Philadelphia, PA – Kyle Kendrick struck out a career-high eight batters over seven strong innings to guide the Philadelphia Phillies to a 3-1 win over the Miami Marlins, in the first of a three-game set at Citizens Bank Park.
Kendrick (9-10), who carried a no hitter into the sixth, gave up one run on two hits and three walks to pick up his fifth win in six starts. Kendrick has limited his opponents to two or fewer runs over that stretch.
Domonic Brown roped a two-run homer and Michael Martinez doubled and scored a run for the Phillies, who have won five straight and six of their last seven.
"It was a team effort. (Kendrick) pitched one heck of a game, it was a big win for us," Brown said.
Antonio Bastardo twirled a scoreless ninth to earn his first save of the season.
Wade LeBlanc (2-4) gave up three runs on four hits and struck out five over five innings to absorb the loss.
"I think LeBlanc pitched a good of a ball game," Marlins manager Ozzie Guillen said. "He just had one bad pitch to the kid who hit a homer, other than that he was good."
Donovan Solano knocked in the lone run for the Marlins, who have dropped eight of their last 12.
The Phillies broke a scoreless tie with three runs in the fifth inning. Ty Wiggington walked before Brown cracked a towering two-run homer to right field. After Erik Kratz popped out Michael Martinez doubled to left and then moved to third on a Kendrick groundout. LeBlanc then threw a wild pitch and Martinez scored.
In the sixth Kendrick walked Jose Reyes to load the bases with Giancarlo Stanton coming to the plate, but Kendrick was able to strike out the slugger to end the inning.
"(Stanton) chases, he swings at stuff down," Kendrick said. "You have to keep it out of the middle of the plate for him. I wanted to just bury it and he just went after it."
Miami would get on the board in the seventh, however, when Solano knocked in Carlos Lee with a sacrifice fly. Lee opened the inning with a double to left- center field and moved to third on a Greg Dobbs ground out before scoring on the sacrifice.
Game Notes
The Phillies are 58-2 when leading after eight innings, and 52-19 when out- hitting their opponent ... Brown hit his first homer since Aug. 22, and has two on the season ... Marlins starting pitcher Ricky Nolasco was named NL Co- Player of the Week for the period ending Sept. 9 ... LeBlanc hasn't won since Aug. 18.
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