Kendrick faces Hudson in game two of series
Jul 25, 2014; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Kyle Kendrick (38) pitches during the first inning of a game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Kyle Kendrick has been in the big leagues for seven years and own a 69-66 record.
His opponent on the mound Saturday night, Tim Hudson, has been in the league for 15 years and has a record of 213-120 with nearly 2000 strikeouts.
This season the 29-year-old Kendrick is 5-11 with a 4.88 ERA. He’s battled mediocrity all season and at times there has been talk of him losing his spot in the starting rotation. Kendrick has won just two of his last ten starts, giving up nine home runs in that span. Giants slugger Pablo Sandoval is 3-for-9 in his career against Kendrick with a home run and a pair of runs batted in.
The 39-year-old Hudson has been regarded as the best off-season acquisition for the Giants. This season he has an 8-9 record, but much of the time he fails to get run support. The Auburn product is currently eighth in the National League in ERA.
In one game this season against the Phillies, Hudson took a loss in giving up eight hits and two runs although neither of them were earned. He owns a 5-4 record with a 3.20 ERA at AT&T Park this season.
Hudson has seen plenty of several Phillies veterans during his career. Ryan Howard is 22-for-67 (.328) with seven home runs and 17 RBIs against Hudson. Jimmy Rollins and Chase Utley have a combined 16 extra-base hits against the veteran with 20 RBIs.
It may not be the veterans Hudson will be worried about. It may be a young bat like Cody Asche.
Asche was the hero in a Phillies win Friday night when he hit a game-tying two-run homer in the eight and doubled to start a tenth inning rally. He’s been trying to find consistency at the plate and his performance Friday may have been the confidence booster he needed.
With a win Saturday, the Phillies can tie the season series with San Francisco at 3-3.