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Jimmy Rollins returned, Howard hit a slam, and Kendrick pitched 8 in 12-2 thumping of Pirates.
For the first time this season, Jimmy Rollins played in front of Philadelphia fans. After being hurt prior to the home opener, this was Rollins’ first game back. But he didn’t hit leadoff. Instead, he batted third in place of Chase Utley, who was removed from the lineup with flu-like symptoms. Rollins did alright in his first game, going 2-for-4 with a walk, 2 runs scored, and 1 RBI.
Kyle Kendrick was greeted rudely by the Pirates with a leadoff homerun by Delwyn Young. But that was about all Kendrick allowed for the night.
Jimmy Rollins started where he left off in the bottom of the first and the Phils scored an old fashioned run with a leadoff single and stolen base by Victorino, groundout by Polanco, and an RBI by Rollins.
Pirates pitcher Charlie Morton, who leads the majors in losses, would move towards another one in the third. Ryan Howard would give the Phillies a 3-1 lead with an RBI single. Then with two on and two outs, Jayson Werth was the batter. After fouling off a couple hittable fastballs, he finally go a hold of one for an opposite field three-run homer and a 6-1 Phils lead.
That would be more than enough for Kyle Kendrick. After a good game in his previous outing, Kendrick looked good once again. He pitched 8 innings and only gave up 2 runs on 5 hits and 1 walk to go along with 4 strikeouts.
The Phillies would score two more runs and take an 8-2 lead into the eighth. Then Ryan Howard turned this game into a real laugher. Facing former Phillies lefty Jack Taschner, Howard crushed a grand slam into the bushes in center field to push the eventual final score to 12-2. |
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