Notes From Phillies’ 6-4 Win Over Miami

The Phillies won their second straight game on Friday night, defeating the red-hot Miami Marlins 6-4. Philadelphia held the lead for most of the game, but had to turn to Jonathan Papelbon for a five-out save because of the ineffectiveness of the rest of the bullpen.

• Kyle Kendrick turned in another nice start. He only lasted 5.1 innings, but gave up just two runs and also had to deal with a rain delay.
• Kendrick has been much more effective as a starter than a reliever this season. He’s 2-3 with a 3.27 ERA in seven starts, and 0-1 with a 9.53 ERA in five relief appearances.
• It was another good showing for the Philadelphia offense, the lineup put up six runs on 14 hits.
• Placido Polanco got a start in the two-hole tonight, and responded by going two for three with a double and scored two runs. He’s starting to win back the confidence of Charlie Manuel.
• Hunter Pence had another strong game hitting third. The rightfielder collected three hits, drove in two runs, and hit his 12th homerun of the season.
• Pence is currently riding a seven-game hitting streak, and is batting over.300 since being moved out of the cleanup spot.
• Carlos Ruiz continues to amaze. The Chooch had a three-hit night himself, raising his batting average to .381.
• Charlie Manuel decided to give Hector Luna a start in left field, and the move paid off. Luna picked up two hits, and drove in three runs.
• It was a rough outing for the Phillies’ middle relief.
• The team tried to get Jose Contreras to pitch the seventh inning, but the veteran wasn’t able to finish a single batter, and had to leave the game with an elbow injury that will force him to return to the disabled list.
• Antonio Bastardo came in to pitch a scoreless seventh inning, and Manuel unsuccessfully tried to get him through the eighth as well. Bastardo gave up back-to-back homers to start the inning, and issued a walk before being lifted in favor of Jake Diekman.
• Diekman was no better himself, and managed to record just one out before loading the bases, which prompted Manuel to turn to Jonathan Papelbon for a five-out save.
• Papelbon proved (once again) that he’s easily worth the $50 million that the Phillies paid him last winter. The righthander entered the eighth inning, and ended a bases-loaded threat with a pop up and a strikeout. He returned to close the game with little difficulty in the ninth inning, earning his 15th save of the year.