Phillies 9, Cubs 2
WP – Jose Contreras (1-0, 8.00)
LP – Shawn Camp (2-2, 3.43)
CHICAGO — The Phillies played a complete, team game… and it may have been the type of game that could very well change the mindset of the team.
A 9-2 character win over the Cubs in Chicago did more to the Phillies than just extend their winning streak to four games and even them up at .500. It showed that all three groups – the offense, starting pitching and bullpen – could all show up in one game to create a win.
The Phillies asked Kyle Kendrick to once again make a start on short notice and the right-hander delivered. Like the good teammate and role player he’s been his whole career, Kendrick got the job done for the Phillies.
He pitched beautifully through six innings, allowing two runs, one earned on three hits while striking out four. He threw a season-high 93 pitches, 65 for strikes in the no-decision.
In Kendrick’s last three starts he has a 2.12 ERA with 13 strike outs in 17 innings.
Kendrick left the game to the bullpen with a 2-2 tie and they held on for the win. With the pen consisting of Jose Contreras, Antonio Bastardo and Raul Valdes pitching three shut out innings, they allowed the offense to come up with a timely hit to give them the victory.
Carlos Ruiz broke the 2-2 tie with one out in the 8th inning with his solo homer to left field. The home run started something big for the Phillies, who put up a huge six-spot in the top of the 9th to take some weight off the bullpen in the final inning.
The Phillies tacked on two runs immediately in the 9th inning. After Cubs reliever Scott Maine loaded the bases with no outs, he was yanked in favor of Michael Bowden who allowed a two-run single to Ty Wigginton to make it a 5-2 game.
After a double steal by Jimmy Rollins and Wigginton with one out, Ruiz was intentionally walked so Bowden could face pinch-hitter Hector Luna. In his first at-bat with the Phillies this season, Luna hit a two-out grand slam to eliminate the save situation, blowing the game wide open.
Ruiz continued his tear, going 2-for-4 with a homer, two runs scored and an RBI. It was Ruiz’s seventh home run of the season, two short of his career high set in 2009… and it’s only May.
Freddy Galvis continued his recent trend as well, driving in a run and doubling twice to give him a team-high 11 doubles.
The Phils lost Placido Polanco in the 6th inning. Polanco fouled a ball off his knee and left the game an inning later with a bruised left knee.
2B: Galvis 2 (11), Pierre (2). HR: Ruiz (7), Luna (1).
TTB 