Eflin implodes early, Dodgers score laugher over Phils

PHILADELPHIA >> When the reborn Phillies and their nearly half-billion-dollar offseason improvement project were heading to lovely L.A. in May, there was much speculation about how they’d fare against the Dodgers in a meeting of what everyone might consider the best of East vs. West in the National League.

The Dodgers promptly swept them. And before long, the Phillies would set about proving they are far from the Eastern powerhouse they appeared they might be in the early weeks of the season.

Reluctantly welcoming the Dodgers to town Monday night for a four-game set, these East beasts from South Philly only seem intent on proving just how much of a disaster they could turn out to be.

After three innings of pitching no-hit ball, Zach Eflin blew up in the fourth inning, as the Dodgers scored six runs in that frame ... then just kept scoring and scoring en route to a 16-2 laughout-loud rout of the sad-sack Phils.

Cheering and chanting along were three sections of Dodgers fans in the right-field seats, providing a perfect audio backdrop to a game that John Middleton and his collective partners probably won’t be replaying on their DVRs Tuesday morning.

General manager Matt Klentak might want to take an extra gander at it as he contemplates what could be a July 31 trade deadline that impacts jobs from the clubhouse to the front office.

After Scott Kingery hit a solo home run in the third, the Dodgers scored six runs off of Eflin in the top of the fourth.

Alex Verdugo began the assault with a single to center and scored on Justin Turner’s double to left center. Max Muncy’s infield hit was enough to plate Turner.

After Corey Seager walked, Enrique Hernandez singled to center to deliver Muncy. Seager scored on an Austin Barnes bunt, and Joc Pederson delivered Hernandez with an infield single.

Cody Bellinger’s first home run made it 7-1 in the fifth. In the seventh, Muncy and Bellinger hit back-to-back home runs and the Phillies trailed, 9-1.

That essentially cemented what would be Eflin’s sixth loss in his last eight decisions. But the Dodgers continued to pour it on in a five-run eighth. After Pederson doubled, Verdugo clubbed a two-run single to right. Hernandez walked with the bases loaded, Turner scoring to make it 14-1.

Outfielder Roman Quinn finally pitched the Phillies out of the inning.

But he would allow two more in the ninth ... then strike out himself to end the guffaws coming from the right-field stands.