Brewers Edge Phillies 2-1 on 4 Hitter
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The Phillies bats went silent as Milwaukee starter Yovani Gallardo combined with the bullpen as the Brewers nipped the Phillies by a 2-1 score.
With the loss, the Phillies dropped to 5 games behind the NL East 1st place Mets who beat the Chicago Cubs by a 6-2 score but remained in 2nd place by 1/2 game over the Atlanta Braves who dropped a 9-2 loss to the Colorado Rockies.
The Brewers got on the board first with a run in the 1st inning as starter Kyle Kendrick hit lead-off hitter rightfielder Corey Hart. Hart promptly stole 2nd base and scored on 1st baseman Prince Fielder’s two out single to rightfield. Rightfielder Jayson Werth made a strong relay throw, but Hart slid around catcher Chris Coste’s tag and caught a piece of homeplate to score the run.
Kendrick and Gallardo traded goose-eggs until the 5th inning when Gallardo singled to left with one out. Kendrick fanned Corey Hart for the 2nd out. Shortstop J.J. Hardy hit a single, a high chop that Kendrick leaped for but had no play on as Gallardo advanced to 2nd base. 3rd baseman Ryan Braun then singled to left centerfield scoring Gallardo. As with Werth’s relay in the first, centerfielder Aaron Rowand’s relay was on the mark but Gallardo got home plate beating Coste’s tag.
In the 7th inning the Phillies had a chance to do damage. 1st baseman Ryan Howard, who struck out in 3 previous plate appearances, led off with a walk, but was out at 2nd on Rowand’s double-play grounder to 3rd base. Leftfielder Pat Burrell followed with a monster solo shot to left centerfield, his 3rd homer in 4 games, to narrow the Brewer lead to 2-1.
The Phillies’ bats slumbered throughout against winning pitcher Gallardo, who pitched 6 2/3 innings giving up 1 run on 4 hits while walking 1 and striking out 7. Then the Brewer bullpen took over striking out five and holding the Phillies hitless over the last 2 1/3 innings to preserve the win. Closer Francisco Cordero earned his 33rd save pitching the 9th inning and striking out the side. In all, 12 Phillies struck and they left 4 men on base.
Kendrick pitched well enough to win. The AP report for Yahoo sports provides the young righthander’s line in the game.
Kendrick (5-2) gave up two runs and eight hits in seven innings, matching his career-high for innings pitched. He also pitched seven innings July 29 against Pittsburgh and July 13 against St. Louis.
“He was impressive and he kept his poise,” Manuel said.
For the scores, box scores for this and all of Friday’s games, click here.
The Phils try to knot the series at a game apiece as young ace lefthander Cole Hamels goes for his 13h win against Dave Bush for the Brewers.
In Sunday’s series finale, Adam Eaton opposes Jeff Suppan. The Phils have an open date on Monday before beginning a 6 game home stand on Tuesday, 3 games each against the Florida Marlins and the Atlanta Braves.
For the scores, boxscores on all of Saturday’s games, click here.
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