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Injury-riddled Phils resume set with D'Backs

Apr 24, 2012 - 2:45 PM (Sports Network) - The Phillies' injury report is starting to resemble an All- Star roster. Outfielder Hunter Pence is the latest slugger dealing with an ailment and he could be out again tonight when Philadelphia continues a three- game series with the Arizona Diamondbacks.

The Phillies roster was already set to have a few holes in it when the club opened the season without both Ryan Howard (left Achilles surgery) and Chase Utley (knee tendinitis) and one of their aces was added to the disabled list over the weekend after Cliff Lee suffered a strained left oblique.

Pence, meanwhile, suffered a shoulder injury in Sunday's loss to the Padres and was held out of the starting lineup last night. He was scheduled to be examined last night and is day-to-day.

"I felt it after it happened, but I had adrenaline going [Sunday]. Until this morning when I woke up, I didn't have the mobility that you need," Pence told Philadelphia's website. "Like I said, I want to try to do more, but they don't want me to. Hopefully, it's not a big deal, but we have to get it checked out first."

Without Pence, the Phillies were in danger of being shut out in Monday's opener until they scored five runs in the ninth inning of a 9-5 setback. Shane Victorino hit a three-run homer and Carlos Ruiz followed with a solo shot.

Kyle Kendrick got the start in place of Lee, but lasted only three-plus innings and was charged with seven runs and 11 hits as Philadelphia lost its third straight game and is now three games under .500 (7-10) for the first time since it was 17-20 on May 13, 2007.

"I always want to throw as long as I can so I don't have to hurt the bullpen," said Kendrick. "I didn't do a very good job of that tonight."

The Diamondbacks also used a spot starter in Wade Miley after Daniel Hudson was placed on the DL due to a right shoulder impingement. Miley was excellent, scattering two hits and one walk over six scoreless innings while fanning a career-high seven.

"He got ahead in the count a lot of the times," said Arizona manager Kirk Gibson about Miley. "He was hitting his spots tonight. He did a good job for us when we needed him to."

Arizona also gave Miley plenty of support at the plate. Jason Kubel, Justin Upton and Cody Ransom each drove in two runs, while John McDonald matched Kubel with three hits and also knocked in a run.

Arizona has won two straight since a five-game slide, plating 15 runs in the victories. It had managed just 10 runs over the losing streak.

Though he picked up his first loss to the campaign last time out, Arizona's Josh Collmenter hopes he built a positive base to build on tonight.

The right-hander fell to 0-1 with a 10.22 earned run average through three starts with a loss against Atlanta on Thursday. After giving up 10 earned runs in seven frames in his first two starts, Collmenter allowed four runs on six hits over 5 1/3 innings in a 10-2 setback versus the Braves.

Like Collmenter, Gibson is hoping that his outing was a sign of things to come.

"He threw the ball really well for us," he told Arizona's website. "It wasn't really justice what happened to him tonight. But he can certainly feel good about the way he threw the ball tonight."

The 26-year-old faced the Phillies for the first time as a starter on Aug. 16, allowing two runs over 6 2/3 innings while fanning eight in a no-decision.

Vance Worley looks to build off his first victory of the season for the Phils tonight after an outstanding outing last week.

The 24-year-old righty threw seven scoreless innings at San Diego, scattering four hits and three walks while striking out a career-high 11 batters in a 2-0 win.

"I definitely want to strike guys out and today they were just swinging and missing," said Worley.

Worley has faced the Diamondbacks once before, making a start on Aug. 18 and throwing three scoreless innings before having his outing cut short due to a rain delay.

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