Dodgers rout Phillies to narrow gap in series

0 Comments | AFP, October, 2008

LOS ANGELES (AFP) — The Los Angeles Dodgers kick-started their major league baseball playoff campaign with a 7-2 triumph over Philadelphia to narrow the gap in National League Championship Series.

Japanese righthander Hiroki Kuroda pitched six-plus solid innings and Rafael Furcal homered and scored two runs for the Dodgers, who now trail 2-1 in the best-of-seven series on Sunday after dropping the first two games in Philadelphia.

Blake DeWitt highlighted a five-run opening frame with a three-run triple, and Manny Ramirez scored a pair of runs for the Dodgers.

Kuroda allowed an RBI single to Pedro Feliz in the second before retiring the next 13 batters. He allowed three hits in the seventh before being replaced by Cory Wade.

Kuroda was charged with...