Kyle Kendrick tries to win his fifth consecutive decision when the Philadelphia Phillies resume their three-game series against the Cincinnati Reds at Citizens Bank Park.
Kendrick, who didn't get a decision after throwing seven innings at Arizona on Sunday, is 4-0 over is last seven outings with his only defeat coming in his initial start of 2013 - April 5 against Kansas City. Since then, the right- hander has not given up more than two runs in any of his starts. In his last two appearances, the 28-year-old has logged 10 strikeouts without a walk.
Over his career, Kendrick is 3-2 with a 4.10 ERA in eight games (7 starts) when facing the Reds.
Bronson Arroyo snapped a three-start losing streak his last time out, Sunday against Milwaukee with 6 2/3 shutout innings. The righty, who toes the rubber this afternoon, is 3-7 with a 6.00 ERA in 12 games (11 starts) versus the Phillies.
Last night, Domonic Brown recorded the go-ahead RBI in the eighth inning, and the Phillies won, 5-3.
Jimmy Rollins belted a two-run homer for the Phillies, who won for the fourth time in five games. They also snapped Cincinnati's six-game winning streak.
Cliff Lee gave up six hits, two runs and fanned seven over the first seven innings for the Phillies. Antonio Bastardo surrendered the tying homer to Joey Votto leading off the eighth before the home team rallied.
Jay Bruce smacked a two-run homer for the Reds. Tony Cingrani, making his sixth career start, gave up five hits and three runs in five innings.
Sean Marshall (0-1) walked Michael Young with one out in the eighth. Ryan Howard beat the infield shift with a check-swing base hit toward third. Marshall was unable to get the ball out of his glove.
"That's how you beat the shift right there," Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said. "It came at the right time in the game."
Jonathan Broxton then hit Delmon Young with a pitch and Brown followed with a bouncer up the middle. Shortstop Zack Cozart flipped the ball to Brandon Phillips, who failed to make a barehanded grab and the go-ahead run scored.
Howard was then ruled safe on a head-first slide at the plate on a Carlos Ruiz sacrifice fly to center field for an insurance run. Ryan Hanigan blocked the plate with his leg on a perfect throw from Shin-Soo Choo , but Howard was ruled safe to the dismay of Reds manager Dusty Baker.
"That was a series of bad events," Baker said.
The Reds swept three games from the Phillies in Cincinnati in April, while Philadelphia won four of seven games between the teams in 2012.
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