Phillies score early and often, take opener 13-8

The Phillies bashed their way to a huge win on Friday, clubbing out 13 runs on 15 hits en route to a 13-8 win in their series opener against the Marlins. The Phillies are now over .500 for the first time since early June.

Offense roughs up Hefner 

Jeremy Hefner entered the game with a 1.67 ERA in his last four starts. After two innings and eight earned runs tonight his ERA over his last five starts sits at 4.03.

Just about everyone got in on the fun. An RBI triple from Chase Utley and run-scoring singles from Domonic Brown, Delmon Young and John Mayberry Jr. gave the Phillies a 4-0 lead in the first. Two innings later the Phillies put the finishing touches on Hefner’s outing, who was ousted in the third without recording an out.

Domonic Brown led off the third with a solo homer, his 24th of the season, on an 0-2 pitch. It started a string of extra base hits that propelled the Phillies to a seven run inning. Darin Ruf doubled, and was driven home by a Delmon Young single one batter later. Back-to-back doubles from Mayberry and Carlos Ruiz scored two more runs and the inning was capped with a three-run homer from Michael Young, who at that point was the only Phillies without a hit.

Kendrick strong early, faltered later on

Kendrick had come off a strong outing his last time out, and looked good through the first three innings tonight. He allowed just one baserunner in the first three frames and struck out six batters. But things did not go so well for the righty in his next three innings. In the fourth he allowed five straight hits to start the inning, including a three-run homer from Marlon Byrd. He escaped further damage, but allowed another run in the fifth and two more in the sixth. His final line was 5 2/3 innings, six runs on nine hits and seven strikeouts, and he earned his ninth win of the year. His ERA is now 3.94.

DeFratus not sharp again

Justin Defratus allowed two runs, including a home run in one inning of work. DeFratus had been pitching well enough in his last few outings, but has trouble stringing more than a couple good outings together. He has not had more than two scoreless innings in a row since June 11-14, and since then he has allowed 10 earned runs in 8 1/13 innings.

Up Next…

Tomorrow the Phillies will send Cole Hamels (4-11, 4.05 ERA) to the mound in hopes he can continue his strong pitching and give the Phillies an early series win. His opponent will be Mets prospect Zach Wheeler (3-1, 3.54 ERA), who has allowed just two runs in his last two starts. First pitch is at 1:10 p.m.