BOX SCORE
DENVEROn a major league baseball roster, the pitching staff is the team within a team.
The Phillies have one of the best pitching staffs in the game thanks to Roy Halladay, Cole Hamels, Cliff Lee, Antonio Bastardo and Ryan Madson.
But successful teamseven teams within teamsmust have solid role players. The Phillies pitching staff has one in Kyle Kendrick, who has delivered a series of creditable performances this season as a starter and a reliever.
Hes done everything hes been asked and hes never complained, Ryan Howard said.
Kendrick might have made his final start of the season Tuesday night. If he did, he exited the rotation in style, holding the Colorado Rockies to four hits over eight scoreless innings in a hitters ballpark in leading the Phillies to a 5-0 win at Coors Field.
Kyle did a great job, manager Charlie Manuel said. That ranks up there with his best outings.
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Before the game, Manuel talked about the contributions that Kendrick has been able to make despite not being a strikeout pitcher.
Kendrick then went out and struck out a career-high seven.
He must have heard me say that, Manuel said with a laugh after the game.
Not only did Kendrick help deliver the Phillies 70th win in 109 games, but he gave the Phillies top three relievers of Bastardo, Madson and Mike Stutes a much-needed night off. With Roy Halladay taking the mound Wednesday, the pen has a chance to be well rested heading into San Francisco for a series against the defending World Series champions on Thursday.
Kendrick will likely be in the bullpen for that series. Roy Oswalt, out since late June with a bulging disc in his lower back, has rejoined the team after two minor-league rehab starts and will probably be activated in time to nudge Kendrick out of the rotation Sunday in San Francisco.
Im just excited to be part of the team and help us win, Kendrick said after Tuesday nights victory. Having Oswalt back will help us get better. Im excited about how were playing and where were headed. Were playing good baseball.
Theres no doubt about that. By winning Tuesday night, the Phils have won 11 of their last 12 series. They are 31 games over .500 and a season-high eight games up on second-place Atlanta in the NL East.
Kendrick has helped the Phillies get there by posting a 3.19 ERA in 87 13 innings. He is 4-3 with a 3.48 ERA in 11 starts.
Howard has also helped the Phillies reach lofty heights by driving in 83 runs, second-most in the NL.
The Phils cleanup man homered twice Tuesday night, giving him 23 on the season. He has seven hits, including three homers, and five RBIs in the four games since the Phils acquired Hunter Pence and put him in the No. 5 spot in the lineup. Pence had two doubles Tuesday night.
Im seeing a lot more fastballs, at least in this series, Howard said. My man, HP, is getting it done. If they want to keep throwing me fastballs, Im not going to be mad about it.
The way I look at it, theres another threat in our lineup. Pence is fired up to be here and were fired up to have him. He brings a lot of intensity to the team, even in batting practice.
Kendrick hadnt had much success in previous outings against Colorado. The Rockies were hitting .344 (53 for 154) as a team against the right-hander and their lineup was stacked with five left-handed hitters or switch-hitters. Lefty swingers typically give Kendrick trouble, but he handled them well in this game. He was able to throw his cutter down and in to keep them from sitting on his sinker.
He had real good command, Manuel said.
Kendrick knew which way the wind was blowing before the game even began. He knew Oswalt was on his way back and that hed soon be back in the bullpen.
Once upon a time, Kendrick might have fretted about that. But after five seasons in the majors, he has developed some poise.
I didnt think about that, Kendrick said. I just wanted to give us a quality start and a chance to win the game.
He did all of that.
E-mail Jim Salisbury at jsalisbury@comcastsportsnet.com.