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May 22, 2010 - 3:59 AM By ALAN FERGUSON STATS Writer

Boston (22-20) at Philadelphia (25-15), 7:10 p.m. EDT

An improved Kyle Kendrick has contributed to the NL-leading Philadelphia Phillies' impressive record this month, which now includes a rare home win in interleague play.

Kendrick, though, has been far from his best when facing the Boston Red Sox.

The right-hander will try to end those struggles by earning his third straight victory and help the Phillies take their first series over the Red Sox in nearly seven years Saturday night.

Ryan Howard and Jayson Werth each homered and drove in two runs to help Philadelphia (26-15) improve to 14-5 this month with a 5-1 win Friday. The Phillies also snapped a six-game home skid in interleague play and earned their second win there in the past 15 games against AL opponents.

With his efforts this month, Kendrick (2-1, 5.24 ERA) would seem ready to help Philadelphia to another victory, especially with the Red Sox starting inconsistent right-hander Daisuke Matsuzaka (2-1, 7.89).

Kendrick is 2-0 with a 2.57 ERA in three outings in May, earning both wins at home. He lasted eight innings for the third time in his career and second time this season in Monday's 12-2 rout of Pittsburgh, allowing two runs and five hits.

"I feel the same, but my results are better," Kendrick told the Phillies' official website. "I feel like I haven't pitched any different, honestly."

Kendrick will try to carry over those improvements against the Red Sox (22-21), a team he's 0-2 with a 16.20 ERA against in two career appearances. He gave up three runs and four hits in the 13th inning of a 5-2 home loss last season and six runs in three innings in another defeat at Citizens Bank Park on June 18, 2008.

Matsuzaka nearly beat the Phillies in his only career start against them June 13, but a rain delay limited him to four innings in an 11-6 victory. He gave up four runs and seven hits in that matchup.

The right-hander has given up at least five runs in three of his four starts, and he allowed seven for the second time in Monday's wild 11-9 road loss to the New York Yankees. The Red Sox rallied to help Matsuzaka, who put the team in a 5-0 hole after one inning, avoid the defeat, but Jonathan Papelbon suffered his only blown save this season with four runs in the ninth.

Matsuzaka will likely not have to face Jimmy Rollins, who left in the sixth inning of Friday's game after aggravating a right calf injury. The All-Star shortstop missed 29 games before returning Monday.

The Red Sox, meanwhile, are expected to have Jacoby Ellsbury back in the lineup for the first time since April 11. The outfielder, who fractured his ribs in a collision with Adrian Beltre, was 5 for 13 (.385) with a homer and four RBIs in last season's series in Philadelphia.

"I'm not afraid of contact. Never have been, never will be," Ellsbury told the Red Sox's official website. "I'm just happy to get back out there."

Ellsbury will try to help prevent the Red Sox, who have won 13 of 17 against the Phillies, from losing their first series to Philadelphia since consecutive defeats June 21-22, 2003, prior to dropping a rescheduled game in September.

Philadelphia hasn't won an interleague series at home since sweeping the Chicago White Sox on June 11-13, 2007.