Kyle Kendrick did his very best to bury his team early, but the offense was just too good as the Phillies beat the Washington Nationals 14-7.  Kendrick gave up 6 runs and only recorded 5 outs before exiting, but Nelson Figueroa and the rest of the bullpen picked him up and allowed just 1 run the rest of the way.  Figueroa allowed a run in 3.1 innings to earn the win.  Shane Victorino went 4 for 5 with 5 RBIs to lead the offense, and Chase Utley hit 2 home runs and drove in 4.  Here are some thoughts on the game:

• Kyle Kendrick was bad.  Like, shouldn’t-get-another-start-though-he-probably-will bad.  He doesn’t appear to trust his stuff and is afraid to challenge hitters, even after he got a ground ball in the inning to erase the leadoff man he hit, and after the Phillies scored 4 runs in the bottom of the 1st inning to erase the 3 run deficit he caused.  He’ll need to improve dramatically if he has any ideas about staying in the big leagues after Joe Blanton returns.
• I kind of like Nelson Figueroa.  He barely has major league stuff, but he challenges hitters and isn’t afraid to pitch to contact.  Also, he can swing the bat a little bit, going 2 for 2 tonight.  Who knew?
• Carlos Ruiz had a terrific 11 pitch at bat in the bottom of the 5th, fouling off a bunch of pitches and drawing a walk.  He set the table for Victorino’s 2-run homer that gave the Phillies the lead for good.
• It’s safe to say that Victorino will be spending some time in the leadoff spot while Jimmy Rollins is on the DL and I don’t see any way this doesn’t work out great for him.  He certainly busted out of his slump today, and batting in front of Polanco, Utley, and Howard means that he should see a ton of pitches to hit.
• Speaking of Polanco, he is hitting everything in sight right now (batting .486) and his defense at 3rd has been at least solid, if not very good.  The contract may prove to be a year too long when all is said and done, but for 2010 Polanco turned out to be exactly what the Phillies needed.
• I don’t know what else there is to say about Chase Utley at this point, but I want to keep talking about him.  So…MVP?
• Chad Durbin had 2 really good innings of relief work after the Phillies took the lead in the bottom of the 5th.  Please don’t go back into my archives to read what I wrote about him last season, because I could not be higher on him this year.  With so many potential question marks in the bullpen, Durbin could end up being an unsung hero for the Phillies in 2010.
• Philadelphia goes for the sweep tomorrow afternoon.  JA Happ takes the mound against Scott Olsen, who hasn’t pitched in a year due to arm troubles.  Should be interesting.