MIAMI — Kyle Kendrick didn’t need much run support with the way he was pitching. Jimmy Rollins’ home run off Josh Johnson to start the game was more than enough.
Kendrick pitched five-hit ball for seven innings leading the Philadelphia Phillies to a 1-0 victory over the Miami Marlins.
“Kendrick was good wasn’t he?” Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said. “Yeah he was. He had a good tempo and rhythm. He got the ball, got set, and kept the flow of the game going.”
Manuel earned his 700th win as a manager with the Phillies’ second straight shutout. Cole Hamels opened the series between NL East rivals with a 4-0 victory.
“If the other team doesn’t score, we can’t lose,” Manuel said.
The Phillies haven’t won 1-0 behind a leadoff homer since 1969, when John Briggs connected in a win against the Dodgers.
The Marlins have not scored in a franchise-record 27 innings.
“Offensively, we couldn’t get anything going,” Marlins manager Ozzie Guillen said. “After the last couple guys pitching, I thought today looked a little easier. I was wrong.”
Kendrick (5-9) struck out six while throwing 61 of 87 pitches for strikes. He was lifted for pinch-hitter Laynce Nix in the eighth. Kendrick has won seven straight against the Marlins dating back to September 2008.
“I am just going to stick to who I am and I was able to do that tonight,” Kendrick said. “Brian (Schneider) called a good game and I was just getting ahead pounding the sinker-changeup and getting some early contact.”
Josh Lindblom and Jonathan Papelbon each pitched a hitless inning. Papelbon walked Carlos Lee with two outs then got Giancarlo Stanton to ground out for his 26th save.
“It was a big win,” Kendrick said. “(Johnson) was obviously pitching well. I was able to go deep enough. Josh and Pap were able to close it out, that was nice. Getting later in the game we knew that he was pitching well so we had to keep it there.”
Johnson (7-9) went eight innings and allowed three hits. He struck out seven and walked one.
“Outstanding,” Guillen said. “Very nice to watch. He felt pretty comfortable making big pitches on big counts.”
Rollins hit Johnson’s second pitch into the right field stands for his 14th homer of the year. It was his 41st career leadoff home run.
“It was supposed to be away, but it was right down the middle,” Johnson said.
Miami’s best opportunity to score came in the sixth after Bryan Petersen led off with a single and advanced to third on a pair of groundouts. Lee popped out to end the inning.
NOTES: Johnson is 2-3 with a 2.04 ERA in his last six starts against Philadelphia. … Kendrick is 7-0 with a 2.28 ERA against Miami in his last nine appearances, making eight starts. … Rollins passed Larry Bowa for most games played (1,731) at shortstop for the Phillies. … Miami’s 23-year old catcher Rob Brantly made his major league debut. Brantly, who was acquired from the Detroit Tigers on July 23, went 0 for 3. … Before the game, Guillen and Jeff Conine chatted with Phillies left fielder Juan Pierre. All three were members of the Marlins 2003 world championship team. … Phillies RHP Roy Halladay (6-6, 3.80 ERA) will take the mound in Wednesday’s series finale against LHP Mark Buehrle (9-11, 3.80 ERA), who will be looking for his 12th consecutive 10-win season.
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