Joe Girardi Sticking with Ian Kennedy as Closer

The Phillies were just one out away form picking up a win against the Colorado Rockies on Thursday night.

However they found a way to lose the game in a all too familiar fashion, when Ian Kennedy's 0-2 pitch was delivered into the left field stands, making it the 30th blown save of the season.

The 30 blown saves are a league high and a single-season team record for the Phillies.

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Kennedy would give up another home run to make it a 4-2 game and he's given up six homers in 13.2 innings since coming over in a trade with the Texas Rangers.

Even with the propensity of giving up the long ball, Phillies manager Joe Girardi told reporters after the game, he is sticking with Kennedy in the ninth.

"He's our closer," Girardi stated.

Kennedy has been pretty steady in the closing role, before Thursday night's blown save, the 36-year-old veteran allowed just two runs over 12 innings, converting six of his seven save chances.

"He's had some big saves for us too. Some tough saves for us. He was one strike away."

The Philies have had major issues in the ninth inning, with Hector Neris being removed from the role. While he has pitched well in his new role, allowing just one run in his last 21 appearances, going back to him as the closer isn't the answer.

With just 22 games left in the season, the Phillies will need Kennedy to nail down any opportunity he gets if the team wants any shot at returning to the playoffs for the first time since the 2011 season.