The Arizona Diamondbacks continued to play well on Friday night against a depleted Phillies team, winning by a score of 4-2. Ian Kennedy did not have his best night on the mound, but he managed to work six innings of two-run ball. With both the Giants and Dodgers winning on Friday, the D-backs kept pace in the NL West and remain two games back.
Kennedy scattered seven hits and two walks during his six innings, striking out just one batter in the process. Kyle Kendrick started for Philadelphia and was not sharp, surrendering three runs (two earned) on five hits over four innings. He was forced to make the spot-starter after the original projected starter, Joe Blanton, was dealt to the Dodgers earlier in the day.
Justin Upton hit a solo homer in the second inning to give Arizona a 1-0 lead. It was the 100th blast of his career. Paul Goldschmidt plated a run with a sacrifice fly in the fourth. Chris Johnson followed with an RBI-single to bring home Upton to make the score 3-0.
The Phillies got on the board with a solo homer from Chase Utley in the bottom of the fourth. Nate Schierholtz drove home another run with a sac fly to make it 3-2 in the fifth.
The D-backs bullpen would hold strong in the later innings, allowing just one walk and no hits. Jason Kubel added an insurance run with a solo homer in the ninth to make it 4-2. It was his 23rd long ball of the season.
J.J. Putz entered the bottom half of the frame and worked a perfect 1-2-3 inning, striking out Laynce Nix to seal a win.
The two clubs will meet again at 7:05 EST / 4:05 PST on Saturday evening.