My farewell game at the Reading Phillies was scuttled by 95F temperatures and this awful cold. It was an odd game in Los Angeles this afternoon. Clayton Kershaw had 12 strikeouts and gave up two walks, five hits and two runs. He left after six innings trailing 2-0. Roy Oswalt had six strikeouts, walked an astonishing six, and gave up his first, and only, hit in the sixth inning. He left after 6.1 innings, leading 2-0. The Phillies tacked on a run in each of the final three frames; the Dodgers got their only run in the eighth, helped along by an error.
Jimmy Rollins led off the game with a solo home run; Shane Victorino added another in second. Chase Utley had three doubles, a treat to see; two went for RBI. Polanco looks as if he may be coming around. That eighth-inning run notwithstanding, the bullpen was again really good. The Phillies won 5-1 and are now 5-1 on the road trip. Last stop is in Denver tomorrow for a make-up game with the Rockies, which starts at 7:10 ET. After tomorrow all remaining games will be in the home time zone. Hallelujah!
Back-up catcher Paul Hoover was called up from Lehigh Valley yesterday. More call-ups should follow this weekend in Philadelphia.
