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Kendrick, Howard fuel Phillies' shutout of Rockies

Aug 3, 2011 - 5:40 AM Denver, CO (Sports Network) - Kyle Kendrick was masterful on the mound over eight innings and Ryan Howard smacked a pair of homers, including one of 432 feet, in Philadelphia's 5-0 blanking of the Colorado Rockies.

The Phillies became the first team in the majors to reach 70 wins for the season. They also increased their lead in the NL East to eight games over the Atlanta Braves.

On Monday, the Phillies got a two-out, tying two-run homer from pinch-hitter John Mayberry Jr. in the ninth inning and a winning blast from Shane Victorino in the 10th of a 4-3 final.

A night later, Kendrick (6-5) limited the Rockies to four hits and struck out a career-high seven batters. He threw 117 pitches, 72 for strikes, and didn't allow a runner past second base.

"My changeup wasn't that good tonight, but my cutter and fastball were pretty good," Kendrick said.

David Herndon retired the side in order in the ninth to lock down Philadelphia's fifth straight victory.

The Phillies (70-39) reached the 70-win plateau in the fewest amount of games since 1976, when they accomplished the feat in Game No. 104.

Aaron Cook (2-6) left the game with muscle spasms in his neck. The Rockies starter departed after allowing five hits and four runs over four innings. Edgmer Escalona came in to replace Cook for the fifth.

The Phillies got to Cook for a pair of runs in the opening inning. Jimmy Rollins walked, Victorino singled and Chase Utley's groundout to shortstop plated the first score. After Howard grounded out, Hunter Pence doubled to the gap in left-center field for a 2-0 lead.

Kendrick caught Seth Smith looking at strike three to escape a jam with two men on base in the bottom of the first.

"He used his cutter very, very effectively," Rockies manager Jim Tracy said. "He was cutting the ball in on our left-handed hitters. He was back-dooring his cutter. He was throwing the front-door cutter to some of our right- handers."

Howard's mammoth homer hit the facing of the second deck in right-center field leading off the fourth. After consecutive singles by Raul Ibanez and Placido Polanco, Brian Schneider made it 4-0 with a sacrifice fly to center.

"I've probably seen a lot more fastballs, at least this series," Howard said. "I'll try to keep it up."

Howard homered to left off Matt Lindstrom leading off the eighth.

Game Notes

This was Howard's second multi-home run game of the season...Kendrick, who came into the game allowing a .344 career batting average to Colorado, walked just two batters...Cook made his 199th career start, all with the Rockies...The Phillies have won 14 of their last 20 games in Denver.