Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - Prince Fielder's three-run homer in the first inning proved to be all Milwaukee needed, as the Brewers held off the Phillies, 6-2, to avoid a three-game sweep at Citizens Bank Park.
Rickie Weeks had three hits, scored a run, and drove in a run for the Brewers, who went just 1-5 against Philadelphia this season. Corey Hart also had an RBI and a run scored.
Randy Wolf (11-10), who pitched the first eight years of his career in Philadelphia, gave up two runs on seven hits over 6 2/3 innings to improve to 4-1 over his last six starts. The left-hander also struck out five and walked two.
Carlos Ruiz hit a two-run double in the second inning for the Phillies, who saw a five-game win streak come to an end. Philadelphia, though, remained one game back of the Braves in the NL East after Atlanta lost in extra frames to the Marlins.
Kyle Kendrick (9-8) lasted just four innings, giving up five runs on seven hits. The right-hander has allowed a total of 18 runs over his four starts.
Fielder's homer put the Brewers ahead 3-0 in the first inning. Hart singled and Ryan Braun doubled before Fielder smacked Kendrick's offering into the upper deck in right.
The Phillies then put a two-spot on the board in the second. Jayson Werth doubled and Ben Francisco singled to put men on the corners with one out. Ruiz stepped to the plate and laced a double just inside the chalk down the left- field line to plate both.
The Brewers responded with a run in the third. Weeks led off with a single and came around to score on Hart's double. Milwaukee went on to strand runners on first and second.
The visitors tacked on another run in the fourth when George Kottaras doubled and scored on Weeks' two-out base hit for a 5-2 game.
The Phillies had a chance to make things interesting in the eighth. John Axford walked Ryan Howard with one out. After Werth struck out, Shane Victorino walked. The runners moved up one base on a wild pitch. Francisco, though, flied out to end the threat.
Milwaukee added an insurance run in the ninth. Scott Mathieson, who pitched a scoreless eighth, stayed on for the ninth. Hart walked and Braun singled to get things started. Jose Contreras came in from the bullpen and got Fielder to fly out. Casey McGehee then singled to right, but Hart was thrown out at home on the play. A run crossed the plate when Lorenzo Cain reached base on first baseman Howard's fielding error.
Axford pitched a perfect home ninth to record his 20th save.
Game Notes
Mathieson was recalled from Triple-A Lehigh Valley prior to the game...Fielder became just the second player in franchise history to produce 30-plus homers in four consecutive seasons...Wolf now has 1,503 strikeouts in his career...Kendrick fell to 1-3 over his last four starts...Wolf improved to 2-2 in seven starts against Philadelphia...Milwaukee went 1-5 on its road trip.