Philadelphia Phillies @ Pittsburgh Pirates GameThread, Apr 26, 2008 7:05 PM EDT

Game 25: Kendrick vs. Morris

by dajafi on Apr 26, 2008 6:45 PM EDT Comment 62 comments

Philadelphia Phillies at Pittsburgh Pirates, Apr 26, 2008 7:05 PM EDT

The Phillies try to make it six wins in seven games at Pittsburgh's PNC Park tonight behind second-year starter Kyle Kendrick. Consistency has been elusive for the young pitcher in 2008: he's made it past five innings just once in four starts and has more walks (11) than strikeouts (8) thus far. Kendrick has won his only career decision against the Pirates, with a seven-inning, one-run effort last July.

Pittsburgh starter Matt Morris, meanwhile, has been consistent, but not in a way that's particularly helpful for his employers: the one-time 22 game winner is 0-3 with a 9.15 ERA this season, and has a 6.86 ERA in 15 starts since joining the Pirates midway through last season. It sounds like the stuff simply isn't there anymore for a right-hander who was once among the toughest draws in the game. Morris does have strong career numbers against the Phillies, though, with a 5-3 record and 3.57 ERA in 12 career appearances (11 starts).

It's likely but not certain that slumping first baseman Ryan Howard will return to the lineup tonight. The Phils' slugger is 0 for his last 11 with seven strikeouts in his last four games. In nine lifetime at-bats against Morris, Howard has two hits, including a homer.

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Phils in the 1st

Bad ABs from Werth (broken bat GO 6-3) and Dobbs (P5 on a 2-0 breaking pitch), single from Utley, Howard now at bat.

by dajafi on Apr 26, 2008 7:10 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

HOWARD RETURNS

Bombs a two-run HR to dead center. 2-0 Phils ;)

by dajafi on Apr 26, 2008 7:12 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Matt Morris, ladies and gentlemen

Utley single
Howard 2-run HR
Burrell single
Jenkins RBI double

by dajafi on Apr 26, 2008 7:18 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

scored an error.

by FuquaManuel on Apr 26, 2008 7:18 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Yup, my bad for trying to flip between the Phils, the NFL draft and a couple other things. No RBI for Favre, then.

Morris nearing 40 pitches in the first.

by dajafi on Apr 26, 2008 7:21 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

4 run firsts are nice. But Kendrick is on the hill, after all. I expect a good amount of scoring on both sides in this game.

by FuquaManuel on Apr 26, 2008 7:23 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

correction...

5 run firsts. And counting.

by FuquaManuel on Apr 26, 2008 7:24 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Bruntlett RBI single knocks in Jenkins.

Here comes the Pittsburgh pitching coach—and the bullpen gets up for the Pirates.

This is a little sad—it reminds me of watching Bob Feller in an old timers’ game when I was 16 or so.

by dajafi on Apr 26, 2008 7:22 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

5-0

Kendrick hits the first pitch to shortstop, Bixler boots it, and Coste comes in to score. Wow.

by dajafi on Apr 26, 2008 7:23 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

inning over

Werth makes two of the three outs; Morris gets the snark-cheer from Pirates fans (and TGP poster The Navigator).

by dajafi on Apr 26, 2008 7:27 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Leadoff groundout in the home 1st—good sign for KK.

by dajafi on Apr 26, 2008 7:30 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Good 10 pitch inning for BB in the 1st. 2 groundouts, 1 K.

by FuquaManuel on Apr 26, 2008 7:32 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

KK with the shutdown 1-2-3: 4-3, 5-3 (nifty pick by Howard on a low throw from Dobbs), backwards K of Bay.

by dajafi on Apr 26, 2008 7:32 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Howard BB

After getting down 1-2. I really like this—he looks much, much more relaxed tonight. He got to two strikes in his first AB as well.

by dajafi on Apr 26, 2008 7:40 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Jeez, I don’t have video for this game, so I’m radio-ing it. Just listening to Morris pitch is painful.

by FuquaManuel on Apr 26, 2008 7:41 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Well, he probably won’t be around much longer… close to 70 pitches already.

by dajafi on Apr 26, 2008 7:42 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Jenkins singles to left, knocking in Utley… and that’s it for Morris. 6-0 Phils, Dumatrait (sp?) coming in for the Pirates.

by dajafi on Apr 26, 2008 7:43 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Pirates on the board—Kendrick HBP’s Bixler, Dumatrait sac bunts, McLouth knocks him in with a two-out single. 6-1 Phils.

by dajafi on Apr 26, 2008 8:07 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

there's another

Sanchez RBI double, now 6-2.

We almost blew 6-0 last night; maybe they’re trying again.

by dajafi on Apr 26, 2008 8:08 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

There’s another one. This is going to be fascinating. I have no faith in Kendrick.

by FuquaManuel on Apr 26, 2008 8:08 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I’ll go on record predicting a 14-12 final. Not sure who will win, though.

by dajafi on Apr 26, 2008 8:09 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

update from The Navigator

Text message: “Pnc food, beer sux; views rule; Kendrick sux”

Sounds about right.

by dajafi on Apr 26, 2008 8:22 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Bruntlett with the run-saving pick on a smash by Paulino; Nady stranded at second and the Phils lead 6-2 thru 4.

Remember that Flash, J.C. and Lidge have all gone the last two days. They’ve got the off-day Monday, but I’d still be very surprised if we see more than one of those three tonight. So they both need innings from Kendrick and, probably, more runs.

by dajafi on Apr 26, 2008 8:25 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Hmmm. Madson, Seanez, Romero, and Lidge should all be available… Hopefully kendrick can get us into the seventh…

by Neduol Caz on Apr 26, 2008 8:30 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Dumatrait wins a moral victory by grounding back to Kendrick rather than striking out.

by dajafi on Apr 26, 2008 8:33 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Kendrick looks alright, which is about as good as one can expect…

by Neduol Caz on Apr 26, 2008 8:36 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, I’ll take two runs/three hits in 5 IP.

by dajafi on Apr 26, 2008 8:38 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

He’s also thrown just 65 pitches, so unless he loses it, he should be good for a couple innings yet. The no walks is a big deal there.

by dajafi on Apr 26, 2008 8:39 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Starter, starter, starter…

by Neduol Caz on Apr 26, 2008 8:45 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

The man can play.

by dajafi on Apr 26, 2008 8:46 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Here’s a substitution that does make sense: Happy Pete in for Dobbs in the 6th, with a five-run lead, facing the lefty Dumatrait.

by dajafi on Apr 26, 2008 8:46 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Agreed… Charlie is on his game.

by Neduol Caz on Apr 26, 2008 8:47 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Feliz doubles in Werth; now 8-2.

Maybe that bullpen unavailability won’t bite us tonight.

by dajafi on Apr 26, 2008 8:48 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I like Jenkins, and think he can play a really important super-sub role on this team replacing both Burrell and Jenkins against righties, but Werth needs to receive the large majority at bats in RF. I hope, and think, Charlie agrees.

by Neduol Caz on Apr 26, 2008 8:47 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I agree he should be playing much more often than not. But given Victorino’s size and durability issues, some of that can be in CF, not just RF.

by dajafi on Apr 26, 2008 8:48 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

That is my point, although I guess I didn’t verbalize it very well. Werth can easily slid into center for Victorino, thus allowing Jenkins to essentially backup all three outfield spots. Thus, STG is a pinch runner/”defensive” replacement for Pat.

by Neduol Caz on Apr 26, 2008 8:51 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I agree with this. Burrell should be the only everyday guy in there, but Werth/Vic/Jenkins all should get 4-5 starts per week, depending on pitching matchups and who’s hot.

by dajafi on Apr 26, 2008 8:55 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Mets or Braves?

I can’t decide who I am more worried about. This division really is a toss up between all three teams. Although, I am greatly encouraged by some of the early season developments for the Phils.

by Neduol Caz on Apr 26, 2008 9:01 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

It should be a really good three-way race. The Braves’ lineup vs. the Mets rotation… whichever you think is stronger, that’s the team to worry about. I’m not at all sure myself.

by dajafi on Apr 26, 2008 9:06 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Jenkins turns a double into a single to lead off the 7th… hard hit, either way.

by dajafi on Apr 26, 2008 9:06 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

So I’ve watched the whole game, and I’ve been pretty impressed with Kendrick. Obviously the 3rd wasn’t great, but he’s been on his game overall. Lots of grounders, even a couple of strikeouts. Only three hits (well, the fourth and fifth have just been hit as I’ve typed this) and no walks.

by phatj on Apr 26, 2008 9:15 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

eep

Kendrick almost gets Howard’s arm torn off. As it is, just a two-base error: 2nd and 3rd, one out in the 7th.

by dajafi on Apr 26, 2008 9:15 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

No complaints with how that played out: two more softly hit grounders, the Pirates score a run, and it’s 8-3 through 7 innings.

Kendrick has thrown 93 pitches. I’d take him out before the 8th, but who knows how Manuel will roll.

by dajafi on Apr 26, 2008 9:19 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Eh. I think this is a take your pick type situation. Hard to argue with either leaving Kendrick in or taking him out.

by Neduol Caz on Apr 26, 2008 9:22 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

They left him in… and he walked. The Pirates have pretty clearly run up the white flag here—this is their Rule 5 guy, and he has NO command. Just WP’d KK to second.

by dajafi on Apr 26, 2008 9:23 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I’d have taken him out, just because this was a strong, winning start and it’s best to let him finish on a high note. But you’re right, it’s a close call.

by dajafi on Apr 26, 2008 9:24 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs