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WSH@PHI: Kendrick fans four over seven strong innings

Though his season statistics might suggest otherwise, Philadelphia's Kyle Kendrick has filled in nicely for injured starter Vance Worley.

In two starts since Worley went on the 15-day disabled list with right elbow inflammation, Kendrick is 0-1 with a 2.08 ERA, the lone loss more a product of poor run support than poor pitching.

The Phillies hope to provide Kendrick (0-4, 5.23 ERA) with more run support when he toes the rubber on Saturday, while Cardinals left-handed starter Jaime Garcia (3-2, 3.55 ERA) looks to continue to pitch effectively against the Phillies.

The Phillies won the first two games, including a 5-3 win in extra innings on Friday, of the four-game series at Busch Stadium to extend their winning streak to three games and get back above .500 at 24-23. The Cardinals (25-21) remain a half-game behind the Reds for first place in the National League Central.

Garcia, who is coming off two solid performances, is 2-1 with a 1.20 ERA in six career games, four starts, against Philadelphia. Some of the Phillies' core hitters have struggled in their careers against Garcia. Shortstop Jimmy Rollins is 1-for-11, center fielder Shane Victorino is 2-for-9 and Hunter Pence is 3-for-15 with a home run.

Phillies: First win still eludes Lee
Phillies left-handed starter Cliff Lee, regarded as one of the best pitchers in baseball, has yet to record his first win of 2012. Through seven starts, he is 0-2 with a 2.82 ERA. This is the longest winless drought to start a season in Lee's career.

Lee has pitched well enough to earn a win several times, but has gotten poor run support. The Phillies average 2.47 runs behind Lee, the second-worst run-support total in the Major Leagues. Lee has allowed more than two earned runs three times, leading to his two losses.

In Friday's win for the Phillies, Lee allowed three runs on eight hits, striking out seven and walking three. He finished with a no-decision.

Cardinals: Berkman undergoes successful surgery
First baseman Lance Berkman underwent successful surgery on his right knee on Friday, and is expected to miss 8-to-10 weeks. The procedure was done to remove Berkman's medial meniscus, which had a partial tear. Additionally, a small femoral condylar cartilage tear was debrided.

There was some fear that Berkman might have also injured his anterior cruciate ligament, but that was not the case.

"Great news, as good of news as we could get from this," Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said. "We're excited. I got a call from him earlier and we talked it out. You just never know how somebody's mind works when they get to that position. He's had a long career and a very successful career. You get to that point where you're just tired of fighting through this, and that wasn't it. The conversation was, 'Yeah, I'm going to be back.' "

Worth noting

• Kendrick is 4-1 with a 3.32 ERA in seven career games (five starts) against the Cardinals.

• Garcia was the pitcher of record in the Cardinals' Game 3 loss to the Phillies in last October's NL Division Series, which was the last time Garcia faced the Phillies. In that game, Garcia allowed three runs over seven innings.

• With another save on Friday, Phillies closer Jonathan Papelbon is 14-for-14 in save opportunities this season, and leads the NL in saves.

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