May 18: Marcum vs. Kendrick

by dajafi on May 18, 2008 1:30 PM EDT

Toronto Blue Jays at Philadelphia Phillies, May 18, 2008 1:35 PM EDT

The Phils conclude their series with Toronto and wrap up a six-game homestand today as Kyle Kendrick goes for his fourth win of the season. Despite an awful spring and very rocky start to 2008, Kendrick has been arguably the team's second-best starter: he's turned in four straight quality starts, albeit allowing three earned runs in all four and going past six innings just once, and the team has won Kendrick's last five starts. He has never previously faced Toronto.

Shawn Marcum goes for the Blue Jays, riding a hotter streak than Kendrick: he's 4-2 with a 2.22 ERA for the year, and has a 1.19 mark in his last four starts. Marcum has had great success in interleague games, going 3-0 in four starts last season including a 13-2 win in Philadelphia a year ago tomorrow.

Once again, Jayson Werth plays centerfield and bats second for the Phils, and Geoff Jenkins starts in right. Carlos Ruiz returns to the lineup after four days off with an illness.

Lineup

Toronto Blue Jays @ Philadelphia Phillies

05/18/08 1:35 PM EDT

Toronto Blue Jays	Philadelphia Phillies
Brad Wilkerson - 1B	Jimmy Rollins - SS
Aaron Hill - 2B	Jayson Werth - CF
Alex Rios - CF	Chase Utley - 2B
Scott Rolen - 3B	Ryan Howard - 1B
Matt Stairs - RF	Pat Burrell - LF
Shannon Stewart - LF	Geoff Jenkins - RF
Rod Barajas - C	Pedro Feliz - 3B
Marco Scutaro - SS	Carlos Ruiz - C
Shaun Marcum - P	Kyle Kendrick - P

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Comments

Weather

What’s the forecast?

by PhoenixPhilly on May 18, 2008 1:35 PM EDT reply actions

KK

Kendrick keeping the ball down and on the outside part of the plate. That’s the recipe for success for him.

by PhoenixPhilly on May 18, 2008 1:49 PM EDT reply actions

Marcum strikes out Utley on a nasty pitch. Two outs, Rollins on second.

by dajafi on May 18, 2008 1:58 PM EDT reply actions

AL leader in Ks vs. the NL leader in Ks here?

by PhoenixPhilly on May 18, 2008 1:59 PM EDT reply actions

Methinks Howard is feeling it.

by FuquaManuel on May 18, 2008 1:59 PM EDT reply actions

Howard hits #10, out to dead center. 2-0 Phils.

by dajafi on May 18, 2008 2:00 PM EDT reply actions

About 430 on that one!

by PhoenixPhilly on May 18, 2008 2:00 PM EDT reply actions

Geoff Jenkins is such a mess.

by FuquaManuel on May 18, 2008 2:02 PM EDT reply actions

Rain Delay.

by FuquaManuel on May 18, 2008 2:04 PM EDT reply actions

They’ll wait all day to get this one in.

by PhoenixPhilly on May 18, 2008 2:05 PM EDT reply actions

Jenkins did look awful in that AB.

It’s not raining here in Brooklyn, though it’s very overcast. Hopefully this one passes through and they get it in; you know the Blue Jays don’t want to have to come back to Philly.

by dajafi on May 18, 2008 2:05 PM EDT reply actions

Gotta love the awkwardness of Harry and Wheels trying to wait out the rain together…

by dajafi on May 18, 2008 2:07 PM EDT reply actions

Weather channel says chance of showers drops below 50% around 7pm.

by PhoenixPhilly on May 18, 2008 2:08 PM EDT reply actions

I think the game is shortly to resume. Evidently starters won’t come back—it’ll be Durbin for the Phils and Shawn Camp for Toronto.

by dajafi on May 18, 2008 4:02 PM EDT reply actions

Very nice 1-2-3 inning for Durbin in the 2nd. Wonder if he’s thinking of this as a potential audition for Eaton’s job. Okay by me if so…

by dajafi on May 18, 2008 4:11 PM EDT reply actions

I agree. I think Durbin deserves a look in the rotation. Be it for Myers or Eaton. I don’t care at this point. Myers obviously has more “potential” to be above average should he regain his velocity or whatever he has lost…

by FuquaManuel on May 18, 2008 4:43 PM EDT up reply actions

Laz Diaz calling an enormous strike zone, which I guess is okay given the conditions.

by dajafi on May 18, 2008 4:17 PM EDT reply actions

Rollins with the leadoff double in the 3rd—might have had three, but probably smart not to risk it.

by dajafi on May 18, 2008 4:32 PM EDT reply actions

This is the fifth straight game he’s had multiple hits. That be called makin’ up for lost time.

by Steve-O- on May 18, 2008 4:37 PM EDT up reply actions

Stranded as Utley and Howard can’t get him in from third.

by dajafi on May 18, 2008 4:36 PM EDT reply actions

Utley

Now 4 for last 34. Now if Howard is really heating up…..

by Steve-O- on May 18, 2008 4:40 PM EDT up reply actions

A couple nice defensive plays for the Phils in the 4th.

by dajafi on May 18, 2008 4:43 PM EDT reply actions

I really hate watching Jenkins at bats.

by dajafi on May 18, 2008 4:47 PM EDT reply actions

Then of course he singles. Okay.

by dajafi on May 18, 2008 4:48 PM EDT up reply actions

Why didn’t he hit into a DP?

by PhoenixPhilly on May 18, 2008 4:50 PM EDT reply actions

I was just going to write about how lost Ruiz has looked at the plate and after an at-bat where he just flailed helplessly at 2 sliders, he manages to poke a single into right-center driving in Jenkins.

by FuquaManuel on May 18, 2008 4:52 PM EDT reply actions

Nice two-strike hitting from Ruiz there—singles over the second baseman, and plates a run. Toronto defenders’ poor decision-making puts guys at 2nd and 3rd.

by dajafi on May 18, 2008 4:52 PM EDT reply actions

Damn look at these three! Ruiz w/ an RBI, on a slider…scary

by Steve-O- on May 18, 2008 4:52 PM EDT reply actions

A couple nice hits going the other way.

by PhoenixPhilly on May 18, 2008 4:53 PM EDT reply actions

IBB to Rollins, bringing up Werth with bases loaded.

by dajafi on May 18, 2008 4:54 PM EDT reply actions

Where’s the mojo Jason….

by Steve-O- on May 18, 2008 4:57 PM EDT reply actions

That was FO JO

by PhoenixPhilly on May 18, 2008 4:58 PM EDT reply actions

Who the hell is wearing a Rod Barajas jersey?

by PhoenixPhilly on May 18, 2008 5:04 PM EDT reply actions

YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING?

by Steve-O- on May 18, 2008 5:06 PM EDT reply actions

How Tacky.

by Steve-O- on May 18, 2008 5:07 PM EDT reply actions

Motherhumper.

Durbin had Scutaro struck out a couple times. &x%x Laz Diaz.

by dajafi on May 18, 2008 5:08 PM EDT reply actions

Just like that. Durbin pulls an Eaton. Damn I wish this LOB nonsense would stop.

by FuquaManuel on May 18, 2008 5:08 PM EDT reply actions

Egad Chad

Naughty boy..you grooved one. Stop watching Myers pitch.

by Steve-O- on May 18, 2008 5:09 PM EDT reply actions

That looked like batting practice.

by PhoenixPhilly on May 18, 2008 5:10 PM EDT reply actions

Maybe Utley needs to sit a day.

by FuquaManuel on May 18, 2008 5:12 PM EDT reply actions

One-out singles for Howard and Burrell.

Don’t suppose they’d PH for Jenkins here… lefty in the game, and, y’know, he sucks.

by dajafi on May 18, 2008 5:17 PM EDT reply actions

That Manuel is a freakin’ genius, I tells ya…

Bases loaded on the swinging-bunt single… alas, for Happy Pete. Methinks the prophesy once again shall be fulfilled.

by dajafi on May 18, 2008 5:18 PM EDT reply actions

Jenkins, the only time he can do something positive is when he does it by mistake.

by FuquaManuel on May 18, 2008 5:19 PM EDT reply actions

Jenkins can beat you a lot of different ways.

by PhoenixPhilly on May 18, 2008 5:19 PM EDT reply actions

I love your optimism er I think I do

by Steve-O- on May 18, 2008 5:19 PM EDT reply actions

GIDP?

by FuquaManuel on May 18, 2008 5:21 PM EDT reply actions

Everything is upside down today.

by PhoenixPhilly on May 18, 2008 5:21 PM EDT up reply actions

That means he’ll walk.

by PhoenixPhilly on May 18, 2008 5:23 PM EDT up reply actions

Why do I have a bad feeling?

by Steve-O- on May 18, 2008 5:25 PM EDT reply actions

We deserve to lose today.

by FuquaManuel on May 18, 2008 5:26 PM EDT reply actions

Unreal. Just unreal. This is just inexcusable from a team of professional baseball players.

by FuquaManuel on May 18, 2008 5:28 PM EDT reply actions

x%x#%*(#$^&$#

by Steve-O- on May 18, 2008 5:28 PM EDT reply actions

Frasor has let 1 runner score out of 11 inherited. Ruiz is like a .192 with bases loaded. Say how do you put in a pinch hitter….hum.

by Steve-O- on May 18, 2008 5:30 PM EDT reply actions

This game absolutely sucks. Two-out, two-run double and we’re down 5-3, after leaving, I dunno, two dozen guys on base through the first five.

by dajafi on May 18, 2008 5:39 PM EDT reply actions

Again…we completely deserve to lose this game. You simply can’t leave this many runners on base.

by FuquaManuel on May 18, 2008 5:41 PM EDT reply actions

I don't even believe Barajas

4 for 7 with 7 rbi in the series. he doidn’t do that in a year here. Unreal.

by Steve-O- on May 18, 2008 5:42 PM EDT reply actions

Well FM Utley and Burrell are slumping, Ruiz sucks, Happy Pete is what he is, Jenkins is a waste…I could go on but you get the point.

by Steve-O- on May 18, 2008 5:43 PM EDT reply actions

Why pick up a guy like Seanez? Might as well give one of your young arms some experience. He is a good example of why veterans are overrated.

by PhoenixPhilly on May 18, 2008 5:46 PM EDT reply actions

Well fellas another rain delay, good time for a nap. see you tomorrow.

by Steve-O- on May 18, 2008 6:03 PM EDT reply actions

after a big fat comeback W

by PhoenixPhilly on May 18, 2008 6:04 PM EDT up reply actions

That Howard AB right before the delay was a pretty welcome sight. He laid off some evil breaking stuff and kept the inning going; if they don’t resume, it’s a 3-3 suspended game thanks to that.

But I think they’re going to get it in. I however am heading to gym; five hours devoted to a frustrating game is enough.

by dajafi on May 18, 2008 6:19 PM EDT reply actions