Ryan Howard Starts As Kyle Kendrick Aims To Prevent Dodgers From Winning Series In Finale

Despite Chase Utley's two home runs last night it was not enough for the Phillies, who fell to the Dodgers in walk-off fashion. Cliff Lee gave up three runs on four hits through seven innings last night and struck out 10 hitters. He was on the hook for the loss, but with a Jimmy Rollins sac-fly the Phillies had the game tied. The Dodgers would go on to win it in the bottom of the ninth to take their 37th win of the year. This afternoon Kyle Kendrick (7-4, 3.46 ERA) will seek his eighth win on the year as he takes on Stephen Fife (2-2, 3.41 ERA) and the Dodgers.

Kyle Kendrick allowed just two earned runs through eight innings against the Padres on Tuesday en route to his seventh win of the year. He struck out six hitters while walking none and continued to pitch well. In 11 of his 16 starts this season, Kendrick has allowed two or fewer earned runs. In his last three starts Kendrick is 1-0 with a 4.50 ERA. In his last 10 starts Kendrick has struck out 39 hitters and walked 16. He will look to keep rolling against the Dodgers, a team he has a 5-4 record with a 7.38 ERA in 10 games (7 starts) against.

Stephen Fife will be making his seventh start of the season and will look to keep continuing his solid month of June. In five starts this June, Fife is 2-2 with a 2.73 ERA and has struck out 25 hitters while walking nine. In his last start, against the Giants on Tuesday, Fife went 6 2/3 frames allowing three runs on four hits while walking two. Fife was rewarded with his second win of the year. He will look to give the Dodgers a series win against the Phillies, a team that he has one career start against.

Game Notes:

• The Phillies are looking for their 40th win on the year this afternoon.
• Stephen Fife is 2-1 with a 2.89 ERA in three starts at home this season.
• In 12 career at bats against Kendrick, Matt Kemp is hitting .417 with no RBI.

Phillies lineup:

1. Michael Young 3B
2. Chase Utley 2B
3. Jimmy Rollins SS
4. Ryan Howard 1B
5. Domonic Brown LF
6. Delmon Young RF
7. Ben Revere CF
8. Carlos Ruiz C
9. Kyle Kendrick P.

Dodgers lineup:

1. Skip Schmuaker 2B
2. Yasiel Puig RF
3. Adrian Gonzalez 1B
4. Hanley Ramirez SS
5. Andre Ethier LF
6. Matt Kemp CF
7. A.J. Ellis C
8. Jerry Hairston 3B
9. Stephen Fife P.

First Pitch Forecast: Sunny – 93° – 0% PoP

TV: myPHL17
Radio: 94 WIP, 1210 WPHT

Erik Seybold is a writer for Philliedelphia. Follow him on Twitter.