Photo: Philliedelphia/Andrew Gillen
The list of complications with this year's Phillies club is relatively extensive. One of those issues, a reoccurring symptom for a majority of the season, is the team's failure to string together an offensive output. That particular hindrance shown once more last evening, with the Phils unable to give any sort of support to their ace, Cole Hamels. Despite the lefty's two-run performance, Miami's pitching staff was able to shut out Philadelphia en route to a 2-0 victory. Tonight, with Kyle Kendrick possibly making his final start in a Phillies uniform, the offense got off to the same difficult start against Marlin Brad Hand.
The Game: Through inning six, much like the beginning of last night's ballgame, both pitchers were dominant. The Marlins, despite a pair of doubles and a triple, had nothing for Kyle Kendrick. Kendrick was able to collect just a single strikeout in the first two thirds of the game, but did record a total of twelve groundouts against the opposition. Brad Hand had some similar numbers, striking out one more but walking two batters. It took until the seventh inning for either squad to put up an offensive effort.
Darin Ruf walked to begin the seventh, but outs by both Wil Nieves and Freddy Galvis left him on board with two away. Then, in maybe his last heroic effort in Phillies red, Kyle Kendrick lifted the first pitch of his at bat into the left field gap for an RBI double. Ruf scored to give the visiting club the 1-0 lead. Kendrick would give that run right back in the home half of the inning, though, with doubled to both Garrett Jones and Enrique Hernandez. Now moving into the eighth, the score stood at 1-1.
Chris Hatcher replaced Hand in the inning, and immediately served up a Maikel Franco single. Franco would move up to second on a Chase Utley ground out. Following Ryan Howard's walk, Marlon Byrd singled to bring Franco around to score. With the Phillies now ahead 2-1, Ken Giles pitched a scoreless eighth. Then, fresh off of his suspension, Jonathan Papelbon returned with a scoreless ninth, earning the save and handing Kyle Kendrick his tenth win of the season.
Notable Offensive Performances
Maikel Franco: 2-for-5, 1 R, 1 K
Darin Ruf: 1-for-3, 1 R, 1 BB
Marlon Byrd: 2-for-4, 1 RBI
Up Next: David Buchanan makes his final 2014 appearance, facing off against Tom Koehler in Miami. The Phillies and Marlins will finish off their season series at 4:10 PM eastern time tomorrow afternoon.
Andrew Gillen, Managing Editor of Philliedelphia.com
