This time Dodgers can’t score a single run as Phillies win 2-0 behind Roy Oswalt
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Feast-or-famine fans, meet your current Los Angeles Dodgers.
One night after exploding for 15 runs, they couldn’t score a single time, falling to the Phillies, 2-0, on Wednesday.
The Phillies’ starting pitcher might have had just a little something to do with the famine part.
Roy Oswalt, one of three aces moved before the July 31 trading line whom the Dodgers were unable to acquire, made his first start in Philadelphia for the Phillies.
Oswalt made it a memorable local debut, shutting out the Dodgers in his seven innings on five hits. He had been 0-1 with a 4.38 ERA in his first two starts for the Phillies on the road.
Chad Billingsley (9-7) nearly matched him, but allowed solo runs in the fourth and sixth innings.
The Phillies scored their first run after a bloop single by Placido Polanco and one-out walks to Raul Ibanez and Jason Werth loaded the bases.
Rookie Domonic Brown hit what normally might have been a double-play ball to Ryan Theriot at second, but Brown has so much speed he made it to first without a throw.
Polanco scored on the fielder’s choice. Billingsley got Carlos Ruiz to fly out and avoid further damage, but the Phils had their 1-0 lead. On this night, it looked huge.
Philadelphia doubled their lead in the sixth on back-to-back doubles by Ross Gload and Ibanez. Gload had to leave the game for a pinch runner after apparently pulling a groin muscle.
Billingsley went six innings, allowing the two runs on five hits and three walks. He struck out three.
Every time the Dodgers started to make a little noise against Oswalt, he was able to respond.
James Loney led off the second with a double and Casey Blake walked, but Jay Gibbons grounded into a double play and Jamey Carroll bounced out to third.
Carroll doubled to lead off the fifth, and then with two outs, Scott Podsednik beat out his second infield hit. Theriot, however, hit into a fielder’s choice.
In his seven innings, Oswalt allowed the five hits, walked two and struck out five.
Ryan Madson pitched a scoreless eighth, and Brad Lidge the ninth to earn his 15th save.
-- Steve Dilbeck