Late inning trouble hurts Phils in 6-4 loss

The Phillies’ short two-game win streak came to an end on Thursday with a 6-4 loss to the Dodgers in the opener of their four game set. Phenom Yasiel Puig burned them in the seventh with a two run single off Justin De Fratus just a half inning after they had taken their first lead of the game.

Jonathan Pettibone provided a quality start after struggling early, but to no avail as the Phillies fall even at 2-2 on their road trip.

Bullpen comes back to Earth

Yesterday the Phillies’ pen gave them seven innings of scoreless relief. Today they did not get as good an effort. De Fratus came on in relief of Pettibone in the seventh, and allowed two runs to cross on Puig’s single after he had allowed a hit and walked two ( one intentionally).De Fratus lasted only two thirds of an inning.

Antonio Bastardo followed him with an inning of work, but he too allowed a run as the Dodgers gained insurance and never looked back.

Two homers for two guys heating up

Chase Utley

whacked a solo homer in the seventh to give the Phils the lead, his ninth of the season and second of the road trip.

Utley has hit safely in the last six games and six of his seven games since coming off the disabled list. He also added an RBI single in the game.

Domonic Brown also went deep with a solo shot in the ballgame, which was also his second homer of the road trip. The slugger has 21 home runs so far this season, which is tied for the league lead with Carlos Gonzalez.

Up next…

Game two of the series will feature a couple of lefties on the hill. John Lannan (0-2, 5.84) will make the start for the Phils while Chris Capuano (2-4, 4.09 ERA) will take the baseball for the Dodgers. First pitch is set for 10:10 ET.