PHILADELPHIA -- Los Angeles Dodgers second baseman Chase Utley enjoyed a fairytale return to Philadelphia on Tuesday night.
On Wednesday, the Dodgers return to the everyday realities of the National League West race.
Utley, a six-time All-Star while playing most of his first 13 seasons with the Phillies, was accorded a standing ovation in his first game in Citizens Bank Park since he was traded for two minor leaguers last Aug. 19.
He later hit a solo homer off Philadelphia starter Vince Velasquez, then added a grand slam off reliever Michael Mariot, as the Dodgers rolled to a 15-5 victory. After each homer he acknowledged a curtain call.
"No doubt a little extra adrenaline is flowing," Utley said. "Adrenaline can be your friend at times. There was a lot of adrenaline flowing tonight."
On Wednesday the Dodgers, jousting with the San Francisco Giants for the divisional lead, will send left-hander Scott Kazmir (9-6, 4.44) to the mound against rookie right-hander Jake Thompson (1-1, 8.68).
The 32-year-old Kazmir pitched well against the Phillies in Los Angeles last week, allowing two runs on four hits over six innings while striking out six and walking three. He was nonetheless tagged with a 6-2 loss, running his career record against Philadelphia to 1-2 with a 5.91 ERA.
"I was able to make pitches when I needed to and had the changeup today," Kazmir said, according to Major League Baseball's official web site. "That's a tough one. We wanted to pull this one out and have a good off-day, but (we) let this one slip away."
Thompson negotiated five innings against Colorado to earn his first major league victory his last time out, in his first home start. Thompson allowed three runs on two hits while striking out six and walking three.
"It's kind of nice to get the first one out of the way, and hopefully I'll gain a lot more confidence and comfort on the mound and keep it rolling," said Thompson, who had been shelled by the San Diego Padres in his major league debut.
Manager Pete Mackanin said Thompson, who threw 87 pitches (just 49 strikes), was "a little erratic" with his command.
"Tall order for Thompson to face this team," Mackanin added. "This is a darn good hitting team. ... He did a pretty good job. ... He battled through it.
Thompson equaled a 114-year-old club record when he struck out four batters in the second inning, the first of which, David Dahl, reached on a wild pitch. Doc White is the only other Philadelphia pitcher to fan four in an inning, having done so on July 21, 1902 against the Brooklyn Dodgers. He has never faced the Dodgers.
Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard hit a two-run homer Tuesday, his 18th of the season and the 375th of his career. That moved him past Rocky Colavito and into sole possession of 76th place on the all-time list, but was an afterthought given Utley's return, as well as the outcome."
As players we just try to play the game as it's supposed to be played, but I think it was something bigger tonight," Howard said. "Then for Chase to come back and do what he did tonight, hopefully he's done doing that, but that's just the kind of player he is, and just the kind of guy he is."
