Phils’ bullpen helps avoid sweep by Dodgers
PHILADELPHIA » Bryce Harper homered, Ian Kennedy escaped a bases-loaded jam in the ninth inning and the Phillies held off the Dodgers 2-1 Thursday, ending Los Angeles’ four-game winning streak.
The Dodgers were denied their first sweep in Philadelphia since 2012 and fell to 1320 in one-run games this year. The Phillies salvaged the finale of the three-game series and held their share of the National League East lead.
“You never want to get swept, especially in your home park,” said Harper, who also walked twice. “That’s a good Dodgers team over there. They played us well the last two days and they played well today.”
Harper hit his 21st homer and scored twice as the Phillies won with just four hits. The Philadelphia bullpen didn’t allow a hit in the final 4.2 innings, and the Dodgers finished with only three hits.
Kennedy walked Corey Seager with one out in the ninth, walked Cody Bellinger with two outs on a call that resulted in Phillies manager Joe Girardi’s ejection, then plunked pinch-hitter Will Smith in the arm to load the bases. Billy McKinney flew out to left field to end the game.
It was Kennedy’s third save in six appearances with the Phillies since coming over in a July 30 trade with Texas.
“He’s done this his whole career,” Harper said. “He’s been in pressure situations and gone through that. There’s no worry when he comes in the game. We have all the confidence in the world when he comes into the game.”
Both teams used five pitchers.
Harper connected off Mitch White (0-1) for a solo drive in the first that landed four rows above the flower beds in deep left-center field for Philadelphia’s first lead in the series. In the fourth, Harper walked and eventually scored on a two-out single by Ronald Torreyes.