Washington - Chase Utley hit an RBI double and the Philadelphia Phillies jumped on Derek Lowe early, taking a 2-1 lead over the Los Angeles Dodgers after three innings in Game 4 of the NL championship series Monday night. Leading the best-of-seven playoff two games to one, Philadelphia scored twice in the first off Lowe, pitching on short rest after taking the loss in Game 1. James Loney put Los Angeles on the board with a run-scoring double off Joe Blanton.

Jimmy Rollins opened the game with a single and went to third on Jayson Werth's single to left. Utley doubled inside first base on an 0-2 pitch to drive in Rollins, and Werth scored on Ryan Howard's groundout.

Shane Victorino, booed lustily by the sellout crowd following Sunday night's near-scuffle, grounded into an inning-ending double play. When Lowe got back to the dugout, he ripped his shirt open with both hands before heading up the tunnel to cool off.

The right-hander came in 3-1 with a 4.30 ERA in four career starts on three days' rest, including the postseason.

The Phillies, who lost 7-2 on Sunday night, wanted no part of Manny Ramirez in the bottom of the first. For one thing, he came in 14-for-25 against Blanton, who intentionally walked him with a runner at second and one out.

Russell Martin struck out, but Loney drove an 0-2 pitch off the center-field fence for a run-scoring double and his eighth RBI of the postseason - tying Ramirez for the team lead. Loney's hit scored Rafael Furcal, who led off with a bunt single over the head of third baseman Greg Dobbs as he charged in on the grass.

Philadelphia wasted a leadoff double by Dobbs in the second as Rollins struck out for the seventh time in his first 14 at-bats of this series.

Blanton walked Ramirez on a 3-2 pitch with one out in the third, but he was erased on a fielder's choice grounder by Martin. Loney's single put runners at the corners, but Blanton escaped the jam by retiring Blake DeWitt on a flyout.



Written By JOE RESNICK

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