Kendrick shuts out the Brewers for eight innings

August 19, 2012

Box Score (Courtesy of ESPN.com)

mlb.com

The Phillies' 8-0 win on Sunday saw help come from the unlikeliest of places.

Okay, so maybe Kyle Kendrick's performance today wasn't all that unexpected with the way he has pitched lately, but it was still great to see him pitch well.

After pitching seven innings of shutout baseball against Miami, Kendrick continued his shutout streak for eight more innings in Milwaukee. He was on top of his game.

Kendrick (W, 6-9) allowed only three hits, the worst being a lead-off triple by Nyjer Morgan to start the game. But Kendrick didn't let the hit rattle him. Instead, he struck out seven and walked only one.

The really unexpected help came from Michael Martinez.

Martinez was batting a low .130 before getting the start at second on Sunday, but he was able to jump start the Phillies' offense.

Martinez blasted a two-run homer to left-center in the second inning, giving the Phils an early 2-0 lead. He was two for five at the plate, but the offense did not stop there.

With the bases loaded in the third, Dominic Brown hit a double down the left-field line to clear the bases. Kevin Frandsen, Ryan Howard, and Ty Wigginton scored to give the Phillies a 5-0 lead.

Brewers' starter Randy Wolf (L, 3-10) settled down after allowing five runs in the first three innings. However, his outing was done after seven innings.

The Phillies tacked on two more runs in the eighth, when Brian Schneider doubled with Brown and Martinez on base. Left-fielder Ryan Braun was in position, but could not make the catch for the out. Both runners scored to make it 7-0 Phils.

Braun, who homered in each of the first three games of the series, not only made the defensive error, but was silent at the plate. He was only one for four with no RBI's.

The Phillies scored one more run in the ninth, when Dominic Brown hit an RBI single into center to score John Mayberry Jr.

Dominic Brown had a great day at the plate, going three for four with four RBI's.

Michael Schwimer pitched a scoreless ninth to complete the win, and split the series tow-two with the Brewers.

Extras: The game went through a brief delay in the bottom of the first due to rain showers.