Philles drop second straight

The Los Angeles Dodgers are winning with their reserves.

Alex Cora drove in the winning run with a ninth-inning sacrifice fly and Shawn Green had a pair of run-scoring singles, but Friday night`s 4-3 victory over Philadelphia.

But Los Angeles couldn`t have won without critical contributions from Dave Hansen, Luke Prokopec and Angel Pena.

Hansen, who fractured the middle finger of his left hand while diving back to first base in the Dodgers` first spring training game, was activated before the game and led off the ninth with a double off Wayne Gomes (2-1).

Pena, the Dodgers` burly backup catcher, has the second sacrifice bunt of his major league career, and Hansen scored easily on Cora`s deep fly to left field.

Gomes entered the game with an 0.63 ERA in 13 appearances with 14 strikeouts.

"Wayne Gomes has probably pitched as good, or better, than anybody down in the bullpen," Phillies manager Larry Bowa said. "He`s been pitching lights out. Our bullpen had definitely been our strength up until now."

Prokopec, making his second start in place of injured right-hander Andy Ashby, allowed three runs and six hits in seven innings and struck out five.

"There`s a lot of injuries happening all at once, so maybe we are a little snakebit," Dodgers manager Jim Tracy said. "But whatever choice of words you want to use, I think we`re doing a heck of a job of dealing with it, collectively. These guys are the people who deserve the kudos. They`ve stepped in there. They`re ontributing in a major way, and we haven`t missed a beat."

Terry Adams (2-1) pitched two hitless innings, striking out the side in the eighth. He has 17 strikeouts in 16 innings this season.

"This just goes to show you what kind of team we have," Adams said. "We`ve had some injuries to some of our big players, and the other guys we`ve got have been stepping forward and coming through with some big hits."

Pat Burrell and Marlon Anderson hit solo homers for the NL East-leading Phillies, who have lost two in a row following a six-game winning streak. Amaury Telemaco, who remained 3-0 against the Dodgers, gave up three runs and six hits in six innings.

Amaury Telemaco, who remained 3-0 against the Dodgers, gave up three runs and six hits in six innings.

Jeff Reboulet doubled in the first and scored when Green hit a ground single that dribbled into short left-center off the glove of shortstop Jimmy Rollins. The Phillies tied it in the second with consecutive on Anderson`s RBI single.

Green hit another RBI single in the third for a 2-1 lead, but Burrell homered in the fourth right after Green caught Travis Lee`s drive against the right-field fence.

Tom Goodwin made it 3-2 in the fifth with an RBI single off Telemaco. Anderson homered in the seventh.

Game notes Prokopec has pitched 20 2-3 innings in three starts this season without walking a batter. ... Dodgers bench coach Jim Riggleman sported a shiner under his left eye and a heavy bandage on the broken nose he sustained on Thursday when he walked into third-base coach Glenn Hoffman`s fungo bat. ... Marquis Grissom, who entered 5-for-9 against Telemaco, went 0-for-3 against him without hitting a ball out of the infield. ... C Paul Lo Duca, whose strained left hamstring has limited him to pinch hitting, batted for Prokopec in the seventh and flied out in his first at-bat since April 19.

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Author: 6 ABC - Action News (AP)