Buccos Sink Phils

Coming off consecutive wins against the division leaders, the Phillies welcomed their cross state rival Pittsburgh Pirates to Citizens Bank Park on Monday night.

Kyle Kendrick started for the Phillies, in search of his ninth win of the season. He was given a 1-0 lead in the fourth inning before giving it back in the fifth.

Pirates’ starter Jeff Locke put down an unsuccessful sacrifice bunt, as Brent Morel was thrown out at second. With Locke on first, however, Starling Marte launched a two run shot to left center-field for a 2-1 Pittsburgh lead.

It remained that way into the eighth inning, one that Kendrick would not get out of.

He allowed a lead-off single to Andrew McCutchen, and Cutch advanced to second on an error by Maikel Franco at third. The speedy McCutchen would score on a single by the next hitter, Neil Walker. Russell Martin would follow with a single to put runners on the corners with nobody out.

That would be all for Kendrick, who was lifted for Jake Diekman.

Diekman would labor through the inning, starting with a sacrifice fly by Gaby Sanchez that brought Walker home for a 4-1 lead.

Diekman then allowed a double to Jordy Mercer down the right field line. Martin scored to make it 5-1, and Mercer would advance to third on an error by Marlon Byrd, the second Phillie error of the inning.

Morel would cap off the scoring with a double to left field. Mercer scored, and the Pirates’ lead was 6-1.

Kendrick finished with seven innings pitched, and allowed five runs on nine hits, two walks and eight strikeouts.

The Phillies would rally in the bottom of the eighth, loading the bases with one out.

Recent call-up Cesar Hernandez hit a sac fly that made it 6-2, and left men on second and third with two down. Chase Utley followed with a two out triple that made it 6-4. After a Ryan Howard walk, the go ahead run would come to the plate, but Byrd grounded out to end the inning.

The Phils finished the night with just five hits, two of them coming in the eighth inning. They did go 2-6 with men in scoring position, but the chances were few. They left a meager total of four men on base.

The Phils and Bucs tangle again tomorrow night with David Buchanan taking on Edinson Volquez for the Pirates. First pitch 7:05.

Stats Courtesy of Phillies.com

Photo Courtesy of Philly.com