PHILLIES NEWS

After having swept the Mets in NY back in June, the Phils nearly allowed the Mets to come in town this weekend and repay the favor, as they won the first 3 games of a 4 games set. Today, in their first July game, the Phils avoided the embarrassing 4 game sweep. Rookie sensation Kyle Kendrick got the start , and once again he delivered. In just his 4th start, Kendrick went 6 and 2/3rds innings, and held the Mets to just 2 runs on 6 hits. The Phils meanwhile, got a 2 out double from Greg Dobbs in the 2nd inning, and a 2 run homer from Jimmy Rollins in the 3rd inning to take an early 3-1 lead. A solo homer by Carlos Delgado in the 4th inning, got NY back to within 1 at 3-2. Fortunately the Phils had one last rally in the 7th inning to put it away for good. With two outs in the inning, Shane Victorino hit a solo homer just inside the foul pole to extend the lead to 4-2. Then Chase Utley Tripled, Ryan Howard worked a walk, and Aaron Rowand singled to score Utley and push the lead to 5-2. Pat Burrell could then have extended the lead even further but he struck out rather weakly to end the inning. The Phils bullpen ruled the rest of the way although Mike Zagurski had to be rescued after surrendering a run with two outs in the 9th. Fortunately Antonio Alfonseca came in to get the last out, and the Phils got the win 5-3. So the Phils are now 42-40, just 5 games behind the Mets for first and 1 behind Atlanta for 2nd. Life is beautiful again. Oh and by the way Kendrick is now 3-0 on the season, can you say clutch.