Phillies 5 - 9 Diamondbacks
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Phillies, Diamondbacks open injury-impacted series

Apr 23, 2012 - 3:16 PM

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(Sports Network) - Both the Phillies and Diamondbacks would probably feel much better going into tonight's opener of a three-game series with their original scheduled starters. However, injury has forced both Charlie Manuel and Kirk Gibson to search for other options.

Philadelphia and Arizona battle for a much-needed win on Monday in a clash of spot starters.

The Phillies may be in better shape even though they placed a former Cy Young Award winner in Cliff Lee on the disabled list due to left oblique strain. Manuel will instead start Kyle Kendrick, who does have a healthy amount of starting experience.

Lee suffered his injury in the final inning of his 10-scoreless frame outing versus the Giants on Wednesday, a game that Philadelphia lost 1-0 in 11 frames. So, in steps Kendrick, who has been charged with one earned run over 4 2/3 frames of relief this season.

Philadelphia's longman out of the bullpen did make a career-high 31 starts in 2010 and 15 of his 34 appearances last season were starts. The right-hander went 5-4 with a 3.14 earned run average in that role.

"I feel comfortable with Kendrick," Manuel told the Phillies' website. "We've got the pitching to offset that. I've got a feeling [Lee] won't be out very long. When his time's up, he's going to be back."

Kendrick, 27, has faced the Diamondbacks five times, all but one of those starts, and has a 4.56 ERA without a decision.

Wade Miley, meanwhile, will get the start for Arizona tonight after Daniel Hudson was placed on the DL Saturday due to a right shoulder impingement.

Miley, who has never faced the Phillies, went 4-2 with a 4.50 ERA in eight games last season, including seven starts. The 25-year-old lefty began this season in the bullpen and is 1-0 with a 3.12 ERA in three outings. Miley was touched for three runs in just 1 2/3 innings of his most recent appearance on Thursday.

That outing came during Arizona's five-game losing streak that is was able to halt on Sunday with a 6-4 win over Atlanta, avoiding a four-game sweep. Ian Kennedy hurled seven innings of three-run ball and also drove in a run by drawing a bases-loaded walk at the plate.

"His stuff was pretty good," said Gibson about Kennedy, who tossed 111 pitches in the win. "He's going to have an extra day this time. We haven't pushed him too much this year and he felt much better going into the start today."

Gerardo Parra backed his starter with a grand slam and also scored twice, while Aaron Hill drove in a run.

The Phillies are 3-4 on a nine-game road trip out west and took the first two of their four-game series with the Padres before suffering consecutive losses. Philadelphia was dealt a 6-1 setback in Sunday's finale, going 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position while leaving 10 men on base.

The Phils have plated two or fewer runs in 10 of their 16 games this season.

"I see guys trying too hard. They just need to relax and play like we can," Manuel said.

The Phillies and Diamondbacks split six encounters last season, with each team winning twice at home.






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