Dodgers' Kuroda outduels Halladay to shut out Phillies

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Japanese pitcher Hiroki Kuroda flirted with a no-hitter to overshadow Philadelphia Phillies ace Roy Halladay and give the Los Angeles Dodgers a 3-0 shutout victory on Monday.

Kuroda held the Phillies without a hit into the eighth inning before Shane Victorino hit a single.

He finished after 7-2/3 innings and seven strikeouts before reliever Kuo Hong-chih recorded the final four outs for the Dodgers (68-64).

Halladay (16-10) allowed three runs over seven innings as the National League wild card-leading Phillies (73-58) fell three games behind the Atlanta Braves for first in the East Division.

(Reporting by Jahmal Corner in Los Angeles; Editing by Greg Stutchbury)