Is it safe to call Kyle Kendrick an Ace yet? Because he's sure as hell pitching like one. The surging Phils are riding on a lot of energy right now after a clean sweep of the Rockies, and they were looking to carry that over into this Marlins series at home.
On the Kyle Kendrick front, there isn't much to report here other than a no-hitter through five innings. You know, the usual Kyle Kendrick stuff. Seriously, Kyle's pitching his way into next year's starting rotation, if it wasn't already obvious. The fifth starter job is all his.
The game was scoreless until the bottom of the fifth when Domonic Brown lifted a two-run shot to right field, putting the Phillies on the board. In the same inning, Wade LeBlanc tossed a wild pitch which allowed Michael Martinez to score standing. 3-0 Phils.
The Marlins put up a run in the top of the seventh, Donovan Solano popped up a sac fly to score Carlos Lee.
After seven innings and 95 pitches, Kyle was taken out. It was a beautiful effort in which he allowed just two hits and one earned run, walking three and striking out eight, which ties a career-high. His ERA now stands at 3.83. Simply an unreal season altogether from KK.
Justin De Fratus and Jake Diekman combined to pitch a scoreless top of the eighth, Justin allowed one hit while striking out two.
Antonio Bastardo picked up his first save this season, striking out Greg Dobbs to end the ballgame. Phillies win, 3-1, and they've won their fifth straight.
Tomorrow night, Roy Halladay will take the mound against Nathan Eovaldi.
