Yasiel Puig homers, Dodgers hold on to top Phillies

Yasiel Puig hit a three-run home run in the first inning and the Dodgers made it hold up in a 4-3 win over the Phillies on Wednesday night at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia.

After a night full of squandered opportunities on offense in the series opener, the Dodgers wasted no time in cashing in on Wednesday. Phillies starter Aaron Harang allowed one-out singles to Howie Kendrick and Adrian Gonzalez, then one out later Puig deposited a pitch into the left field seats for a quick 3-0 advantage.

Puig in his career is 6-for-9 against Harang with a home run a triple and a walk.

The Dodgers tacked on a run against Harang in the fifth inning and were able to chase him after five innings with 104 pitches and five walks to his ledger.

Phillies pitchers threw 192 pitches on Wednesday, the third-most against the Dodgers in a nine-inning game this season.

Still frustrating

Not that the Dodgers didn't shoot themselves in the foot a few times on Wednesday, too. Joc Pederson made the first out at third base in the fourth inning, trying to advance to third on a single to right field, where Jeff Francoeur was ready, willing and able to make sure that didn't happen.

Kendrick, who had three hits on the night, lost track of the placement of the infielders at second base in the fifth inning, his late jump only allowing him to advance to third base on Andre Ethier 's single to center field with one out.

The Dodgers loaded the bases with two outs in the fifth, sixth and seventh innings, but failed to score in those three frames, the latter ending with Puig out trying to advance home on a wild pitch that hit home plate umpire Alan Porter.

Rickety bridge

The inability to tack on extra runs made things close, especially when Francoeur hit a two-run home run against Jim Johnson in the eighth inning, cutting the Dodgers' lead to 4-3.

Johnson allowed two home runs in 49 appearances this season with the Braves, in 48 innings and 196 batters faced. Since getting acquired by the Dodgers he has allowed two home runs in two innings over two games. As a Dodger, Johnson has faced nine batters, struck out four, and allowed two balls hit in the air to the outfield. Both were home runs.

Pumped up

Brett Anderson was quite effective doing Brett Anderson things, striking out five and inducing 11 ground ball outs.

Entering play on Wednesday, Anderson averaged 91.85 mph on his four-seam fastball this season with a maximum of 95.64, per Brooks Baseball. But against the Phillies, per Gameday, he hit 95 mph twice and hit 94 mph 11 times in his six innings.

Anderson walked two, but only allowed one run on four hits, evening his record at 6-6.

Joc walks

Mired in the worst slump of his young career as the Dodgers ended their homestand, Pederson at the very least has been an active participant in his own plate appearances in the first two games in Philadelphia. Pederson walked in his first three plate appearances on Wednesday night, all against Harang.

That gave Pederson six walks in nine plate appearances in two games in Philly, matching his total for his previous 121 plate appearances. Pederson flew out to center field and popped out to shortstop in his final two plate appearances, so hit hitless streak did extend to 0-for-20.

Pederson is just the second Dodger in the last 19 seasons to walk at least three times in consecutive games, joining J.D. Drew (2005).

Select save company

Kenley Jansen retired the Phillies in order in the ninth inning for his 20th save of the season. Jansen joins Jim Brewer and Jeff Shaw as the only Dodgers pitchers with four seasons of 20 or more saves.

It was the 126th career save for Jansen, tying him with Brewer for fourth on the Dodgers all-time list. Up next is Todd Worrell with 127, then Shaw with 129.

Jansen struck out all three batters he faced, and on the season has 50 strikeouts and four walks.

Up next

Zack Greinke takes the mound for Thursday morning's series finale as the Dodgers try to capture the series shortly after breakfast, a 10:05 a.m. PT start. David Buchanan starts for the Phillies

Wednesday particulars

Home runs: Yasiel Puig (8); Jeff Francoeur (10)

WP - Brett Anderson (6-6): 6 IP, 4 hits, 1 run, 2 walks, 5 strikeouts

LP - Aaron Harang (5-12): 5 IP, 7 hits, 4 runs, 5 walks, 1 strikeout

Sv - Kenley Jansen (20): 1 IP, 3 strikeouts