We Need to Do Some Sweeping This Morning

Aaron Harang (4-3, 3.90) vs. Cole Hamels (8-2, 2.81)

Dodgers Lineup:

Gordon 6

Herrera 5

Rivera 7

Hairston 4

Loney 3

Castellanos 9

Gwynn 8

Treanor 2

Harang 1

The Dodgers and Kenley Jansen barely held on last night to win yet another one-run game. The Phillies did their darnedest to trip up Chris Capuano by hitting three homeruns against him. Other than the trio of dingers, Cappy only allowed one other hit and eventually picked up his eighth victory of the season. This morning the Dodgers will be trying to do something that they have never done before-sweep Philadelphia in a four-game series at home. After that disappointing Colorado series, this winning thing in the City of Brotherly Love is immensely enjoyable. After all, these are the same Phillies who dashed our hopes and dreams twice in the NLCS.

Aaron Harang is coming off of what could be classified as his best outing as a Dodger. Harang pitched 6 innings, allowing just one earned run off four hits. His ERA even dipped below 4.00. Aaron stayed calm through some tough jams. During a week of losing and poor starting pitching for the Dodgers, Harang’s start was the bright spot which also yielded the only win in the Colorado series. Against the Phillies, Harang is 3-2 with a 5.29 ERA in his career. The Phillies have hit him well, and he will have to watch out for the long ball which also hurt Cappy yesterday. Mike Fontenot has hit three homers off Harang, and Ty Wigginton has hit two.

 The Dodgers will have their work cut out for them as they go up against the brilliant lefty Cole Hamels. It will also be interesting, because rumors have been swirling for awhile that the Dodgers are very interested in making a run for Hamels this offseason when he becomes a free agent. Hamels has 80 strikeouts in 77 innings pitched with just 16 walks. Last time out against Minnesota, Cole had an atypical start. He picked up the loss after allowing 5 earned runs off 7 hits in 6 2/3 innings pitched. Like Lee, Hamels has given the Dodgers a hard time in the past. He is an undefeated 3-0 against us with a 1.18 ERA. No one has hit anywhere around .300 against him, and the only muttering of offense came from a mere Loney and Hairston homerun in the past.

Freddy Galvis, the Phillies second baseman, is headed to the DL after straining his back during an at bat in the fifth inning of last night’s game. The Phillies have had a slew of injuries this season much like the Dodgers. They are still missing an injured Chase Utley, Ryan Howard, Roy Halladay, Laynce Nix, and four relievers. Placido Polanco is also day-to-day after cutting his finger during Tuesday’s game.

The Dodgers will soon see the return of Juan Uribe who will start playing in some rehab games this Friday. Uribe has been battling an arthritic wrist. He may be activated as early as Monday.

After the conclusion of this series, the Dodgers will begin Interleague Play as they take on the Seattle Mariners in Seattle for a three-game series. The Dodgers are a Major League best 36-21, and they maintain a four-game lead over the San Francisco Giants in the NL West. The Phillies have lost five in a row, and are now 2 games under .500 at 28-30. They sit in last place in the NL East at 6 games back of the Washington Nationals. The

This morning’s game will be at 10:10 am and televised on Prime Ticket. Stick around for our postgame wrap up, and feel free to comment with joy or frustration (depending on game outcome of course).