Last night, the Phillies (70-83) were looking to earn a split in a four-game series with the San Diego Padres (71-81). Having lost the first two games, the Phils rebounded to take game three by a score of 5-2, thanks to a strong day at the plate from Darin Ruf and yet another solid outing from Cole Hamels. Meanwhile, Kyle Kendrick was scheduled to take the mound, holding opposing teams to one run or less in two of his three starts prior. The Padres sent Robbie Erlin to the hill, making his first start since May 17th.
The Game: Kyle Kendrick would get out of the first inning unscathed this time around, but the Padres got on the board first in the second inning thanks to a solo home run off the bat of Alexi Amarista.
Jedd Gyorko came to the plate with two outs in the third. He hit what looked like a gapper, but Dom Brown had other ideas. Check it out.
The Phillies answered in the fourth. Darin Ruf smacked a one-out double to left. After a wild pitch allowed Ruf to advance to third during Maikel Franco's at-bat, Domonic Brown drove in Ruf with a single to left, tying things at one a piece.
The Padres broke the tie in the bottom of the frame though. Kendrick started the inning by walking Yasmani Grandal. Seth Smith and Tommy Medica both singles, loading the bases with no outs. Alexi Amarista, having already hit a solo homer, hit a sac fly to score Grandal from third, making it 2-1 Padres. Seth Smith tried to go from second to third on the play but Dom Brown was having none of it and caught Smith at third with a nice outfield assist, throwing away from his body.
The Padres tacked another run on in the fifth. After getting the first two outs, Kendrick have up a single to Jedd Gyorko and walked Yasmani Grandal again. Seth Smith singled to right, goodenough to score Gyorko from second. 3-1 Padres.
In the bottom of the sixth, it was Antonio Bastardo taking over for Kendrick. He immediately gave up a lead-off double to Cameron Maybin. Next up was Abraham Almonte, who ended up grounding out, moving Maybin to third. Cory Spangenberg singled to left, scoring Maybin, extending the lead to 4-1.
The Phillies had a chance to climb back in the eighth as Ben Revere and Freddy Galvis both singled to start the inning. Unfortunately, Marlon Byrd, Darin Ruf and Maikel Franco all struck out against Dale Thayer, ending any threat with runners on base.
Cesar Jimenez came on to pitch the eighth and gave up back-to-back singles to Alexi Amarista and Cameron Maybin. Amarista would advance to third on Maybin's single courtesy of a throwing error by Jimenez. Cesar got the next two outs but then Will Venable blew it open with a three-run homer to center field, making it 7-1 in favor of San Diego.
In the top of the ninth, the Phillies chipped away a little but it was too late. Domonic Brown doubled to lead things off and was driven in during the next at-bat with a Cesar Hernandez RBI single. Andres Blanco flied out and Grady Sizemore struck out. Ben Revere then singled to center to score Hernandez, who had advanced to second on a defensive indifference, making it a 7-3 game. Chase Utley couldn't keep it alive as he grounded out to first, ending the game.
Notable Offensive Statistics:
- Domonic Brown: 2-4, R, RBI
- Darin Ruf: 1-4, RBI, 2 K's
- Freddy Galvis: 2-4
- Ben Revere: 3-5, RBI
Impact: Coming off a start where he allowed just one run in 6.1 innings, Kendrick didn't show much control, walking five and allowing three runs. After he departed, the bullpen couldn't keep it within striking distance. Mike Adams tossed a scoreless inning but Antonio Bastardo and Cesar Jimenez gave up four runs on five hits in their combined two innings. Domonic Brown had a nice game all-around, flashing the leather during a great diving catch in the third and also recording an outfield assist later in the game. The biggest disappointment offensively came in the eighth inning, when the Phils has runners on first and second with none out and Byrd, Ruf and Franco all struck out. The Phils lose three out of four from the Padres after sweeping them earlier this season.
Up Next: The Phillies continue their west coast trip with a stop in Oakland for a weekend series with the struggling A's. Oakland has posted a 5-11 record this month and just got swept by Texas. Rookie David Buchanan (6-7, 3.75) will get the nod for Philadelphia in the opener while the A's send Jon Lester (5-3, 2.30) to the mound.
Brandon Apter, Publishing Editor for Philliedelphia.com
