The Phillies' offense couldn't get anything going against Braves starter Tim Hudson, and Kyle Kendrick struggled from the beginning as the Phils fell to Atlanta, 13-4, on Saturday night.
After a strong start to the season, Kendrick (7-6) continued his struggles in allowing 10+ hits for the second straight start in a row. Kendrick was in danger of missing his turn after being diagnosed with concussion-like symptoms earlier in the week, but was cleared to play after passing his concussion tests. He went 5IP, allowing 6 runs (4 ER, 2 HR), and 11 hits with 2BB and 2 K's.
Shortstop Andrelton Simmons gave the Braves the lead immediately with a leadoff solo home run to left, though Kendrick was able to sit the next three Braves, including the slumping Justin Upton, down to end the inning.
Upton, after a torrid start to the season, has cooled off significantly, having hit just three home runs after mashing 12 in April.
Brian McCann led off the first for Atlanta, hitting a grounder to first. Laynce Nix made a good play in making a diving stop of the ball in the infield, but his throw was wide to Kendrick, covering at first, as McCann reached on an infield single. Dan Uggla sent Kendrick's next pitch into the left field seats, the ball cracking loudly off his bat, to put the Braves up 3-0.
B.J. Upton followed up with a single to left, and Chris Johnson doubled down the left field line right after him. Then, Tim Hudson walked to load the bases, making it look like Kendrick would get the hook really early in this one.
Kendrick, however, managed to get Simmons to ground back to the mound. Kendrick threw to Ruiz for the out at the plate, and he then threw to Laynce Nix to get Simmons out at first for the double play. Jason Heyward popped out to end the inning as Kendrick escaped the jam.
Domonic Brown got the first Phillies hit that inning, but was stranded on base as next three Philadelphia batters went down in order, culminating in a long at-bat by Laynce Nix that ended in a very close, called strike three.
The Phillies got on the board in the bottom of the third when, with two outs, Ben Revere, Chase Utley, and Jimmy Rollins hit consecutive singles, with Rollins' scoring Revere from second to cut the Braves' lead to two. Brown, though, would strike out with two men on to end the inning.
Atlanta scored again in the fourth when Chris Johnson lead off with a single and moved to second on a Hudson sac-bunt. Simmons singled to put men second and third and, with two outs, Justin Upton singled into left to score Johnson, making it 4-1 Atlanta. Michael Young lead off with a single for the Phillies, but Delmon Young grounded into a double play and Nix grounded out to second for the third out.
McCann lead off the fifth with a double, and BJ Upton reached on hit that got away from Michael Young. Chris Johnson grounded out to score McCann from third, and Simmons singled off the glove of Young into left to score Upton, giving Atlanta a 6-1 lead.
The Phillies went 1-2-3 to end the fifth. Joe Savery came in to relieve Kendrick, but he fared no better. After stranding Jason Heyward at third to en the sixth, the Atlanta bats came calling immediately in the seventh. A Chris Johnson grounder scored Uggla, who walked to lead off the inning, and, after Simmons walked with two outs, Heyward homered to right, pretty much putting the game out of reach at 10-1.
Phillippe Aumont relieved Savery to start the eigth. Freddie Freeman, vying for the final All-Star roster spot in the fan vote, doubled to center and scored Atlanta's 11th run on Uggla's sac fly.
In the bottom of the inning, Darin Ruf, replacing Nix at 1B, singled with one out and moved to second on a wild pitch by Atlanta reliever Alex Wood. Revere singled to center to move Ruf to third, and Kevin Frandsen hit a sac fly to left to score him, making it 11-2 Atlanta.
Ruf, who won the Eastern League MVP award last season after hitting 38 homers for AA Reading, was called up to replace Ryan Howard on the roster after the veteran first baseman was placed on the 15-day DL with inflamation in his left knee.
Jake Diekman relieved Aumont to start the top of the 9th, and got into trouble immediately, allowing a leadoff single to Gerald Laird, who scored on Simmons' triple to right-center field. Reed Johnson, hitting for Heyward, singled to center to score Simmons to put Atlanta up by 11, but Diekman managed to stop the bleeding in sitting down J. Uptin, Freeman, and PH Paul Janish to end the inning.
Michael Young hit a two run home run with one out after Brown reached despite striking out on a wild pitch by Braves reliever David Carpenter . Delmon Young followed with a single, but Carpenter sat the rest down to end the game. 13-4 Braves.
It was another hard game to watch.The bats were mostly quiet, failing to mount anything serious against Hudson in his seven innings of work. Kendrick labored from the beginning, racking up a high pitch count by the second inning. He hasn't been very consistent after his strong start, but its possible that his injury might have had a hand in his performance, along with the 94 degree temperatures.
The two teams play again tomorrow at 1:35, with Jonathan Pettibone facing off against Atlanta's Kris Medlen. Here's to hoping tomorrow's game is at least competitive.
