Game two of the Florida series pitted Kyle Kendrick against the Fish. Kendrick was staked to an early lead in this one as the Fightins scored one in the first and two in the second. Chase Utley had the initial key blow, a double to plate the first run while an Eric Bruntlett double in the second plated Geoff Jenkins who had reached on an error, Kendrick then knocked in Buntlett to help his own cause.
Ryan Howard smashed his 32nd home run of the season in the Phillies third at bat to make the score 4-0. Kyle Kendrick pitched six shutout innings to hold the lead, the twenty three year old right hander pitched out of a few jams en route to the quality start as he had his sinker working really well and got great defensive support from his infield. He did walk five batters but the stellar fielding in particular by third basemen Bruntlett and short stop Jimmy Rollins preserved his shut out performance.
Mike Cervenak got his first major league hit and RBI in the bottom of the sixth as he pinch hit for Kendrick to knock in Eric Bruntlett to make the score 5 zip. Chad Durbin pitched scoreless seventh and eighth frames after manager Charlie Manuel had purposely given him the night off last evening. Durbin has been excellent in his role this year but had pitched in five of the last six games for the Fightins, coupled with the Monday off day it gave Durbin a much needed and earned two day rest.
Ryan Madson pitched a perfect ninth inning to complete the shutout. Madson only needed six pitches to finish the innings, all of the pitches he threw were strikes! Kyle Kendrick upped his record to 10 and 5. Since his recall from the minors mid season last year he is 20 and 9!
Chatter
The Phillies had minor league pitching coordinator Gorman Heimueller on hand at the University of Miami to watch former Phil Freddie Garcia work out on Tuesday but it seems unlikely they would have a genuine interest in re-signing him. It was reported as more of a cover your bases excursion, apparently fifteen teams watched Garcia throw! A true indication of how thin pitching is when a guy coming off Tommy John surgery gains that sort of attention deep into August just for a workout! The more realistic candidate as a potential Phillies signing is left handed reliever Scott Eyre who has cleared waivers after being designated by the Cubs. Eyre has been on the D.L twice this year and has not pitched well this season albeit he has done so each of the past two seasons…….. us lefties never seem to die and Mr. Eyre most likely will get another look somewhere!
I was somewhat impressed by Les Walrond’s outing. He showed a low 90’s fastball and a decent curve ball and cutter, his problem was that he started to nibble after striking out the first batter he faced last night and ended up walking the bases full before giving up a jam shot that scored two. I think he is worth another look, I remember back to the 70’s an at that time journey man pitcher named Dave Stewart that wore a Phillie uniform early in his career and was given up on…….. he went on to be a stud in Oakland! Not saying that Waldron is of that ilk but lefties that can throw in the nineties are not readily available! Tom Gordon had his first rehab appearance in Clearwater earlier this week and threw again this evening but was removed with elbow discomfort; hopes were he might rejoin the bullpen before the end of the month but he will come back to Philly to be examined by the team physician and go from there. Pedro Feliz is scheduled to come off the DL on Saturday but is still battling lower back issues and most likely will not be reactivated on schedule.
