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Phillies crank up offense early to beat Rockies

May 28, 2008 - 5:36 AM By Vince DiGregorio PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

PHILADELPHIA (Ticker) -- The Philadelphia Phillies' offense decided this contest early.

Greg Dobbs and Pedro Feliz each had two RBI during a four-run first inning and Kyle Kendrick tossed a career-high 7 1/3 innings as the Philadelphia Phillies defeated the Colorado Rockies, 7-4, on Tuesday at Citizens Bank Park.

After posting a pair of six-run innings in Monday's 20-5 rout, the Phillies did all of their scoring in the first two innings of this game. They sent eight batters to the plate in each frame.

"We scored four and three and I thought to myself that (the scoring) might go on for another seven innings," Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said.

The only suspense left was whether Kendrick (4-2) would maintain his concentration pitching with a big lead as Jamie Moyer did on Monday. The righthander did just that by allowing only two runs on seven hits with a walk and five strikeouts.

"I just went out there and acted like it was a zero-zero game," Kendrick said. "I just went out there and attacked the strike zone. When you get a lead like that, you don't give up four (runs)."

"I think that (having a big lead) definitely gives a pitcher some breathing room," Manuel said. "He should relax and pitch his game."

Kendrick surrendered just an RBI grounder to Willie Taveras in the fifth inning before leaving in the eighth. Tom Gordon came on and gave up a two-run home run to Ryan Spilborghs before ending the frame.

Philadelphia has scored 42 runs in its last three games. The franchise record is 44 set in 1900 over a three-game span.

"Anytime you can get runs early, it's huge," Phillies second baseman Chase Utley said. "It's hard to repeat the last few games, but we swung the bats well."

The Phillies jumped on Rockies starter Ubaldo Jimenez (1-5) quickly in the first inning when Jimmy Rollins and Shane Victorino led off with singles. With the bases loaded and one out, Dobbs blooped a two-run single to shallow right to make it, 2-0.

Dobbs was a late addition to the lineup when Pat Burrell was scratched because of a stiff neck. One out later, Feliz drove in two more runs with a double down the left line to give the Phillies a 4-0 lead.

Philadelphia increased its margin to 7-0 in the second on an RBI double by Utley, a run-scoring single by Ryan Howard and an RBI double by Geoff Jenkins.

"If you jump out, 7-0, you definitely should win that game," Manuel said. "We're in trouble if we start losing games when we're ahead by seven runs."

Jimenez lasted four innings and gave up seven runs on 10 hits.

"It's not like (Jimenez) was wild," Rockies manager Clint Hurdle said. "I thought he was just missing off the plate here and there. He actually had pretty good stuff tonight."

The game was delayed by rain in the bottom of the eighth inning for 1 hour and 27 minutes.

The Rockies added a run in the ninth off Brad Lidge an a run-scoring single by Todd Helton.