Utley snaps slump, though Phillies blanked again

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For the third straight game, the Phillies failed to score a run in Grapefruit League action. This time they dropped one to the Pittsburgh Pirates, 3-0, at Citizens Bank Park Friday night.

But if manager Ryne Sandberg is concerned about the fact that his team has just six hits in three games, he wasn’t letting on. Perhaps he would be singing a different tune come Monday if the hitting woes continue when the games count for real.

For now, Sandberg is pleased with the progress his hitters showed at the plate. Exhibit A in that regard is his No. 3-hole hitter, Chase Utley.

Utley went 3 for 3 with a pair of doubles high off the wall in right and center and a line-drive single that was laced into right-center. For a player that was just 10 for 57 with one extra-base hit, one walk and seven strikeouts going into Friday’s game, Utley’s performance is enough to leave Sandberg downright giddy.

“His timing early on was off,” Sandberg said. “He did spend the first number of games seeing the ball well, but as of late the contact has been there and he’s driven the ball. He found the gaps tonight.”

Utley launched a double to deep right with two outs in the first that nearly left the park for a homer. He then laced a single with one out in the fourth only to be erased on a double-play grounder from Ryan Howard a pitch later. In the seventh inning, Utley pounded a double to the deepest part of center field with one out. He advanced to third on a ground out from Howard and was left stranded when Marlon Byrd whiffed to end the inning.

“He’s been a guy who has been swinging the bat his last 10 or 12 at-bats,” Sandberg said of Utley. “He’s been hitting the ball hard and it was just a matter of time for him to find some holes and find some gaps.”

Now if the Phillies could just get Utley and Howard both going at the same time …

Howard went 0 for 3 behind Utley in the lineup and is batting just .227 this spring with three homers, seven RBIs and 25 strikeouts in 66 at-bats. Part of that is Howard working on things during his plate appearances. For instance, Sandberg said Howard has been making adjustments on where he digs in at the plate. That’s in order to account for the defensive shift opposing teams use when Howard is at the plate.

Other times, Sandberg pointed out, Howard hasn’t made good contact.

“For Howard, he’s a guy who is working at his game. He’s a big bat in the middle of our lineup that we need, but right now he seems to be catching a lot of balls at the end of his bat,” Sandberg said. “He continues to work at that and make adjustments. A lot of that is where he stands.

“He often does that to accommodate the shift that’s put on him. But he’s driving the ball better and his batting practice is better, so I see for him to soon take that into the game.”

This is an important season for Howard, who has been limited over the past two years because of ankle and knee injuries. Nevertheless, Howard looks fit and trim and spent the winter rebuilding his batting stroke with the hope of putting together a full, vintage season in 2014.

So far it’s been slow going. But that’s just not for Howard. It’s been that way for everyone on the Phils’ roster as evidenced by the overall team batting average of .222, and slugging percentage of .334 and an on-base percentage of .298.

Still, Sandberg was encouraged with the latest shutout. Perhaps it’s just a matter of time?

“I also counted about seven or eight hard-hit balls throughout the game, but right at the defense,” Sandberg said. “I saw some good contact, but we had nothing to show for it.”

Kendrick ready to go
While the offense sputtered, No. 3 starter Kyle Kendrick was solid in his final spring tune up.

The right-hander blanked the Pirates on three hits and a pair of walks in five innings Friday night. He faced 19 batters and threw 41 of his 63 pitches for strikes. Better yet, Kendrick got eight of his 15 outs on grounders.

What more could a sinker baller ask for?

“I felt good,” Kendrick said. “It was a good carryover from last time out. I was able to throw strikes and get ahead and pound the zone and get my work in. It was a good finish and now I’m looking forward to the real thing.”

Kendrick posted a 2.81 ERA in four starts, allowing 13 hits and seven walks in 16 innings. Following a season that ended in September because of arm trouble, Kendrick says he tested himself in the spring and is ready for the season to start.

“The main thing is my health with my arm,” Kendrick said. “It’s in the past and I feel good. My pitches felt good and I’m healthy and I’m ready to go.”

Kendrick is expected to start against Texas next Wednesday night.

Next up
The Phillies play the exhibition season finale Saturday afternoon against the Pirates. Roberto Hernandez is expected to make his final spring start, weather permitting.

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