The Phils hold off the Dodgers as they secure Roy Halladay’s 15th win of the season, winning 5-3.

The Phils hold off the Dodgers as Roy Halladay wins his 15th start of the year as they come out on top, 5-3.

The Phils took the lead in the first as, with a runner on third, and with two men out, Ryan Howard hits an RBI infield single, knocking in Shane Victorino, who had earlier doubled, then went to third on Chase Utley’s ground out, 4-3, giving the Phils a 1-0 lead. The Phils then took a 3-0 lead in the second as, with two men on, and with two men out, Jimmy Rollins hits a two-run double, scoring Carlos Ruiz, who had earlier singled, then went the third on first baseman James Loney’s throwing error of Michael Martinez’s grounder, and Martinez, who was safe at first on Loney’s error, then went to second base on Roy Halladay’s sacrifice bunt, 1-4. The Dodgers got a run back in the fifth as, with two men on, and with one man out, Casey Blake hits an RBI ground out, 6-3, knocking in Jamey Carroll, who had earlier singled, went to second base on Hiroki Kuroda’s bunt single, on a ball that Howard hoped would go foul as it went up the first base line, but didn’t, then went to third on Tony Gwynn, Jr., sacrifice bunt, while Kuroda went to second base, making it a 3-1 Phils’ lead. The Phils added to their lead in the seventh as, with a runner on second, and with two men out, Howard hits an RBI double, knocking in Victorino, who had earlier doubled, giving the Phils a 4-1 lead. The Dodgers got that run back in the eighth as, with a runner on second, and with nobody out, Aaron Miles hits an RBI single, scoring Matt Kemp, who had earlier singled, then stole second base, making it a 4-2 Phils’ lead. Three batters later, with runners on the corners, thanks to a throwing error by Michaeal Stutes as he tried to pick off Miles, allowing him to reach second base, before moving on to third on Laney’s fly out for the inning’s first out, and then a walk to Rod Barajas, before he is replaced by pinch runner Eugenio Velez, pinch hitter Juan Rivera hits an RBI pinch hit single, scoring Miles, making it a 4-3 Phils lead, while sending Velez up to second base.  The Phils then added an insurance run in the ninth as, with one man out, Victorino hits a solo home run, his twelfth home run of the year, making it a 5-3 Phils’ lead. That would be the final score as Ryan Madson recorded his twentieth save of the season as he pitched a scoreless ninth. 

Roy Halladay (15-4, 2.51) got the win, becoming the NL’s first 15 game winner, as he went six and a third innings, giving up a run on nine hits and two walks, while striking out four. Antonio Bastardo got his tenth hold of the year as he pitched a third of an inning, getting the only batter that he would he face to hit into a double play. Michael Stutes received his seventh hold of the season as he pitched a third of an inning, giving up two runs on two hits. Brad Lidge recorded his first hold of the year as he pitched two-thirds of an inning, giving up a hit and a walk. Ryan Madson recorded his twentieth save of the year by pitching a scoreless ninth, giving up a hit, while striking out one. Hiroki Kuroda (7-14, 3.01) took the lost as he went six and a third innings, giving up four runs, three of which were earned, on nine hits and a walk, while he struck out four. Scott Elbert pitched two-thirds of an inning, giving up a hit and a walk, while striking out a batter. Matt Guerrier pitched a 1-2-3 inning. Mike MacDougal pitched an inning, giving up a run on a hit, as he struck out a batter.

The Phils had eleven hits in the game, with Shane Victorino leading the team with three hits, two doubles and a home run, knocking in a run. Ryan Howard (Single, Double, 2 RBIs) and Hunter Pence (Singles) followed with two hits each. Jimmy Rollins (Double, 2 RBIs), Chase Utley (Single), Carlos Ruiz (Single) and Michael Martinez (Single), had the other four Phils’ hits.

The Phils (75-40, 1st East) continue their series with the Dodgers (52-62, 4th West) with a night game tonight. The game will be played at Dodgers Stadium and will begin at 10:10 pm EDT (7:10 pm PDT). The Phils will send to the mound Cliff Lee (11-7, 2.96), who is coming off a win against the Giants on August 4, as he threw a complete game shutout, giving up just seven hits, while striking out eight, in the Phils’ 3-0 win. He will be out trying to give the Phils their fourth straight series win. The Dodgers will counter with Ted Lilly (7-11, 4.86), who is coming off a lost to the Padres on August 3, as he went five innings, giving up a run on four hits and a walk, while striking out seven, in the Dodgers’ 3-0 lost. He will be out to even up the series. The Phils will be out to win their eighth win on a so far very successful road trip.