Phillies Look to Avoid Sweep Behind Kendrick in Matinee

The Phillies (24-33), losers of five straight, look to salvage a game against Washington (29-28) tonight in DC. The Nats have taken the first two games of this set in convincing fashion, by scores of 7-0 and 8-2. The Phils did manage to score their first runs since the eighth inning on Tuesday, but it wasn't enough. They broke through with two unearned scores in the fifth thanks to two Nats errors and added on two more runs via a Mayberry two-run homer in the eighth. Starter AJ Burnett, looking to get back on track from a rough May, didn't do himself any favors. The Phils right-hander gave up eight runs on 10 hits to raise his ERA to 4.41 on the season. He walked four as well. Giving free passes is something this team needs to cut down on if pitching wants to be effective. Currently, the Phils rank 4th in Major League Baseball in giving free passes with 209.

Kyle Kendrick (1-5, 4.21) will get the nod in the series finale for the Phillies, coming off of a game against the Mets where he pitched six innings, keeping the Phils in it. He gave up four runs in a 5-4, extra-inning loss. Kendrick's job is to try and keep the Phillies in the game, but with the inconsistency of the offense, more pressure is put upon the starters to pitch deeper into games. Pitching from behind is never a good thing and Kendrick is no stranger to that. In his 11 starts this season, Kyle has given up 11 runs in the first inning, good for a 9.00ERA to open the game. He's given up 19 hits, including two doubles and three homers, in the opening frame this season, which sure doesn't help a team that has trouble playing from behind. Or scoring runs at all, for that matter. Kyle has a career 5.65 ERA in the first inning. He will be facing a Nationals team that he holds a career 5-8 record against, with a 4.85 ERA. Last season, Kendrick was 1-3 with a 5.40 ERA in his five starts against the NL East foe.  

The Nationals will call on Doug Fister (3-1, 3.34) today to aim for the sweep. The former Tigers start has faced the Phillies once in his career and it was a great outing. Fister threw eight innings, giving up an unearned run on three hits while striking out five on July 26th of last season. Fister has gone six or more innings in three out of five starts this season and is coming off of a solid performance against the Rangers during a 10-2 win for the Nats. He pitched six innings and gave up two runs on four hits while striking out six Texas hitters. After getting lit up for five earned runs in his first start this season against Oakland, the Nationals righty has settled down and held opposing teams to two runs or less in his last four starts, all of which the Nationals have won. Former Twin, Ben Revere, is the most familiar with Fister. The Phils speedy center fielder has six hits in 15 at-bats against him, all singles. Marlon Byrd is has a double and two RBI's in his six at bats against Fister.

Game Notes:

  • Former Phillie utility man, Kevin Frandsen, gets the start for Washington today at third base. In 100 plate appearances this season, he is hitting .233 with four doubles, a home run and six RBI's. 
  • The Phillies have lost 11 of their last 13 games at Nationals Park and 11 of their last 15 overall.
  • The Phillies have been outscored 26-6 over their last three games and they hold the second worst run-differential in baseball at -52.
  • Ryan Zimmerman is 15 for 44 (.341) with two homers, seven doubles, four RBIs and five walks against Kyle Kendrick.
  • After his pinch-hit homer last night, John Mayberry Jr. is 7 for 12 as a pinch-hitter with three homers and 11 RBIs. He gets the start in right today as Marlon Byrd gets the day off for the first time all year.

Phillies Lineup

  1. Ben Revere CF
  2. Jimmy Rollins SS
  3. Chase Utley 2B
  4. Ryan Howard 1B
  5. John Mayberry Jr. RF
  6. Domonic Brown LF
  7. Wil Nieves C
  8. Reid Brignac 3B
  9. Kyle Kendrick P

Nationals Lineup

  1. Denard Span CF
  2. Anthony Rendon 2B
  3. Jayson Werth RF
  4. Adam LaRoche 1B
  5. Ryan Zimmerman LF
  6. Kevin Frandsen 3B
  7. Danny Espinosa SS
  8. Josa Lobaton C
  9. Doug Fister P

Location: Nationals Park, Washington, DC
Weather: 77° F – Partly Cloudy – 0% PoP
Game Time: 4:05 PM Eastern

Brandon Apter, Publishing Editor for Philliedelphia.com. Follow him on Twitter @ApterShock

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