Utley, Rollins Burn Dodgers

Looks like a change of scenery is just what the Phillies needed.

Jimmy Rollins led off the game with a homerun.  Shane Victorino led off the second inning with a homerun.  Chase Utley hit three doubles and drove in two.  Roy Oswalt pitched a one hitter through 6 1/3 innings and the Phillies cruised to a 5-1 win over the Dodgers to take the rubber match of their three game series.

Prior to beating the Dodgers, the Phils swept three games from the San Diego Padres, so their record on this short west coast trip is a sunny 5-1.

It’s great to see the bats come alive again, especially Utley, who has been in a funk just about all season.

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Ryan Howard Congratulated By Teammates

Game Recap: August 31st, 2010

Finally.  After being held to two runs or less in eight of their previous twelve games, the Phillies bats awakened last night as they put eight runs on the board and beat the Dodgers in Los Angeles, 8-4.

With the Phillies trailing, 1-0 in the second inning, Brian Schneider hit a three-run blast to get the Phillies started.  In the third, Ryan Howard, who hadn’t homered in thirteen games (his 2nd longest drought of the season), also hit a three run shot, to give the Phillies a 6-1 lead.

Charlie Manuel said of Howard, “He’s got to get going.”

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