Mets 5 - 4 Phillies
Final/14
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Kendrick, Phillies try to grab series lead over Mets

May 31, 2014 - 1:11 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - Kyle Kendrick hopes to follow up his first victory since August with another win on Saturday afternoon as the Philadelphia Phillies resume a five-game set with the New York Mets.

Following a victory on Aug. 11 of last year, the right-handed Kendrick posted an 0-10 mark over his next 16 starts, bridging two seasons, but finally found the win column on Monday versus Colorado.

Kendrick got plenty of support in the 9-0 win, but did his part by keeping the Rockies off the board for 6 2/3 innings, scattering six hits and four walks.

Even bigger was that Kendrick's effort came one day after the Phillies were no-hit by Josh Beckett and the Los Angeles Dodgers.

"Good bounce back game on the offensive side," Philadelphia manager Ryne Sandberg said. "Good to see Kendrick was solid into the seventh against a good lineup."

The 29-year-old Kendrick is now 1-5 with a 4.04 earned run average this season and did not factor into a May 10 outing versus the hosting Mets. He yielded four runs over 5 1/3 frames and is 8-8 against them lifetime with a 3.58 ERA in 23 games (17 starts).

New York will send 25-year-old Jacob deGrom to the hill with the hurler aiming once again to lock up his first Major League victory.

After losing his first two career starts, deGrom took a tough-luck no-decision on Monday versus Pittsburgh. The Mets lost 5-3 even though deGrom gave up just five hits over 6 2/3 scoreless innings, though he did walk five batters as well.

The right-handed deGrom is 0-2 with a 1.83 ERA and faces the Phillies for the first time.

Philadelphia drew even in this series after taking the second game of the set 6-5 in 14 innings on Friday night. Reid Brignac delivered an RBI single in the deciding frame to secure the walk-off win.

Marlon Byrd led off the 14th against Mets reliever Jenrry Mejia with a routine fly to right, but heavy winds tricked Chris Young and the ball was dropped.

"I was looking dead at it when it was coming down," Young said of the error. "I can't explain it. I have no idea how I dropped a routine fly ball, but it happened."

Carlos Ruiz then roped a liner into center to put runners on the corners and Cesar Hernandez was walked intentionally to load the bases for Brignac. After missing badly on a first pitch fastball, Brignac connected on the second pitch of the at-bat and drove it to the wall, easily plating Byrd for the first run since the fifth inning.

"We've come up with some clutch hits. And that's what it takes to get this team going," Brignac said after the Phillies won in walk-off fashion for the second time in three games.

The Mets, meanwhile, had a three-game winning streak snapped.

These clubs have split six meetings and the Phillies halted a six-game slide at home to the Mets with Friday's win.






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