Phillies Bounce Back With 9-0 Win Over Rockies
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Kyle Kendrick and his offense were in sync for the first time in a while.
Ryan Howard had five RBIs and Kendrick pitched sharply into the seventh inning to snap his 10-game losing streak as the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Colorado Rockies 9-0 Monday.
A day after Dodgers right-hander Josh Beckett threw a no-hitter against the Phillies, leadoff man Ben Revere started with a single for the first of Philadelphia's 12 hits.
Kendrick (1-5) allowed six hits over 6 2-3 innings to earn his first win since last Aug. 6, a span of 16 winless starts. His best performance since that skid came against the top offense in the majors. The Rockies are first in runs (262) and batting average (.291), but have been shut out in two straight games.
Kendrick had several strong starts during his losing streak but didn't get much run support. He also had some poor outings when the offense produced.
"It was tough. It was a grind," Kendrick said. "I tried to keep games close, pitch deep and give us a chance. Some of those wins and losses are out of your control."
Jhoulys Chacin (0-4) gave up four runs and seven hits in five-plus innings. He has lost five straight decisions dating to last season.
"I felt fine and my pitches were moving pretty good," Chacin said.
Mike Adams relieved Kendrick and fanned Troy Tulowitzki with two on to end the seventh in a 4-0 game. Antonio Bastardo and Justin De Fratus finished off the seven-hitter.
The key for Kendrick was getting through the first inning scoreless. He didn't allow a run in the first for the first time in five starts after giving up nine total runs in the opening frame in his previous four outings.
"I didn't have my best command, but I made pitches when I needed to," Kendrick said. "No runs is all that matters."
Chase Utley got the Phillies going in the fourth by reaching on an infield single with two outs. He advanced to second on a wild pitch and scored when Howard lined a single to right, snapping Philadelphia's 15-inning scoreless streak. Howard was 0 for 17 before the hit.
"We got good pitches to hit and we jumped out early," Howard said. "Our approach was similar. Sometimes when a guy is on, he's on. You can have a bad day yesterday, but next day is a fresh start."
The Phillies hustled out a run in the fifth. Domonic Brown walked and sprinted to third on Carlos Ruiz's single to left. Two outs later, Revere dove headfirst into first base to beat out an infield single and give the Phillies a 2-0 lead.
Kendrick escaped a two-out jam in the sixth, retiring Josh Rutledge on a foul pop to leave runners at second and third.
Howard connected in the sixth, sending a drive into the right-center stands for his eighth homer and a 4-0 lead. Utley hit an RBI double in the seventh and Howard followed with a two-run single.
Pinch-hitter John Mayberry Jr. capped the scoring outburst with a two-run shot.
"It was a good bounce-back game for us," Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg said. "It was good to see Kendrick was solid against a good lineup."
NOTES: Phillies lefty Cliff Lee was not cleared to start throwing and will be re-evaluated in three days. Lee has an elbow strain and was placed on the disabled list last week. "It's definitely better, but it's still there," Lee said. "No sense in rushing it." ... Chacin didn't have a wild pitch this season before throwing three in the fourth inning. ... Charlie Culberson made his third straight start for injured Rockies 3B Nolan Arenado. ... Colorado was shut out for the third time this season. ... Matt Beech was the last Phillies pitcher to lose 11 straight decisions. His streak went from Aug. 13, 1996, to Aug. 2, 1997. ... LHP Jorge De La Rosa (5-3) goes for the Rockies against LHP Cole Hamels (1-2, 4.30 ERA) on Tuesday night.
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