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PHI@SF: Kendrick escapes trouble in the seventh

Kyle Kendrick's first fill-in start for Cliff Lee was not what the Phillies envisioned, but the case remains that a large reason the Phillies have the right-hander is so he can fill the swing-man role. Every team needs rotation insurance.

Kendrick (0-1, 9.39) gave up seven runs in three innings of a 9-5 loss to the D-backs on Monday.

"He didn't get ahead, he didn't command anything. He didn't create angles with anything," pitching coach Rich Dubee said. "He elevated the whole time. It's mechanical and approach and being aggressive. I think bouncing in and out of the rotation, he just didn't come out with the right mindset. He didn't get ahead or angle anything.

"He was up the whole time, belt high and up. Not too many guys can pitch that way."

The Phillies and Cubs have split the first half of their four-game set after Philadelphia won, 5-2, on Saturday. First pitch at Citizens Bank Park on Sunday is scheduled for 1:35 p.m. ET.

Like Kendrick, Cubs right-hander Matt Garza (1-1, 3.38) will be on an extra day's rest. Garza was strong against the Cardinals in a 3-2 win on Monday, allowing two runs in seven innings.

Sunday marks the third game of a seven-game road trip for the Cubs. Philly's back on the road for six games after Monday.

Cubs: Clevenger placed on DL
• Catcher Steve Clevenger went on the 15-day disabled list Saturday after straining his right oblique in batting practice a day earlier.

"The concerning part about [Clevenger's] injury -- when I've had run-ins with this sort of thing -- is when they have trouble talking or coughing, it's usually more than a couple of weeks," manager Dale Sveum said.

Welington Castillo was called up to take Clevenger's spot on the roster.

Phillies: Thome's back flares up
• Making his second start at first base since April 13, Jim Thome was forced to leave early with "left lower back tightness." Thome, 41, has long had back issues.

Worth noting
• Going into Saturday night's 5-2 Phils win, the Philly bullpen had thrown 45 1/3 innings, fewest in the National League. Joe Blanton went 7 1/3 innings, bringing the bullpen's total to 47 innings.

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