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Phillies nip Marlins in twinbill opener

Sep 15, 2011 - 11:03 PM Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - Hunter Pence and Raul Ibanez both hit a first-inning RBI double to back five solid frames from Kyle Kendrick, as the Phillies downed the Marlins, 3-1, in the opening game of a doubleheader.

In his first start since August 24, Kendrick (8-6) took a no-hitter into the fifth before allowing a leadoff homer to Logan Morrison. In all, he surrendered two hits while fanning six.

Ryan Madson stranded runners at second and third in the ninth to record his 31st save of the season.

"It's a nice win for us," said Kendrick. "The guys came in from the bullpen and threw well."

Placido Polanco went 2-for-3 with an RBI for the Phillies, who clinched their fifth consecutive postseason berth on Wednesday behind Roy Halladay's 1-0 shutout of the Astros. The club's magic number to clinch its fifth straight NL East title is three.

Anibal Sanchez (8-8) was the hard-luck loser, allowing two runs on four hits over six innings. He walked one and fanned seven.

Donnie Murphy had a pair of hits for the Marlins, who have lost three straight following a four-game win streak.

Polanco singled up the middle in the first, moved to second on a walk and scored on Pence's double into the left field corner. Ibanez followed a Ryan Howard strikeout with a two-bagger off the wall in right to make it a 2-0 game.

Sanchez grounded out Pete Orr to end the inning and did not allow another hit until Polanco's leadoff single in the sixth.

Kendrick was equally effective. He hit John Buck with a sinker in the second, but did not allow another batter to reach until Morrison's leadoff homer in the fifth.

Michael Stutes began the sixth for the Phillies and stranded Marlins at the corners, then worked around a Buck leadoff single to keep the Marlins off the board in the seventh.

The Phillies loaded the bases on Ryan Webb in the home half and Polanco drew a two-out walk to push across another run.

In the top of the eighth, Antonio Bastardo allowed an Omar Infante double and walked Mike Stanton before exiting. Gaby Sanchez greeted Brad Lidge with a base hit through the left side, but Ibanez's one-hop throw cut down Infante at the plate. Lidge struck out Buck with the bases loaded to escape unscathed.

After the Phillies left the bases loaded in the bottom half, Bryan Petersen and Murphy singled to begin the ninth. The runners advanced on a sac bunt, but Madson struck out Emilio Bonifacio and popped out Infante to end the game.

"Give their pitchers credit," said Marlins manager Jack McKeon. "They got themselves into jams and got out of them."

Game Notes

The Phillies' five straight postseason appearances is the longest active streak in the majors and marks a club record. The previous record was three consecutive years, accomplished from 1976-78...This season, Philadelphia clinched a postseason berth in 146 games, marking another club record. The previous mark was 147 games in 1915...Infante went 1-for-4. Since July 21, he has had at least one hit in 31 of 37 games.