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Dodgers acquire Victorino from Phils

PHILADELPHIA » Shane Victorino will hear an unfamiliar sound at Chavez Ravine: cheers.

The Phillies traded the two-time All-Star center fielder and Maui native to the Los Angeles Dodgers on Tuesday for reliever Josh Lindblom and minor league pitcher Ethan Martin.

The "Flyin’ Hawaiian" was the second Hawaii native acquired by the Dodgers in two days, after L.A. traded for Seattle reliever Brandon League on Monday.

Philadelphia also gets a player to be named or cash for the 31-year-old Victorino, who can become a free agent after the season. The last-place Phillies then sent two-time All-Star right fielder Hunter Pence to the San Francisco Giants for three players.

"Mahalo to the @Phillies and the AMAZING fans in Philly for a great run. A lot of unforgettable memories in this city. I’ll miss you guys!" Victorino wrote on Twitter.

The St. Anthony graduate was one of the most popular players on the Phillies in recent history. He was beloved by fans and was very active in various charities.

Victorino is batting .261 with nine homers, 40 RBIs and 24 steals. He helped the Phillies win five straight NL East titles and the 2008 World Series championship.

"We’re excited to add an All-Star-caliber player with postseason experience," Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti said. "He plays the game with passion, gives us a top of the order bat from both sides of the plate, can steal bases and is solid defensively in the outfield."

Victorino has been booed at Dodger Stadium since Game 3 of the 2008 NL championship series. Victorino took exception to a fastball thrown over his head by Hiroki Kuroda. He shouted at Kuroda while pointing at his own head and upper body as if to say: "It’s OK to throw at my body, but not my head." Benches cleared, but no punches were thrown.

Since that day, Victorino has been a villain to Dodgers fans.

Not anymore.

Victorino joins a team that is one game behind the first-place Giants in the NL West. Though he’s a three-time Gold Glove winner, he could move to left field because reigning Gold Glove winner Matt Kemp plays center. Kemp, however, told team officials that he’d be willing to move to left before the trade.

Victorino primarily batted second in Philadelphia’s lineup, though he hit everywhere from first to sixth this season. He’s expected to lead off for Los Angeles, which hasn’t had much production in that slot. Dodgers leadoff hitters have a .221 average and .279 on-base percentage this season. Victorino’s on-base percentage is .324, down from .355 last year.

Victorino returns to the team that selected him in the sixth round of the 1999 amateur draft. He was a winter league draft selection by the Phillies in 2004 from the Dodgers.

The switch-hitting Victorino batted .279 with 181 doubles, 63 triples, 88 home runs, 390 RBIs and 179 stolen bases in eight years with the Phillies. In 46 postseason games, Victorino hit .269 with six homers and 30 RBIs.

Victorino is making $9.5 million this season, and the Phillies weren’t going to give him the long-term deal he’ll seek in free agency.

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