Another strong, quiet start for Brett Anderson in Dodgers’ 4-3 win

The Dodgers have two superstar pitchers in Clayton Kershaw and Zack Greinke. They have two bright additions to their rotation in Mat Latos and Alex Wood.

And then there is Brett Anderson, something of the other guy.

He is not an ace. Not one of the guys who came riding to the rotation rescue at the non-waiver trading deadline. He was one of two health gambles the Dodgers made in the off-season; the other, Brandon McCarthy, went down for the season to elbow surgery.

But Anderson has quietly delivered on the Dodgers’ hopes, evident once again in their 4-3 victory Wednesday over the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park.

Backed by a three-run homer from Yasiel Puig in the first inning, Anderson did what he’s done best all season, but particularly of late -- give the Dodgers a solid performance and opportunity to win.

Anderson allowed one run in six innings on four hits and two walks. Anderson has a meddling 6-6 record, though he’s actually pitched better than that. He lowered his ERA to 3.06. In his last nine starts he’s put up a 2.43 ERA.

There have been no dramatic scoreless-innings streaks like Kershaw and Greinke have put together, but Anderson continues as an effective weapon. Wednesday marked his 21st start of the season. The only other time the injury-riddled left-hander has made more starts in a season was his rookie season in 2009.

After Anderson departed, the Dodgers’ bullpen continued as an area of concern. Jim Johnson, who allowed only two home runs in 49 appearances for the Braves, gave up his second homer in as many appearances for the Dodgers.

Johnson, who was the Braves closer and came to the Dodgers as part of the Alex Wood trade, came on in the eighth and gave up a single to Odubel Herrera and then a two-run homer to Jeff Francour.

The Dodgers had jumped to an early 3-0 lead in the first off ex-Dodger Aaron Harang when Puig followed singles by Howie Kendrick and Adrian Gonzalez with a line-drive homer down the left-field line. It was his eighth home run of the season.

The Phillies scored their one run off Anderson in the third behind a Cesar Hernandez single and a Maikel Franco double.

The Dodgers scored once more off Harang in the fifth, with what proved to be the winning run. Jimmy Rollins walked, took third on a Kendrick base hit and scored when Adrian Gonzalez bounced out to first.

The Dodgers loaded the bases later in the inning on an Andre Ethier single and a walk to Joc Pederson -- he walked three times for the second consecutive game -- but Alberto Callaspo flied out to center. The Dodgers loaded the bases again in the sixth with two outs but Ethier struck out. They loaded the bases yet again with two outs in the seventh and Puig was easily tagged out trying to score from third on a pitch that bounced only about 12 feet from the plate.

After Johnson made it a one-run game, the Dodgers turned to Kenley Jansen in the ninth. Jansen, who had been shaky himself of late, was back in form. He struck out the side for his 20^th save of the season.