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Phillies RHP Kendrick looks to stay unbeaten at home

Sep 12, 2007 - 1:24 PM Colorado (75-69) at Philadelphia (76-68) 7:05 pm EDT

PHILADELPHIA (Ticker) - The Philadelphia Phillies and Colorado Rockies have endured long playoff droughts. It appears that only one team will end its drought as the teams continue to jockey for position in the wild card race on Wednesday.

Philadelphia, which trails the San Diego Padres (78-65) by 2 1/2 games in the wild card, sends rookie Kyle Kendrick to the mound in the third game of a four-game series. Kendrick (8-3, 3.78 ERA) gives the Phillies a rare advantage in the pitching matchup, considering he is 6-0 with a 3.26 ERA in nine starts here and 2-0 with a 2.50 ERA in his last three starts overall.

Philadelphia, which trails the New York Mets (82-62) by six games in the National League East, has not made the playoffs since 1993 when it lost the World Series to the Toronto Blue Jays in six games.

Meanwhile, Colorado has not made the postseason since 1995, and trails San Diego by 3 1/2 games in the wild card. T he Los Angeles Dodgers (75-69) also are 3 1/2 games back of the Padres.

Denny Bautista makes his first start of the season for the Rockies. Bautista (2-1, 19.06) has not pitched since May 13 when he allowed six runs and seven hits in 1/3 of an inning in relief. The righthander has not started in exactly a year, having allowed six runs - one earned - and three hits in 1 2/3 innings of a 10-6 loss to San Francisco.

Matt Holliday homered twice and drove in three runs, while rookie Troy Tulowitzki added a solo shot as the Rockies posted an 8-2 win on Tuesday.