NEW YORK -- The All-Star break did not cool off the Phillies. They won for the 10th time in 14 games this month, pounding the New York Mets, 13-8, at Citi Field on Friday night.
The Phils (49-48) have won three in a row to improve to a game over .500 for just the second time this season. They need to keep piling up the wins to convince management to keep the club intact and possibly add a piece or two before the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline.
After having four days off, the Phils scored four runs in the first inning and seven more in the third to beat the Mets.
The victory moved the Phils into second place in the NL East, a half-game ahead of the Nationals.
The game was played in a crisp three hours, 27 minutes.
Starting pitching report
Kyle Kendrick picked up his ninth win. Kendrick opened the game with three no-hit innings and a big lead, but he was not sharp in the middle innings. He ended up allowing nine hits and six runs over 5 2/3 innings. He walked one and struck out seven.
The Phillies bruised Mets’ starter Jeremy Hefner for 10 hits and eight runs in two innings.
Hefner had entered the game with a 1.76 ERA in his previous eight starts.
Bullpen report
Luis Garcia got four outs for the Phillies. Jake Diekman got three in the eighth. Justin De Fratus allowed a two-run homer in the ninth before getting the final three outs.
At the plate
Chase Utley drove in the Phils’ first run with a triple off the center-field wall in the first inning. He smacked a two-run homer in the fifth. The Phils scored seven times in the third inning with Domonic Brown clouting a leadoff solo homer and Michael Young adding a three-run homer. John Mayberry Jr., filling injured Ben Revere’s spot in center field, drove in two runs with a double and a single. Brown finished with three hits. Delmon Young also had three hits.
The Phils were 7 for 10 with runners in scoring position.
Marlon Byrd crushed a three-run homer against Kendrick in the fourth inning.
David Wright smacked a two-run homer in the ninth.
Health check
Roy Halladay is close to throwing from a mound. The news is not so good on other Phillies pitchers (see story).
Up next
The series continues Saturday afternoon. Cole Hamels (4-11, 4.05) opposes right-hander Zack Wheeler (3-1, 3.54).
Cliff Lee (10-3, 2.86) and Matt Harvey (7-2, 2.35) oppose each other in a matchup of All-Stars on Sunday afternoon.