"That's what has been going on," Kendrick said when asked about a lack of run support. "You just have to go out there and pitch and give us a chance to win some games. We'll come around and score some runs."
Kendrick managed to finish with two scoreless innings to make it through the sixth, but he knew his nine-hit, four-run performance was not a good one.
"Four runs, six innings isn't quality," he said. "But I don't think it was horrible. I don't think it was good. It was OK. It wasn't enough. We lost."
Kendrick, who turned 26 Thursday but did not appear in a mood to celebrate, slipped to 8-7 with a 4.64 ERA.
The Phillies optioned Kendrick to triple-A Lehigh Valley after he struggled in his first two starts following the all-star break. But he was quickly recalled because of an injury to Jamie Moyer and went 2-0 with a 1.86 ERA in his next three outings.
In his four starts since then, he is 1-3 with a 6.23 ERA.
Without a day off until Sept. 9, the Phillies have no choice but to leave Kendrick in the starting rotation. Rosters, however, will expand Wednesday, and the Phillies have four off days in September. If Kendrick does not start pitching better soon, he could find himself out of the rotation again.
Nice talk with the ump
Two days after charging Scott Barry, the Phillies' Ryan Howard found himself standing next to the triple-A fill-in umpire at first base during Thursday's game.
Barry sent Howard into a rage Tuesday night by first ruling that he swung at a two-strike pitch and then ejecting the first baseman in the bottom of the 14th inning. In the sixth inning of Tuesday's game, Howard could be seen having a casual conversation with Barry.
"It looked that way," Howard said. "If it quacks like a duck . . ."
Howard was asked if he wanted to share the conversation he had with Barry.
