Philadelphia (64-53) at Los Angeles (58-59)

The Los Angeles Dodgers blew a good opportunity to take over first place in the NL West during the weekend as they faced a weak opponent.

Instead of having a chance to increase a lead in the division Monday, they’ll be trying to avoid a third straight loss when the NL East-leading Philadelphia Phillies come to town.

The Dodgers (58-59) are opening a 10-game homestand, but they won’t bring any momentum into it after dropping the last two games of their three-game set with San Francisco. Los Angeles fell 5-4 on Sunday for its second consecutive one-run defeat to the Giants, who are 16 games under .500.

San Francisco rallied to win in the final inning for the second straight day, scoring twice in the ninth as Los Angeles lost on Eugenio Velez’s RBI infield single with two outs.

“It’s disappointing but it’s going to happen,” said manager Joe Torre, whose team went 2-4 on its road trip. “We’re going to have to reach down and reach back. It’s how you come back.”

Torre’s team missed a chance Saturday to move past Arizona into first place in the NL West, squandering a one-run lead in the 10th inning and losing 3-2. Sunday’s defeat dropped Los Angeles 1 1/2 games behind the Diamondbacks, who are off Monday.

The Dodgers will try to bounce back at home, where they’ve won eight of their last 11. That’s due in large part to their starting pitchers, who are 7-2 with a 2.02 ERA in those games.

Derek Lowe (8-10, 4.10 ERA) should be as happy as any Dodger to be back home as he takes the ball Monday. The right-hander is coming off his worst start of the year, allowing season highs of eight runs and 13 hits in 3 1-3 innings of a 9-6 loss at St. Louis on Wednesday.

Lowe’s previous two starts came at home, and he gave up two runs in 14 1-3 innings over that span. He has a 1.24 ERA in his last four outings at Dodger Stadium and a 2.72 ERA in 12 home starts this season - compared to a 5.88 ERA in 12 road outings on the year.

Lowe is 3-1 with a 2.84 ERA in six starts and four relief appearances against the Phillies.

Philadelphia (64-53) is two games ahead of New York in the NL East. The Phillies extended their lead Sunday, beating Pittsburgh 6-3 to take the three-game series and earn a split of their six-game homestand.

Chase Utley struggled during the series but broke out of an 0-for-12 slump at the perfect time, hitting a tiebreaking two-run homer in the seventh inning - his first home run since July 7.

Utley, batting .286 with 28 homers and 78 RBIs on the season, is hitting .266 with four homers and 11 RBIs in 20 games since the All-Star break.

“I ain’t worried about Chase’s hitting,” said manager Charlie Manuel, whose team had scored 17 runs in its first seven games this month. “Not at all. He’s fine. His hitting is going to come around.”

Sunday’s game was the highest-scoring contest in August for Philadelphia, which is 5-4 this month after closing July on a five-game win streak.

Kyle Kendrick (10-5, 4.37) takes the mound for the Phillies on Monday. The right-hander has won his last two starts and allowed four hits over six innings Wednesday in a 5-0 victory over Florida.

Kendrick has a 1.45 ERA over his last three outings.

“Every team needs a guy like him,” Phillies catcher Chris Coste said. “It’s good to have a guy like that on your staff.”

Kendrick is 1-1 with a 6.75 ERA in two career starts against the Dodgers - both coming last season.