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Indians-Phillies Preview

Jun 23, 2010 - 3:53 AM By KATE HEDLIN STATS Writer

Cleveland (26-42) at Philadelphia (35-32), 7:05 p.m. EDT

Interleague play hasn't always been favorable for Philadelphia Phillies this season, especially for their rotation. That wasn't the case for Kyle Kendrick in his last start.

Kendrick takes the ball seeking to follow up one of his best outings of the year as the Phillies continue a three-game series against the visiting Cleveland Indians on Wednesday.

Philadelphia (36-32) was 5-7 in interleague play entering this week, due in part to a 6.18 ERA from the starting rotation.

However, on Tuesday, the Phillies received another excellent start by Jamie Moyer, who gave up one run and two hits in eight innings of a 2-1 series-opening win over the Indians (26-43). Ryan Howard and Jayson Werth drove in runs in the first for Philadelphia, which handed Cleveland its third straight loss and seventh in eight games.

Kendrick (4-2, 4.48 ERA) will try to keep the momentum going.

The right-hander is coming off one of his finest starts of the season. He allowed one run and four hits in seven innings of a 7-1 road win over the New York Yankees on Thursday, improving to 2-0 with a 2.52 ERA in his last four starts.

"I feel like I'm getting better every time I'm out there," Kendrick told the Phillies' official website. "I think it's just learning and maturing."

Kendrick faced the Indians for the first and only time in 2007, giving up three runs in six innings of a 9-6 win.

As he tries for an encore to Moyer's solid start, Kendrick wouldn't mind getting some additional offensive support. Philadelphia, which was held to four hits for a second straight game Tuesday, has scored three or fewer runs during four of Kendrick's last five outings.

Getting Jimmy Rollins on track would help. The shortstop, who had been sidelined by an injured right calf since May 21, came off the disabled list before Tuesday's game and went 0 for 4 in the leadoff spot. Rollins has been on the DL twice this season due to calf problems that have limited him to 13 games.

"Jimmy did pretty good," manager Charlie Manuel said. "He made a couple of good plays in the field. Of course, he can hit better."

Rollins, who is 1 for 26 in his last seven interleague games, will try to bounce back against Cleveland starter Jake Westbrook (4-4, 4.76), who he will face for the first time.

Westbrook gave up five runs and a season-high 11 hits in seven innings of a 6-4 loss to the New York Mets on Thursday, allowing three runs in the first inning before settling down.

"They hit him around early," manager Manny Acta told the Indians' official website, "but he made adjustments and got into a groove."

Westbrook is making his first start against the Phillies. The right-hander is 0-4 with a 2.87 ERA in seven interleague road starts and six relief appearances. The Indians have lost all seven of those starts.