Yesterday, the Phillies (45-58) avoided a sweep by the Giants (57-45) backed by a ten-strikeout performance by Cole Hamels (5-5 2.72 ERA). The Phillies sent Kyle Kendrick (5-10 4.87 ERA) to hill to open a series against the Diamondbacks (44-59). Kendrick has had problems with giving up homeruns all season and looked to rectify that tonight. He was opposed by southpaw, Wade Miley (6-7 4.34 ERA). Miley won his last three starts to the Braves, Giants, and Cubs.
The Game: The Phillies led off the bottom of the first with a milestone. Grady Sizemore hit a single for his 1,000-career hit. With one out, Chase Utley walked and Marlon Byrd followed with a single to load the bases. Carlos Ruiz worked a bases loaded walk for the first RBI. Domonic Brown then grounded out to plate Utley. 2-0 Phillies
With one out in the second, Grady Sizemore doubled and stole third. Chase Utley then hit an RBI single. 3-0 Phillies
The Phillies were back at in the third. Ruiz was hit by a pitch and Domonic Brown doubled to put runners on second and third. Darin Ruf then hit a sacrifice fly to plate Ruiz. Cody Asche then hit an RBI single to score Brown. 5-0 Phillies
In the fifth, with two outs, Darin Ruf doubled to left. Cody Asche then hit an RBI single to add to the Phillies lead. 6-0 Phillies
The top of sixth was one to forget for the Phillies pitching. Aaron Hill led off with a double. Then with one out, Miguel Montero worked a walk. After getting a second out, Martin Prado hit a single to load the bases to end Kendrick’s night. Alfredo Marte then crushed a pinch hit Grand Slam to bring the DBacks within two runs. 6-4 Phillies
In the top of the seventh, Bastardo allowed back to back hits before being replaced by Justin DeFratus. DeFratus struck out Hill, before loading the bases by walking Goldschmidt. DeFratus went right back to work striking out Montero and Trumbo. In the bottom of the inning, Marlon Byrd led off with a double. With one out, Domonic Brown crushed a ball for his seventh homer of the season. 8-4 Phillies
In the bottom of the eighth, Andres Blanco led off with a double. Grady Sizemore then followed with his second double of the evening to plate Blanco. 9-4 Phillies
Significant Offensive Stats:
Grady Sizemore: 3-5, 2 R 1 RBI 2 2B
Marlon Byrd: 2-5, 1 R
Domonic Brown: 2-4, 2 R 3 RBI 2B HR
Darin Ruf: 1-2, R RBI 2B SF
Cody Asche: 2-4, RBI
Andres Blanco: 1-1, R 2B
Impact: Winning back to back game is nice to see from the struggling Phillies. Although, three runs were charged to Kendrick, he pitched outstanding and possibly his best outing of the season. With Ryan Howard back in the lineup tomorrow, it was nice to see a good outing for Darin Ruf.
Up Next: Tomorrow, the Phillies will send Cliff Lee (4-5 3.67 ERA) to the hill looking to take the series. The Phillies will be looking for a strong outing from Lee in order to increase his trade value coming off the DL. The DBacks will counter with Josh Collmenter (8-5 3.64 ERA). Collmenter won his last start versus the Cubs going seven innings striking out four.
Andrew Shipotofsky is a writer for Philliedelphia. Follow him on Twitter @Ashipotofsky
