, 3.60) at Dodger Stadium on Thursday at 7 p.m. On the air: TV: SportsNet LA. Radio: 570, 1020 (Spanish).
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