Jun 26, 2008 7:37 am US/Eastern
Phillies End 6 Game Losing Streak
Phillies 4, Athletics 0
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) ―
Kyle Kendrick
never thought about a shutout. He was happy with the win.
Kendrick pitched eight strong innings, allowing
only four hits in the longest start of his career, to help the Philadelphia Phillies
end a season-worst, six-game losing streak with a 4-0 victory over the Oakland
Athletics on Wednesday night.
"It was nice when we scored in the first," Kendrick said.
"That kept things pretty loose. Everything
was pretty smooth until the eighth. It felt like I threw more pitches then the
rest of the game."
Chase Utley, batting second for the first time
this season, snapped out of a slump with a season-high 4-for-5 performance as the
first-place Phillies finally gained ground in the NL East for the first time in
nearly two weeks.
"We haven't been playing that well," Utley
said. "A lot of credit tonight has to go to Kyle. It was good to see that kind
of performance."
Chris Coste drove in a pair of runs for the
Phillies and Pedro Feliz and Pat Burrell each had an RBI.
Kendrick (7-3) didn't allow a hit until Jack
Hannahan's ground-rule double in the fifth.
"Each inning we were trying to figure out
exactly what he was throwing," A's manager Bob Geren said. "Hitters were coming
back saying they weren't getting much over the middle of the plate. He was
sinking the ball well, living on the corners and showing good command."
Kendrick retired 13 of the first 14 batters; 11
in a row after walking Jack Cust in the first inning. The right-hander walked
one and struck out four. J.C. Romero pitched the ninth to preserve the win for
Kendrick, who gave up a season-high six runs in three innings in his last start
and had allowed six of his 11 home runs in his previous four starts.
"My command was good throwing inside to the
left-handers," said Kendrick, who threw a career-high 113 pitches. "You have to
throw inside to get them moving a little and I was using my sinker and slider."
Greg Smith (4-6) pitched 5 2-3 innings, giving
up four runs on seven hits. He walked two and struck out three, while receiving
support of a run or less for the eighth time in 15 starts.
"For some reason, whether it's the grind of the
season, I have been fighting myself; overthinking," Smith said. "I just need to
focus on my work between starts. I can only do what I'm capable of doing."
Phillies manager Charlie Manuel shook up the
lineup, batting Jimmy Rollins third, Ryan Howard fifth and Shane Victorino
seventh for the first time this season. Eric Brunlett made his first career start,
and just his second ever appearance, at first base. While with the Houston
Astros, he replaced Lance Berkman late in the game on Aug. 20, 2005.
Utley had one hit in his previous 29 at-bats
entering play. He came within a home run of the cycle.
"I wasn't trying to do too much," Utley said. "I
was just trying to put a good swing on the ball. We had a lot of guys on base
tonight and it's better than not having anyone on base at all."
Burrell's sacrifice fly in the first put the Phillies on
top.
Feliz tripled home a run and scored
on Coste's sacrifice fly in the fourth to make it 3-0.
With two outs in the sixth, Victorino bunted
safely and then raced around to score on Coste's short fly that fell just in
front of Carlos Gonzalez for a single.
Notes: @A's 2B Mark Ellis was back in the lineup after
missing a day with a virus. ... Utley and Jayson Werth recorded a double steal
in the first inning and the Phillies stole another base in the eighth and have
been successful in 22 consecutive attempts. ...
Utley has 473 career at bats as the No. 2 hitter. ... Smith leads AL rookies with 67
strikeouts. ... Only two A's—Hannahan and Kurt Suzuki—reached as far as second
base against Kendrick. ...
Phillies OF
Geoff Jenkins flew out in his only plate appearance and is now hitless in his
last 23 at bats. ... The Phillies recorded their fifth shutout, matching their
total of last year.
(© 2009 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
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