Kendrick’s Best Start Eases Phils Past Rockies

Judging by the first two innings last night, it seemed possible the Phillies would break a franchise record for runs scored in three games. But the offense cooled as the game progressed; no worries, Kyle Kendrick pitched maybe his best Major League game and the Phils won, 7-4.

Kendrick went a career-high 7.1 innings, giving up just two earned runs on seven hits while striking out five and walking one. And he looked dominant at times, effectively mixing a fastball (topping at 94 at one point) with his changeup and a breaking ball. He induced 10 ground outs and generally kept the Rockies off balance all night.

The offense got to work early, getting their runs by the second inning. It looked like another blowout — Greg Dobbs drove home two with a single, Pedro Feliz drove in two with a double, Chase Utley collected another RBI and continued his consecutive games on-base streak. (Victorino continued his hit streak, as well.) It was all clicking again, and off Ubaldo Jimenez, who had good-looking stuff. The Rockies bullpen was able to shut down the Phils (one hit in four innings).

The Phils bullpen, meanwhile, gave up some runs in garbage time. Tom Gordon, getting his first work in a few days, let an inherited runner score on a two-run Ryan Spilborghs home run. He’s been the only Rockie who’s hit the Phils in this series. Brad Lidge also surrendered a run, but he was up by four and had to deal with the hour-and-a-half rain delay, which probably didn’t need to happen. They could’ve called the game in the eighth.

But the game wasn’t as close as the final score, mainly because Kendrick was dealing. When you get starting pitching like that, you don’t need to score 20 runs.