Dodgers Trample Phillies

Todd Hollandsworth, coming off the disabled list at the perfect time to give the Dodgers a lift, knew what his slumping team needed Saturday.

"We had to get out there with a lot of intensity, a lot of energy," said Hollandsworth, whose two-run double in the third inning triggered Los Angeles' 8-1 victory over Philadelphia.

But no one took the field with more pent-up energy than Darren Dreifort, who hadn't pitched since Sunday, given some extra time off to contemplate a string of weak efforts.

"I felt I just had to go out and pitch, and let my defense make plays," added Dreifort (6-5), who snapped a three-game losing streak.

Dreifort had allowed 24 runs in his last 20 1-3 innings, while walking 15. That stretch pumped his ERA up to 6.42.

"I saw his numbers, and they seemed strange for the kind of arm he has," Philadelphia manager Terry Francona said. "Today, he was getting his breaking ball over better than in the past."

But Dreifort needed more than good pitches to win. Solid outings have not always been enough for Dodgers pitchers, who have received spotty support while Los Angeles went through a 2-9 skid.

Dreifort needed somebody to provide a big hit. Hollandsworth obliged, taking quick advantage in the third after Raul Mondesi's two-out pop up fell out of sun-blinded first baseman Rico Brogna's glove for an error.

"I went up knowing here was an opportunity to get things going," said Hollandsworth, who lined his two-run double into the alley in right-center off Robert Person (0-1), for a 3-0 lead.

"I should've had it. I just squeezed my glove at the wrong time," Brogna said.

"He's one of the best defensive first basemen in the league, but he just couldn't get that ball out of the sun," said Francona. "If Person can get the next hitter, it's a totally different game."

Instead, Hollandswortgot Person, and got the Dodgers offense untracked. Los Angeles wound up with 13 hits, including three by Trenidad Hubbard.

The Dodgers broke open the game in the fifth with five runs, batting around against relievers Mike Grace and Amaury Telemaco. Hubbard had an RBI single, Mondesi hit a two-run double and Cromer added a two-run single to make it 8-0.

"This was fun," said Dodgers manager Davey Johnson, after his team's fifth win in 19 games in June. "This is what we needed. I got an opportunity to put some guys in the lineup."

Beltre, Mondesi and Angel Pena, who this week replaced Todd Hundley as the everyday catcher, were the only regulars in the Dodgers lineup.

"The guys did a great job, taking advantage of the breaks," said Dreifort, who himself contributed singles to each of the Dodgers' scoring innings. "They put the bat on the ball. We got hit after hit after hit, instead of playing for the long ball."

Dreifort left in the seventh after Alex Arias and Gary Bennett each singled. Alan Mills came on and retired Doug Glanville to end the inning. Dreifort allowed six hits and one run in 6 2-3 innings, with two walks and five strikeouts.

Person, in his third start of the season, went four innings and allowed five hits and three runs one earned with two walks and one strikeout.

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