| SEASON | CAREER |
| W9 | 40 |
| L8 | 26 |
| G21 | 100 |
| IP135.0 | 610.0 |
| BB26 | 188 |
| SO122 | 531 |
| SEASON | CAREER |
| W8 | 81 |
| L9 | 71 |
| G21 | 227 |
| IP133.1 | 1377.0 |
| BB18 | 362 |
| SO115 | 927 |
While the NL West looked like a two-team race less than two weeks ago, the surging Arizona Diamondbacks have suddenly joined the party.
The Diamondbacks try to continue their ascent up the standings Friday night in the opener of a three-game set in Philadelphia, where they've lost nine of 10 to the Phillies.
Third-place Arizona (54-51) sat seven games out of first place on July 21 but has climbed to within two of division-leading San Francisco and 1 1/2 of second-place Los Angeles. Though poor play from both the Giants and Dodgers has certainly helped, the Diamondbacks have won 10 of 13 while batting .283 - including a .367 mark with runners in scoring position.
Arizona is coming off its first three-game sweep at Dodger Stadium in five seasons, capped by Wednesday's 4-0 victory. Rookie Patrick Corbin threw six strong innings while Miguel Montero and Chris Johnson both went deep.
"We pitched very well, we swung the bats very well, we hit a couple of home runs virtually every game, so our guys are coming together," manager Kirk Gibson told the team's official website. "It's very nice, it's a good feeling. They've worked hard to fight their way through and get here."
Acquired from Houston on Sunday, Johnson went 6 for 11 with two homers and seven RBIs at Chavez Ravine. He's batting just .256 with one RBI and 14 strikeouts in 11 career games at Citizens Bank Park, where the Phillies (47-58) have outscored the Diamondbacks 65-22 during their 9-1 home stretch in the series.
Philadelphia returns home after taking two of three at Washington, falling 3-0 in Thursday's series finale. The last-place Phillies, who sent Shane Victorino to the Dodgers and Hunter Pence to the Giants in separate deals before Tuesday's deadline, collected just three singles Thursday.
"I think people will still come to see us play," manager Charlie Manuel said. "I hope they do, because I think we're definitely going to keep trying to improve our team, and keep trying to improve what we've got."
Ryan Howard was held out of the starting lineup Thursday before striking out as a pinch-hitter. He's struck out 11 times during a 1-for-16 slump.
Howard is 0 for 6 with three strikeouts lifetime against Ian Kennedy (9-8, 4.20 ERA), who's won a season-best three consecutive starts while compiling a 2.42 ERA and fanning 23 in 22 1-3 innings.
"My command has been better," he said. "Being ahead of guys, it makes a big difference. I watched things on film and tried to think of drills we did in the past. It was getting frustrating, but it's working out now."
Kennedy gave up three homers to the New York Mets ' Ike Davis but was otherwise superb Saturday, scattering seven hits and striking out nine over 6 1-3 innings of a 6-3 win. The right-hander's 18 long balls allowed are just one fewer than his total from 2011.
Kennedy is 1-1 with a 2.25 ERA over three career starts against the Phillies. He threw a three-hitter against them during a 4-0 win April 25, 2011, then gave up three runs over three innings during a rain-shortened road outing last Aug. 18 as Arizona fell 4-1.
Philadelphia counters with Joe Blanton (8-9, 4.59). The right-hander suffered a hard-luck loss Saturday, yielding two runs and four hits while striking out seven in as many innings during a 2-1 defeat at Atlanta.
Blanton has been knocked around at home of late, going 1-3 with a 6.05 ERA over his last six starts there. He is 1-1 with a 9.00 ERA over two career starts against the Diamondbacks, though he hasn't faced them since 2009.
Blanton has had his way with Aaron Hill , limiting him to one hit in 15 at-bats. Jason Kubel has also struggled in the matchup, going 1 for 9.
@
@
@
AVG
HRRUNSSBSOBBOBPSLGOPS
VS.
| HITTERS | AB | AVG | H | HR | RBI | BB | SO | OBP | OPS | SLG |
| Henry Blanco | 2 | .500 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .500 | 1.000 | .500 |
| Willie Bloomquist | 6 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
| Geoff Blum | 3 | .333 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .333 | .666 | .333 |
| Aaron Hill | 15 | .067 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | .063 | .196 | .133 |
| Jason Kubel | 9 | .111 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .111 | .444 | .333 |
| John McDonald | 10 | .300 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .300 | .600 | .300 |
| Miguel Montero | 6 | .167 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | .167 | .500 | .333 |
| Lyle Overbay | 12 | .333 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 1 | .333 | .916 | .583 |
| Gerardo Parra | 4 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
| Ryan Roberts | 4 | .500 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .500 | 1.000 | .500 |
| Chris Young | 2 | .500 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | .500 | 2.500 | 2.000 |
VS.
| HITTERS | AB | AVG | H | HR | RBI | BB | SO | OBP | OPS | SLG |
| Cliff Lee | 2 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
| John Mayberry | 2 | .500 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | .500 | 2.500 | 2.000 |
| Laynce Nix | 5 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | .167 | .167 | .000 |
| Pete Orr | 1 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
| Hunter Pence | 4 | .250 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | .400 | .650 | .250 |
| Placido Polanco | 11 | .273 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .273 | .728 | .455 |
| Jimmy Rollins | 6 | .333 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | .333 | .666 | .333 |
| Carlos Ruiz | 5 | .200 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | .333 | .733 | .400 |
| Brian Sanches | 1 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
| Brian Schneider | 1 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | .500 | .500 | .000 |
| Shane Victorino | 8 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
| Ty Wigginton | 7 | .286 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .286 | .715 | .429 |
| Vance Worley | 1 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
 Arizona Diamondbacks |
|||
| Date | Player | Status | Injury |
| June 27, 2012 | Daniel Hudson | 15-Day DL | Right foream tightness |
| June 25, 2012 | John McDonald | 15-Day DL | Strained left oblique |
| June 25, 2012 | John McDonald | 15-Day DL | Strained left oblique |
| June 17, 2012 | Joe Saunders | 15-Day DL | Strained left shoulder |
| June 17, 2012 | Joe Saunders | 15-Day DL | Strained left shoulder |
| May 23, 2012 | Miguel Montero | Day-to-Day | Groin injury |
 Philadelphia Phillies |
|||
| Date | Player | Status | Injury |
| July 26, 2012 | Placido Polanco | 15-Day DL | Lower back inflammation |
| July 09, 2012 | Raul Valdes | 15-Day DL | Strained right hip |
| June 25, 2012 | Brian Schneider | 15-Day DL | Sprained right ankle - out 3-5 weeks |
| June 25, 2012 | Brian Schneider | 15-Day DL | Sprained right ankle - out 3-5 weeks |
| June 07, 2012 | Freddy Galvis | 15-Day DL | Lower back strain |
| June 05, 2012 | Placido Polanco | Day-to-Day | Left game - left index finger laceration |
PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- Justin Upton one-upped his older brother.
Upton hit his 100th career homer shortly before his sibling accomplished the same feat, Ian Kennedy threw six effective innings, and the streaking Arizona Diamondbacks beat the Philadelphia Phillies 4-2 on Friday night.
Jason Kubel also went deep for the defending NL West champion Diamondbacks, who have won four in a row and six of seven. Arizona entered just two games behind division-leading San Francisco.
About an hour after Upton connected off fill-in starter Kyle Kendrick (4-9), Tampa Bay's B.J. Upton went deep in the fourth inning against Baltimore.
"I definitely wanted to beat him to it," Justin Upton said. "It really felt good. I'm happy for him. It's a big night for the family."
Kennedy (10-8) allowed seven hits and two runs.
Takashi Saito and David Hernandez each worked a scoreless inning before J.J. Putz finished for his 20th save in 23 tries.
"He gave us six innings, two runs," Arizona manager Kirk Gibson said of Kennedy. "That's all I ask. Give us a chance to win the game."
Kendrick started in place of Joe Blanton , who was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers 2 1/2 hours before the game. Blanton was the third player dealt this week by the cost-cutting Phillies. They sent center fielder Shane Victorino to the Dodgers and dealt right fielder Hunter Pence to the Giants on Tuesday.
The five-time defending NL East champions have been stuck in last place and made the moves to trim payroll. Victorino and Blanton are eligible for free agency after the season, and neither figured into Philadelphia's budget.
Kendrick gave up three runs - two earned - and five hits in four innings.
Upton crushed one way out to left in the second to give the Diamondbacks a 1-0 lead and end Kendrick's career-best, 22-inning scoreless streak.
Upton preserved a 3-2 lead in the sixth by throwing out the tying run at the plate.
Kubel hit his 23rd homer of the season off Josh Lindblom in the ninth.
A sacrifice fly by Paul Goldschmidt made it 2-0 in the fourth. Chris Johnson 's two-out RBI single gave Arizona a 3-0 lead.
Utley drove a 3-2 pitch out to right to get the Phillies within 3-1 in the bottom half.
Kennedy had control issues in the fifth. He loaded the bases by hitting one batter and walking two. Nate Schierholtz hit a sacrifice fly to cut it to 3-2.
"My changeup kept slipping out," Kennedy said. "The resin bag was wet. I was really sweating and it was humid."
The Phillies appeared to tie it in the sixth on Kevin Frandsen 's two-out single to right, but Upton threw out John Mayberry Jr. trying to score to end the inning. Replays showed Mayberry slid across the plate before Miguel Montero 's tag, and Philadelphia manager Charlie Manuel argued briefly with umpire Jim Wolf.
"He was safe," Manuel said. "I saw it real good. I think he knew he missed it. That's why I didn't argue with him a long time."
This was the first time the Phillies played a home game in August with a double-digit deficit in the standings since Aug. 20, 2006. They were 61-62 and 14 games behind division-leading New York that day. But they finished 85-77, which would have earned them a wild-card spot if two were available back then.
There were plenty of empty seats at Citizens Bank Park, but enough tickets were sold to make it 271 consecutive sellouts, counting postseason games.
The loudest cheers were for a fan sitting behind the plate after he caught a foul ball while spilling most of his beer but hanging onto the cup.
"Obviously, it's difficult," Kendrick said. "But we have two months left. We want to try to win some games."
Notes: Utley hit his sixth homer in his 97th at-bat. Last year, he had just 11 homers in 398 at-bats. ... Johnson has eight RBIs in four games since being acquired from Baltimore. ... Arizona is 11-3 in its last 14 games. ... Phillies All-Star C Carlos Ruiz (foot) was out of the lineup. ... Roy Halladay (4-6, 4.33) faces Joe Saunders (5-7, 3.62) on Saturday night. Halladay is winless in three starts since returning from the disabled list, but the Phillies are 2-1 in those three games.
---
Rob Maaddi can be reached at http://www.twitter.com/RobMaaddi
.
Arizona Diamondbacks