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NYM@PHI: Kendrick tosses 7 2/3 strong frames vs. Mets

Since getting hit around by the Braves on Aug. 8, Phillies righty Kyle Kendrick has been, in a word, stellar.

Kendrick gave up six runs -- all earned -- in 3 1/3 innings against Atlanta last month, but has had a dramatic turnaround in five starts since. During that span, the righty is 4-1 with a 1.53 ERA.

"I feel like I've gotten a lot better with just the feel of my pitches and kind of finding out what kind of pitcher I am, and trusting that," Kendrick said after his last win on Aug. 30.

Kendrick will continue to find out what kind of pitcher he is when he faces a suddenly hot Marlins offense on Monday at Citizens Bank Park when the teams open up a three-game series. The Marlins have scored at least six runs in four straight games, the first time they've done that since Sept. 2-5, 2009.

That run support will be key for the Marlins and lefty Wade LeBlanc, who takes the mound for Miami in the series opener.

Overcoming a slow start, LeBlanc ended up turning in a quality start in his previous outing. The lefty gave up three runs in six innings in a no-decision. Back in the rotation, LeBlanc is 1-2 with a 3.51 ERA in six starts.

The Marlins have won six of their last eight against the Phillies.

Marlins: Solano still scorching
After a 1-for-3 effort in Sunday's series finale against the Nats, Marlins rookie Donovan Solano is hitting .360 (31-for-86) over his last 22 games. He drove in a run Sunday and scored two, upping his totals to 10 RBIs and 13 runs scored over that span.

The 24-year-old Solano, who has garnered praise from manager Ozzie Guillen throughout the season, has hits in 20 of his last 22 games.

Phillies: Frandsen playing as pain permits
An MRI on Saturday revealed that Kevin Frandsen has a stress fracture in his left fibula, an injury that has built up over time. While the third baseman said it's a day-to-day issue, assistant general manager Scott Proefrock said Frandsen will be reevaluated before Monday's series opener against Miami.

"It all depends on how much I can play through," Frandsen said before Sunday's afternoon game. He did not start either game of the doubleheader, but entered in the sixth inning of the nightcap as a pinch-hitter and had an RBI single.

Since July 27, when Frandsen was promoted from Triple-A Lehigh Valley, he has multiple hits in 12 of 33 starts at the hot corner while hitting .336 overall.

Worth noting
• Miami leads the season series, 7-5, but the Phillies are 95-62 all-time against the Marlins in Philadelphia.

• Miami's current 3.00 ERA vs. Philadelphia is the lowest season ERA against the Phillies in franchise history, in front of a 3.24 mark in 2000.

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