Kendrick Pummelled as Dodgers Beat Phillies
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Phillies starter Kyle Kendrick had little difficulty getting through the first two innings before being rocked for 6 runs in the third and another in the fourth. Trailing 7-1, 3 late inning rallies fell short for the Phils as 1st baseman Ryan Howard, representing the winning run in the ninth with 2 on and 2 out, grounded out to end the game as the Dodgers held on to beat the Phillies by an 8-6 score.
Despite Monday’s loss, the Phillies lost no ground on their 1st place lead in the NL East remaining 2 games ahead of the Mets and 2 1/2 games ahead of the Marlins who both lost. The 4th place Braves are now 8 1/2 games back having had Monday off.
Kendrick got the 1st out in the third before big trouble set in. The Dodgers loaded the bases on a single, a walk and a hit batsman. The leftfielder Manny Ramirez, white-hot and hitting .475 since coming west from Boston, doubled scoring 2. Ramirez was 2 for 3 for the game and was walked twice. 1st baseman James Loney followed with a 2 run single and went to second on the relay throw home. Another single and Loney was out at home. Newly acquired 3rd baseman Casey Blake then belted a 2 run shot to centerfield and the Dodgers had 6 runs in the inning off of losing pitcher Kendrick. To view the play-by-play on the game, click here.
Meanwhile, Derek Lowe made short work of the Phils in the first through third innings before centerfielder Shane Victorino singled and 2nd baseman Chase Utley doubled putting runners at 2nd and 3rd with none out. Howard came up with a chance to do real damage and get the Phils back in the game. But the Dodgers set up a shift, with the shortstop joining the 1st and 2nd basemen on the right side of the infield. Howard grounded out to short as the only run of the inning scored for the Phils. Leftfielder Pat Burrell struck out and rightfielder Jayson Werth struck out to end the inning.
2nd baseman Jeff Kent sent Kendrick packing in the fourth inning with a 1 out RBI single to left centerfield for the Dodgers’ 7th run. Lefthanded reliever Les Walrond relieved Kendrick and struck out the next two hitters to end the inning. Walrond evaded trouble through the next 2 2/3 innings despite giving up 2 hits and issuing 3 intentional walks. He threw 42 pitches during his relief stint.
Meanwhile, another 2 on, 1 out situation against Lowe; another Howard shift and another ground out RBI to the right side. Howard has got to learn to spray the ball on the ground just as he hits opposite field homers. 7-2 Dodgers.
The Phils scored 2 runs in the seventh inning on an RBI single by rightfielder Geoff Jenkins and an RBI triple by shortstop Jimmy Rollins that right fielder Andre Ethier misjudged in the alley. 7-4 Dodgers as Lowe gave way to Chan Ho Park after 6 1/3 innings with Park being charged with the 4th run before fanning Victorino to end the inning.
The line on Derek Lowe was 6 1/3 innings, 96 pitches, 3 runs, 5 hits, 1 walk and 3 strikeouts in winning his 9th game vs 10 losses. Kendrick’s record drops to 10-6 for the season.
Clay Condrey relieved Walrond and was tagged for the final Dodgers’ run on 2 singles and a double.
In the ninth, 3rd baseman Greg Dobbs opened against reliever Jonathan Broxton with a single to centerfield. Catcher Carlos Ruiz was walked. After a strikeout and a fly out, Victorino singled to load the bases. Utley, who was 3 for 5 for the game with 2 RBIs, singled in Dobbs and Ruiz as Howard stepped up with runners on 1st and 2nd. Once again, Howard was retired on a grounder to the rightside, this time to second base — to end the game.
For all of the scores, boxscores and recaps on Monday’s games, click here.
In Tuesday’s game 2, two young lefthanders meet as Phillies presumptive ace Cole Hamels is opposed by 20 year old rookie Clayton Kershaw. On Wenesday, recent acquisition Joe Blanton opposes Brad Penny who, after two standout seasons, is having an off-year at 6-9 with a 5.66 ERA.
For all of the scores, boxscores and recaps on Tuesday’s games, click here.
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