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Philadelphia Phillies seem nearly unstoppable every time Kyle Kendrick takes the mound this season. Today, the second-year hurler will try to keep his unbeaten streak intact when the Phillies conclude a three-game interleague series versus the
Boston Red Sox at Citizens Bank Park.
Kendrick is 5-0 over his last 11 starts, with the Phillies going 10-1 over that span and scoring no less than five runs in each contest. Kendrick last pitched on Friday at St. Louis and took advantage of a deluge of runs in a 20-2 triumph against the Cardinals. He yielded just a pair of runs -- one earned -- and eight hits in seven frames for the win.
The right-hander, who is 6-2 with a 4.54 ERA in 14 starts in 2008, owns a 3-1 record with a 3.86 earned run average in six home games in 2008. Kendrick has never faced the Red Sox before in his short professional career.
Philadelphia, which leads the NL East by three games over Florida, has lost three of its last four games. After ending a two-game slide with Monday's 8-2 victory over the Red Sox in the opener of this series, the Phillies dropped a 3-0 decision on Tuesday. Starter Jamie Moyer struggled through five innings, surrendering two runs on four hits with five walks and four strikeouts to absorb the loss.
Chase Utley, Ryan Howard and Pat Burrell were a combined 0-for-12 with eight strikeouts for the Phillies, who are 1-1 on a six-game homestand and 22-14 at Citizens Bank Park this season. Utley leads all National League players in All-Star voting, but is hitless in his last 16 plate appearances.
Red Sox starting pitcher Jon Lester tossed seven strong innings for the win last night while striking out five batters and walking just one. Coco Crisp belted a two-run homer for the Red Sox, who have won five of seven contests and sit two games ahead of Tampa Bay in the AL East standings.
Boston is 3-2 on a six-game road trip and 17-22 away from Fenway Park in 2008. Red Sox rookie Justin Masterson gets the nod on Wednesday, and is 3-1 with a 2.90 earned run average in five starts this season.
Masterson had a personal three-start winning streak come to an end the last time out on June 13 at Cincinnati. He was reached for three runs and four hits in 6 2/3 innings of work in the 3-1 setback.
The right-handed San Diego State product will get his first taste of the Phillies and their rabid fans this afternoon.
Boston took five of the six matchups between these teams when they last met back in 2006 and has won 10 of the last 12 meetings in this series. The Red Sox have also won seven of their last nine trips to South Philly.
