Zack Greinke helps himself at plate in Los Angeles Dodgers' 10-8 win

PHILADELPHIA -- Zack Greinke shined on Thursday afternoon, but not the way he normally does.

In fact, the National League Cy Young Award favorite had his worst start of the season on the mound.

But as he struggled with his pitching, he made up for it at the plate, going 3-for-3 with a home run and three runs scored to help the Los Angeles Dodgers outslug the Philadelphia Phillies 10-8 at Citizens Bank Park.

"He can swing the bat, that's for sure," Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said.

He sure can pitch, too, but Thursday was out of the ordinary.

Greinke (11-2), who entered with a major league-best 1.41 ERA, showed he's human, surrendering a season-high six runs, five of which came in the first inning.

However, the National League West-leading Dodgers (62-46) took care of the right-hander by countering with 15 hits and a surplus of support to improve to a season-best 16 games above .500.

"Today, I was really mad after that first inning, so more motivation to try and get some hits," Greinke said. "Usually, I just try to focus on pitching, but we were down by some runs, so I needed to put some good at-bats out there today."

Because of Greinke and the offensive outburst, the last-place Phillies (42-67) lost a series in the second half of the season for the first time after going 4-0-1 in their first five.

Before the All-Star break, Philadelphia posted a franchise-record 62 losses in the first half.

"Any time you score six runs off Greinke, you'd like to think you'll win that game," Phillies interim manager Pete Mackanin said. "It didn't pan out. We couldn't hold them down."

Los Angeles scored three runs in the first inning. That typically has been all the offense needed by Greinke this season. He had been 9-0 with a 1.61 ERA when receiving at least three runs of support.

However, in the bottom of the first, Philadelphia countered with five runs before Greinke could get an out.

First baseman Ryan Howard knocked in two with a bases-loaded single, and a three-run homer by right fielder Domonic Brown handed the Phillies a 5-3 advantage.

The rally started with a bunt single by second baseman Cesar Hernandez on which Greinke air-mailed a throw to first base that left him visibly frustrated.

"I know I was upset about it," Greinke said. "I should have gotten over it quicker, but I should have made that play."

Mattingly saw it, as well.

"He was probably upset at himself," Mattingly said. "He's pretty prideful about his defense. He's really good out there. So he probably didn't like that."

And Philadelphia took advantage.

Just how surprising was the first-inning explosion? In Greinke's previous eight starts, he had allowed just four runs in 58 2/3 innings, including eight innings of one-hit ball against the Phillies on July 9.

"We were just capitalizing on the mistakes," Brown said. "Earlier on in the season, even when I wasn't here, we weren't hitting the mistakes. Now we're doing that and having a lot of fun."

As Greinke struggled uncharacteristically, Los Angeles battered Philadelphia starter David Buchanan (2-6), scoring three more runs in the second on a homer by first baseman Adrian Golzalez and another in the third to give the Dodgers ace a lead he wouldn't relinquish.

Greinke helped his cause in the ensuing inning with a solo homer to left-center field that boosted the Dodgers' lead to 7-5.

The right-hander gave back the run in the bottom of the third but found a groove the rest of the way to finish six innings with eight strikeouts.

"I always feel like you can't lose in the first inning, you've got to just keep them there," Greinke said. "The game's not over by any means no matter what, but if you keep letting them score, then the game's over."

Unlike Greinke, Buchanan couldn't reward his offense. He lasted four innings and permitted seven runs and 10 hits, with his ERA ballooning to 7.23.

"You feel kind of disappointed in yourself, a little upset because when you face a pitcher like Greinke, to score five runs in the first inning and to pick me up in the first, that's huge," Buchanan said. "And you want to keep your team in the game. You have a chance to win right there out of the gate. So that definitely hurt more than usual."

The Dodgers added insurance in the sixth with their third three-run inning of the afternoon. Second baseman Howie Kendrick had a two-run double and catcher Yasmani Grandal hit a sacrifice fly. Kendrick, Gonzalez and right fielder Andre Ethier combined for six hits and six RBIs.

"I picked a good time to do it," Greinke said of his tough start. "I picked some good times to have bad outings."

Trailing 10-6, the Phillies threatened in the ninth with two runs, but Brown lined into a game-ending double play as closer Kenley Jansen posted his 21st save.

"It was a shame Brownie hit that line drive right at the first baseman," Mackanin said. "We had something cooking there."

NOTES: After the game, the Phillies announced that 2B Chase Utley (ankle) will be activated from the 15-day disabled list on Friday and LHP Adam Loewen will have his contract selected from Triple-A Lehigh Valley. ... Dodgers OF Yasiel Puig got the day off and not in the lineup. OF Carl Crawford started in his place. ... Phillies OF Cody Asche returned to the lineup after coming off the bench the previous two games of the series against left-handed starters. ... The Dodgers next visit Pittsburgh for a three-game series against the Pirates starting Friday. Los Angeles' probable starters for the series are LHP Clayton Kershaw (9-6, 2.37 ERA), RHP Mat Latos (4-7, 4.29) and LHP Alex Wood (7-7, 3.65). ... The Phillies launch a nine-game road trip with a three-game series against the San Diego Padres beginning Friday. Philadelphia's probable starters are RHP Aaron Nola (2-1, 3.38), LHP Adam Morgan (2-3, 4.46) and RHP Jerome Williams (3-8, 6.09).