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Brian Wilson continues to struggle in Dodgers’ 7-3 loss to Phillies

Phillies center fielder Ben Revere is greeted by second baseman Chase Utley after scoring on a two-run double by catcher Carlos Ruiz off Dodgers reliever Brian Wilson in the ninth inning Thursday night at Dodger Stadium.
(Jae C. Hong / Associated Press)
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Brian Wilson’s not right and it’s time to worry, baby.

Everything seems a struggle for Wilson right now, and it was never more evident than Thursday night when he was charged with four runs in the ninth inning that led the Phillies to a 7-3 victory over the Dodgers before a sellout crowd of 51,699 at Dodger Stadium.

Wilson hasn’t looked like the Wilson who arrived late last season -- and was just short of a sensation, going 2-1 with a 0.66 earned-run average and 0.87 WHIP.

He spent a 15-day stint on the disabled list with what the Dodgers called nerve irritation, but was really more for him to build up arm strength. He’s throwing harder since he returned, but his control is all out of whack.

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Thursday he could get only one out, giving the Phillies a chance to break a 3-3 tie on three hits, an intentional walk and a hit batter. By game’s end, his ERA had swelled to an almost unrecognizable 15.75.

Things had started more promisingly for the Dodgers. After Dan Haren pitched out of trouble in the second and third innings, the Dodgers opened the scoring with a pair of runs off Philadelphia’s Kyle Kendrick in the fourth.

Adrian Gonzalez led off with a double, and it briefly appeared he might be stranded there when Yasiel Puig grounded out and Andre Ethier struck out. But Juan Uribe jumped on a first-pitch changeup and delivered a two-run homer. Uribe started the night with one hit in his last 16 at-bats.

But the Phillies took the lead with three runs in the fifth inning, aided by the Dodgers’ nightly error.

One-out singles put runners on the corners for Philadelphia before a Gonzalez error allowed one run to score and a Marlon Byrd double drove in two more.

Haren was still down 3-2 when he left the game after six innings. Only one of the three runs he gave up was earned. He surrendered seven hits and two walks, striking out seven.

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Gonzalez took Haren off the hook for the loss, making up for his error with a solo home run off reliever Mike Adams in the seventh. It was his sixth home run of the season; last year he did not hit his sixth until May 26.

The score remained tied at 3-3 when Wilson entered the game in the ninth inning and it all became undone. He immediately got into trouble when Cody Asche bounced a single up the middle. After Tony Gwynn Jr. lined out to center, Ben Revere singled Asche to third.

Carlos Ruiz, who should demand a trade to the Dodgers now, then gave Philadelphia the lead with his two-run double. He did not have an RBI this season when the four-game series at Dodger Stadium began, and then went seven for 14 with six extra-base hits and six RBIs.

After Wilson intentionally walked Chase Utley, he hit Ryan Howard with a pitch, and that was as much as Manager Don Mattingly could watch. He relieved Wilson with Jamey Wright, whom Byrd greeted with a two-run double.

The Phillies won three of four in the series, leaving the Dodgers with a half-game lead over the Giants in the National League West.

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