Roob's Instant Replay: Pirates 5, Phillies 4

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BOX SCORE

The Pirates scored five runs off Kyle Kendrick in the first, and veteran A.J. Burnett and three relievers made those runs hold up in a 5-4 win over the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park Thursday afternoon.

The Phillies threatened in the ninth when Jimmy Rollins singled off Joel Hanrahan and moved to second on Juan Pierre’s sacrifice bunt. After Hanrahan struck out Shane Victorino, Rollins stole third, but Hunter Pence skied to center to end the game.

The Phillies and Pirates split the four-game series, and the Phillies went 5-5 on the 10-game homestand. They’re 8-17 in their last 25 games, falling to 36-42 after being at 28-25 on June 1.

The Phils fell to 9 1/2 games behind the first-place Nationals, who were losing 5-0 to the Rockies early in their game in Denver.

The Pirates, who haven’t had a winning season since 1992, are 40-35 overall and 19-9 in their last 28 games.

In 37 games since May 19, Phils’ starters have given up 132 earned runs in 228 1/3 innings, a 5.20 ERA.

Starting pitching report
After allowing five of the first six batters he faced to score, Kendrick retired 20 of the final 24 batters he faced.

Kendrick got bombed in the first, allowing five runs, four hits and two long home runs before he recorded his second out, then settled down and pitched two-hit shutout ball over the next 6 2/3 innings. Overall, he allowed five runs and six hits in seven innings.

Burnett, now in his 14th season and with his fourth team, allowed three runs and six hits in 6 2/3 innings and improved to 9-2. With 130 career wins, Burnett ranks 16th among active major-leaguers.

Bullpen report
Brian Sanches and Jeremy Horst, both recalled from Lehigh Valley earlier in the day, each pitched a scoreless inning in relief of Kendrick. Sanches was making his Phillies debut.

At the plate
Backup catcher Erik Kratz, recalled from Lehigh Valley to fill in while Brian Schneider is on the DL, slammed a two-run homer in the second inning, his second homer in two starts this year.

The Phillies’ third run scored on Placido Polanco’s infield out in the sixth, and Hunter Pence made it 5-4 with a solo homer in the eighth.

After Polanco was hit by a pitch and Mike Fontenot singled, the Phils had first and second with one out, but pinch-hitter Jim Thome struck out after crushing a long foul ball down the right-field line, and pinch-hitter Carlos Ruiz popped out foul to first, with Pirates first baseman McGee tumbling into the stands after he chased the ball down.

In the field
Kratz pounced on a sac bunt attempt by Burnett in the top of the seventh and fired to second to force out Pirates catcher Michael McKenry. Jimmy Rollins’ throw to first was in time to double up Burnett.

Stat’s incredible!
The Pirates’ five-run first inning was their first five-run first inning on the road since May 27, 2007, when they scored five runs in the first against the Reds on the way to a 14-10 win in Cincinnati.

Attendance
The Phillies announced attendance as 44,521. It’s their 245th consecutive official regular-season sellout. Including playoffs, the Phils have sold out 261 consecutive games.

Up next
The Phillies open a six-game road trip Friday evening with the first of three games against the Marlins in Miami. Game times are 7:10 p.m. Friday, 4:10 p.m. Saturday and 1:10 p.m. Sunday. After a day off Monday, the Phils have three in New York against the Mets, 7:10 p.m. Tuesday, 1:10 p.m. Wednesday and 7:10 p.m. Thursday.

Matchups for the Marlins series: Cliff Lee (0-4, 3.72) vs. righty Josh Johnson (4-5, 3.96) Friday, Cole Hamels (10-3, 3.03) vs. lefty Mark Buehrle (6-8, 3.55) Saturday and Joe Blanton (7-6, 4.87) vs. righty Ricky Nolasco (6-6, 4.78) Sunday.

E-mail Reuben Frank at rfrank@comcastsportsnet.com