Phillies 5 - 7 Diamondbacks
Final
  for this game

Phillies send Oswalt to the hill in the desert

Apr 26, 2011 - 2:46 PM

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(Sports Network) - Winning and losing is the theme in all sports. When it comes to major league baseball, the difference between coming out on top and going home empty-handed usually boils down to pitching.

When the Phillies and Diamondbacks resume their three-game series in the desert tonight, unbeaten veteran Roy Oswalt will square off with winless starter Daniel Hudson at Chase Field. Oswalt is 3-0 with a 1.87 earned run average in four starts and has pitched six innings in each of his appearances this season. In last Thursday's 3-0 win at San Diego, Oswalt shook off a balky back to throw six scoreless innings of one-run ball with seven strikeouts.

Oswalt has allowed no more than two runs in any of his starts this season and is undefeated in two road starts in 2011. The right-hander and longtime Houston Astros ace has enjoyed plenty of success against Arizona in his career, going 9-2 with a splendid 1.91 ERA in 12 career starts.

Arizona had high expectations for Hudson entering the 2011 campaign after he went 7-1 in 11 starts with a 1.69 ERA following a trade with the Chicago White Sox. Hudson has lost all four of his starts this season to go with a less desirable 5.92 earned run average and lasted a season-low 5 1/3 innings at Cincinnati last Thursday.

In the 7-4 loss to the Reds, the right-hander gave up a season-high seven runs and five hits with three strikeouts and four walks. Hudson has never faced the Phillies in his young career.

Hudson has a tough act to follow after Ian Kennedy mowed the Phillies down in last night's 4-0 victory in the desert. Kennedy tossed a three-hit shutout and fanned 10 batters to lift his mark to 3-1 on the season. Kennedy stymied the Phils just one day after becoming a father.

"It's been surreal," Kennedy said. "Not expecting her to come when my Allie went into labor, then flying in from New York, which is just about the farthest place I could be, then watching that life-changing experience...It was just the cherry on top to do that (complete game). I get emotional just thinking about it. The day after she was born -- my little Easter baby."

Chris Young and Gerardo Parra both homered, while Xavier Nady drove in a run for Arizona, which snapped a four-game skid and opened a 10-game homestand in impressive fashion. The D'Backs will also host the Cubs for four games and the Rockies for three more.

Phillies left-hander Cliff Lee dropped to 2-2 on the season and lasted seven innings on the hill, allowing all four runs and five hits with 12 strikeouts. Placido Polanco had two hits, including a double, and Jimmy Rollins had the other hit for the Phillies, who had a five-game winning streak halted.

"I was locating the ball well, mixing speeds, they ambushed a couple of first pitches and hit homers, considering how Kennedy pitched, that was the game," Lee said afterwards.

The Phillies had won six in a row on the road. At 15-7 in April, the Phillies are two wins shy of tying the club mark for wins in the month (17 in 1993).

Philadelphia took four of six matchups from the Diamondbacks last year and has won 11 of the last 16 meetings between the two clubs.






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