LOS ANGELES (AP) — Bryce Harper went 0 for 4 with three strikeouts in his return to the Phillies just 160 days after Tommy John surgery, and Philadelphia lost to the Los Angeles Dodgers 13-1 on Tuesday night as Julio Urías allowed one hit and struck out 10 in seven innings.
Harper, a two-time NL MVP, was activated from the injured list and was the designated hitter.
When Harper had surgery on Nov. 23, the Phillies said he was expected to return around the All-Star break in mid-July. He was cleared to play after an appointment with Dr. Neal ElAttrache on Monday morning.
Miguel Vargas had four hits as the Dodgers scored 13 runs for the second straight night and set a season high with 17 hits.
Urías had sixth double-digit strikeout game of his big league career as he mostly silenced a Phillies’ offense that entered third in the majors with a .271 batting average. The only hit the left-hander allowed was a home run to Trea Turner to lead off the fourth inning. Turner was with the Dodgers for 1 1/2 seasons before signing with Philadelphia during the offseason.
The dominant outing also snapped a three-game losing streak for Urías (4-3). He won his first three starts before dropping his next three, including allowing six runs in his last outing on April 27 at Pittsburgh.
Vargas and Mookie Betts both drove in three runs, and Freddie Freeman had a two-run homer in the eighth.
Betts had three hits and is 9 for 21 over the past five games. His two-run single on a full count off Matt Strahm (2-3) in the second inning just got under the glove of Phillies second baseman Bryson Stott and extended the Dodgers’ lead to 3-0. Betts then lined an RBI base hit to center in the fourth to make it 4-1.
Los Angeles broke it open with four runs in the seventh inning. Chris Taylor doubled to left field with the bases loaded to drive in a pair and Vargas added a two-run double later in the frame.
The Dodgers added five in the eighth. Besides Freeman’s homer, James Outman, Vargas and Miguel Rojas drove in runs on base hits.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Phillies: LHP Ranger Suárez (left forearm) threw two scoreless innings in a rain-shortened rehab appearance for Triple A Lehigh Valley on Tuesday. Suárez did some throwing in the bullpen and threw 54 pitches total. He is expected to make two more rehab appearances. … RHP Nick Nelson (strained left hamstring) gave up one unearned run in five innings in a rehab start for Double-A Reading.
Dodgers: The earliest DH J.D. Martinez (lower back tightness) is expected to be back is Monday, when Los Angeles opens a three-game series at Milwaukee.
UP NEXT
Phillies RHP Aaron Nola (2-2, 4.46 ERA) takes a 2-0 record against the Dodgers into the season finale. Los Angeles has not named a starter.
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