New father Kennedy 3-hits Phils as D-backs win 4-0

[April 26, 2011]  PHOENIX (AP) -- New father Ian Kennedy threw a three-hitter in the first complete game of his major league career, outpitching Cliff Lee to lift the Arizona Diamondbacks to a 4-0 victory Monday night that ended the Philadelphia Phillies' five-game winning streak.

The Diamondbacks snapped a four-game skid as they opened a 10-game home stand after being swept in three games by the Mets in New York.

Kennedy (3-1) struck out 10 -- including Jimmy Rollins to end the game -- and walked none. He had come home early from the team's trip for the delivery of he and his wife's first child, Nora Rose, at 2:04 a.m. on Sunday.

Chris Young and Gerardo Parra homered off Lee, both on the first pitch of an at-bat. Lee (2-2) gave up four runs on five hits in seven innings, matching his season high with 12 strikeouts, one shy of his career high, and walking one.

Placido Polanco doubled and singled for the Phillies in a game that went just two hours, four minutes. The only other hit off Kennedy was Rollins' ground ball off the glove of second baseman Kelly Johnson that easily could have been ruled an error.

Xavier Nady had an RBI single in the sixth after Justin Upton drew just the fourth walk Lee has allowed this season, then stole second.

Kennedy, making his 49th career start, had allowed a run on four hits in 5 1-3 innings in his previous outing, a 3-1 victory at Cincinnati.

Lee was perfect through the first two innings but gave up a leadoff single to Ryan Roberts in the third. He struck out Parra and Kennedy to bring up Young, who had never faced the Phillies ace before popping out to second to start Arizona's first inning.

Young, two for his previous 26 at bats, hit a shot onto the porch above the 413-foot sign in left-center to put Arizona up 2-0.

Parra's solo homer came after Roberts hit one to the right field fence that was caught by Ben Francisco for the first out in the fifth. Parra's homer, into the left field seats, was only the ninth of his three-year career. He had three last season and five in 2009.

Arizona added a run in the fourth when Upton walked and stole second. Stephen Drew struck out for the third time, strongly arguing the called third strike with home plate umpire Bob Davidson, then Nady singled between third and shortstop to bring Upton home and make it 4-0.

NOTES: RHP Michael Stutes pitched a scoreless inning of relief in his major league debut after Philadelphia purchased his contract from Triple-A Lehigh Valley. He took the roster spot made vacant when closer Jose Contreras went on the 15-day DL with a strained elbow. Contreras is to have an MRI in Philadelphia on Tuesday. ... The Phillies conclude a seven-game trip West in Arizona after going 4-0 in San Diego. ... Philadelphia has not scored more than four runs in any of its last 14 games. ... After three against the Phillies, the Diamondbacks play the Cubs three times then wrap up the home stand with three against Colorado.

[Associated Press; By BOB BAUM]

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