BOX SCORE
After taking the first two games of the series against the Mets by scoring 19 runs with the starting pitchers giving up just one, the Phillies Kyle Kendrick turned in a bit of a clunker on Wednesday afternoon at the Bank.
Kendrick needed 81 pitches to get through just four innings in the 7-4 defeat.
The loss gave Atlanta a chance to cut into the Phillies lead in the NL East, but the Braves had their six-game win streak snapped with a 3-2 loss to the Cubs later on Wednesday. At 83-45, the Phillies hold a 6-game lead over the Braves.
In this one, though, the issue for the Phillies wasnt a lack of hitting. After all, the Phils pounded out 12 hits with at least one knock in every inning except for the sixth. Instead, the Phillies had trouble getting that key hit at the most opportune time.
The Phils left the bases loaded in the second inning after bouncing back from the Mets four-run first with three runs of their own, and wasted a big chance in the eighth inning with runners on first and third with one out and the heart of the batting order looming.
The Phillies fate was sealed when Placido Polanco bounced into a double play to end the threat.
MLB
We came back to 4-3 and I felt like we had a chance to win the game there or at least get back in it, but we couldnt get a big hit, especially in the middle part of the game, manager Charlie Manuel said.
Still, the Phillies produced enough offense to have a chance. The problem was falling into that early, four-run hole and then failed to stop the bleeding.
Kendrick allowed six runs on seven hits in his short stint, though only two of those runs were earned. All four of the first-inning runs were unearned after a potential double-play grounder was booted by fill-in shortstop Michael Martinez. That opened the door for Nick Evans to put his stamp on the inning with a two-out, three-run homer.
The botched double play ball by Martinez, the Phillies Rule 5 pickup from last winter, proved to be the costliest play of a game that struggled to maintain a snails pace.
He hasnt played a lot of shortstop, Manuel said. One thing is he tried to make the play too quick. Thats going to happen.
Yet, instead of two out and no one on base, Kendrick had two on and no outs and was on the way to giving up four runs on 27 pitches in the first inning.
He threw a lot of pitches in the first inning and we had a rough first inning, Manuel said. That double play ball ended up hurting him and he threw a lot of pitches.
Kendrick said it was one of those games where it is best to move on.
Thats what Im trying to do in that situationrunner on first, trying to get a ground ball there, Kendrick said. Theres nothing you can do. Hes trying to make the play. Nine times out of 10 those guys are going to make the play. It was just one of those daysa long game and things didnt go our way.
Martinez has been a decent role player for the Phillies this season and has been called to fill in for Chase Utley at second base as well as Polanco at third base. In fact, since turning pro in 2006, Martinez has played just nine games at third base going into the 2011 season.
However, like any big league utility man, Martinez has had to learn a few positions on the fly. With that, he has played 21 games at third base this season and just 20 combined at his natural positions of shortstop and second base.
Nevertheless, Martinez likely will share time at shortstop with Wilson Valdez over the next few weeks with Jimmy Rollins on the disabled list, a fact that doesnt overly concern the manager
He has good handshes a good defender, Manuel said.
A leadoff homer in the third by David Wright also proved to be costly for Kendrick after the Phillies cut the lead to a run. An inning later, Angel Pagan walked, swiped second base and scored on a sacrifice fly.
Regardless, the Phillies had their chances and even if he was able to get out of the first inning unscathed, Kendrick did not have the most economical of outings considering he needed 23 pitches to get out of the third inning and 18 more to finish the fourth.
He was in trouble for most of his four innings, Manuel said.
As for whether Kendrick will make another start remains up in the air. Cole Hamels is expected to rejoin the rotation next week and with some rainstorms moving into the region this weekend, the Phillies may have to juggle pitchers a bit. Then again, as its shaping up, Kendrick is headed to the bullpen for the postseason.
At least he got his pitches in on Wednesday.
E-mail John R. Finger at jfinger@comcastsportsnet.com