Behind another impressive outing from Kyle Kendrick, the Philadelphia Phillies opened their series against the Marlins Monday night with a 3-1 win.
Kendrick was dazzling all night, overmatching Miami's lineup and allowing just two hits in seven innings of work. He struck out eight and gave up just one earned run, a sacrifice fly to Donovan Solano in his final inning. Kendrick had a 2.95 ERA in six starts in the month of August, and he seems to just keep getting stronger as the season progresses. He's allowed two earned runs or fewer in seven of his last eight starts.
Wade LeBlanc and the Miami bullpen kept the Phillies lineup relatively in check, but a three-run rally in the fifth inning would prove to be the difference with Kendrick cruising on the other side. Ty Wigginton led off the inning with a walk and Domonic Brown followed with a two-run homer to right. Brown worked the count to 3-1 and got exactly what he was looking for from LeBlanc, grooving the offering over the right-field wall for his second homer of the season. Michael Martinez added to the rally, ripping a double off LeBlanc and then scoring from third on a wild pitch.
It was the fifth straight win for the Phillies. Roy Halladay will take the mound for the second game of the series on Tuesday night. He'll be opposed by Nate Eovaldi.
For more on the Phillies, head over to The Good Phight, and continue to check out SB Nation Philly for the latest on the series.