The Philadelphia Phillies snapped their six-game losing streak on Thursday night, taking down the Marlins 5-4. Their record improves to 37-48.
- Kyle Kendrick got the start, and turned in a solid performance, allowing just two runs on six hits over seven innings.
- Kendrick received a no-decision, but lowered his ERA to 4.12.
- The Phillies’ offense appeared to be on the verge of suffering yet another shutout after failing to generate any runs through five innings.
- However, in the sixth, the offense finally broke out for a three-run inning.
- Three straight singles from Chase Utley, Ryan Howard, and Marlon Byrd gave the team a bases-loaded opportunity with no outs. Cesar Hernandez knocked in a run with a groundout, and then catcher Cameron Rupp came through with a two-run double.
- Jake Diekman took over Kendrick in the eighth, and blew the lead, allowing two runs on three hits, including an RBI triple to Jeff Baker.
- The Phillies offense came up with one more rally in the ninth inning, scoring two runs off of Steve Cishek to take the lead.
- Tony Gwynn began the inning with a pinch-hit walk, and Ben Revere singled and stole a base to give the team two runners in scoring position with one out.
- Jimmy Rollins knocked in the tying run on a fielder’s choice, and Chase Utley hit the go-ahead run home with a ground-out.
- Jonathan Papelbon struck out two, earning his 19th save of the season.
Final Thoughts
The Phillies actually managed to score five runs, but man did they do it in a pretty unsatisfying fashion.
The Phils get a bases-loaded opportunity with no outs, and Cesar Hernandez is only able to manage an RBI-groundout, and the team comes across an unlikely hero in third-string catcher Cameron Rupp to drive in two more.
Even during the team’s two-run rally in the ninth, Jimmy Rollins and Chase Utley weren’t actually able to come up with base hits to drive in their runs, but only managed RBI-groundouts.
These days, this team will take runs however they can get them, but to me its a pretty unconvincing five runs.
