Fast Facts and Reax: Phillies 6, Giants 2

Phillies 6, San Francisco Giants 2

Phillies (16-18), Giants (19-14)

WP: Kendrick (4-1, 2.45 ERA)

LP: Lincecum (2-2, 4.75 ERA)

For the first time all year, Kyle Kendrick couldn’t clean up his own mess, and with men on second and third with no outs in the third surrendered runs in back-to-back at-bats.

Even then, with a little help from the Phillies offense, Kendrick spoon-fed the San Francisco Giants seven innings of two-run ball for another 6-2 win tonight.

Just like that, the Phillies have clinched their first non-Met or Marlin series win of the year, and did it at AT&T Park, where they’ve taken only 5 of 15 series including this one.

All against the reigning World Champions.

Kendrick continues to dazzle. Tonight was his sixth straight start of six innings or more and two runs or fewer, and his 14th quality start in his last 17 outings. His 2.45 ERA on the year is almost exactly that of the span, so yeah, this run just might be sustainable.

He struck out six Giants without issuing a walk, same as Cliff Lee did last night – only Kendrick needed three fewer outs.

He did it mostly working from behind, and even though only 14 of 28 Giants saw first-pitch strikes, Kendrick still tossed 61 of 88 total pitches for strikes.

His finest moment might’ve been in the first inning, when on back-to-back pitches Kendrick first gassed Buster Posey with a high 92 m.p.h. fastball and then fooled him with a change for the strikeout. Talk about a “He’s The Real Deal” moment.

The lineup was again explosive, and crushed Giants starter Tim Lincecum for five runs on 12 baserunners through seven innings. They drew four walks on the night, with yesterday making for their first set of back-to-back four-walk outings all year.

Chase Utley and Ryan Howard each crushed home runs, their seventh and sixth so far. Both were solo shots, as have been each of the club’s last 11 and 21 of 30 on the year.

After tonight, Utley’s slash line is .282/.320/.513. Howard’s:.276/.326/.512.

Howard roped an RBI single to open it up in the first, making for his fifth multi-RBI game in his last 11. He’s hit all but one of his homers in his last 12.

Lefties came up big tonight, too. Ben Revere and Laynce Nix combined to go 4 for 7 with two runs scored. Jimmy Rollins’ average sagged to .234 tonight, but he did smack an RBI and plate a run.

Mike Adams and Jonathan Papelbon allowed only one baserunner before getting the last six outs. Adams struck out two. Papelbon has gotten only two save tires since Apr. 22.

The Phillies are expected to announce the results this afternoon’s exam of Roy Halladay’s shouldertomorrow. They told the world tonight that Tyler Cloyd, not Adam Morgan, will man Halladay’s spot in the rotation on May 10 in Arizona.

Tomorrow, RHP Jonathan Pettibone (2-0, 3.24 ERA) goes for the sweep against LHP Barry Zito (3-1, 3.06) at 3:00.