PHILLIES NEWS

After a dramatic win to salvage the final game of their season opening three game series with the Nats the Phils had to have been feeling good about themselves as they traveled to Cincinnati to face the Reds tonight in the first of a 4 game set and they showed it. After a long rain delay at the onset, Kyle Kendrick took the mound for his first start of the season and pitched fairly well allowing 4 runs on 8 hits in 5 innings of work. Meanwhile, the Phils pounded out 8 runs on 10 hits, more than enough for a solid win. In the top of the first inning, Jimmy Rollins singled and scored on a sac fly, and Pat Burrell crushed a 2 out 2 run homer for an early 3-0 Phils lead. In the bottom of the first, Ken Griffey Jr singled in a run to cut the lead to 3-1. JRoll led off again in the top of the 3rd and doubled and scored on a another 2 run homer, this time by Chase Utley, for a 5-1 Phils lead. In the bottom of the 3rd Griffey Jr, knocked in another run with an RBI double and then scored on a fielder's choice, cutting the lead to 5-3. In the top of the 4th, Pedro Feliz walked and scored on a single and a pair of sacrifices for a 6-3 Phils lead. In the bottom of the 4th, Joe Votto singled and scored on a sac fly to cut the lead to 6-4. In the top of the 5th Utley homered again for a 7-4 Phils lead. Finally in the top of the 9th the Phils put it away for good as Sao Taguchi doubled and scored on a single by Shane Victorino for an 8-4 Phils lead. J.C Romero, who along with the rest of the Phils bullpen kept Cincinnati scoreless for the final 4 innings, then put the Reds down in order in the bottom of the 9th and the Phils had won 8-4 to even their record at 2-2. Hey, maybe the Phils won't have such a bad April after all.