KK Hit Early In Loss

Pirates 1B Casey McGehee (center) is greeted by Neil Walker (left) and Garrett Jones (right) after hitting a three-run homer in the 1st inning. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)

Pirates 5, Phillies 4
WP – A.J. Burnett (9-2, 3.31)
LP – Kyle Kendrick (2-8, 5.35)
SV – Joel Hanrahan (20)

PHILADELPHIA — Kyle Kendrick settled in, but it was after he gave up five early runs.

That early hole was too deep for the Phillies to climb out of and they lost, 5-4. They split the four-game series with the Pirates, and finished the home stand 5-5.

The Pirates got Kendrick for five runs in the 1st inning.

With one out, Garrett Jones hit an RBI single that scored lead-off hitter Drew Sutton. The with two men on, Casey McGehee hit a three-run homer off Kendrick to blow the game open early.

Pedro Alvarez followed that up with a solo homer, giving the Pirates a 5-0 lead before the Phillies could even swing their bats.

The Phils did chip away at the lead. They got two runs back in the 2nd inning thanks to a two-run homer by Erik Kratz and one in the 6th on an RBI by Placido Polanco, who legged out a grounder to prevent a double play ball.

In the bottom of the 8th, Hunter Pence led off with a solo homer and then Polanco was hit by pitcher Jason Grilli but that was all. Grilli struck out Ty Wigginton, gave up a bleeder and struck out Jim Thome to give him two outs.

With Carlos Ruiz hitting, Grilli got MLB’s batting leader to pop out to first base with McGehee making a great catch on the run.

The Phillies mounted one more rally in the 9th. Jimmy Rollins led off with a single an advanced on a sacrifice bunt by Juan Pierre. Rollins then stole third with no one paying attention but it was all for naught when Pence flew out to end the game.

HR: Kratz (2), Pence (14).

Boxscore.

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