The Phillies beat Andy Pettitte (8-2) and took two of three. Shortly before the first pitch, the giant video board in center field blared highlights from Pettitte's victory over Philadelphia at Yankee Stadium last November in the clinching Game 6 of the World Series.
But this was Kendrick's night, from the moment he struck out leadoff man Derek Jeter. A day after 47-year-old lefty Jamie Moyer's soft tosses bamboozled the Yankees, they had no luck timing the changeups from Kendrick (4-2).
Then again, the 25-year-old righty held an advantage - Mark Teixeira was the only player in the New York lineup who'd previously faced Kendrick, and he was just 1 for 12.
Kendrick gave up four singles in seven innings and left with a 3-1 edge. There was no official save, although Polanco certainly made one.
After Robinson Cano's RBI single in the sixth cut the Yankees' deficit to two runs and put runners at the corners with two outs, Nick Swisher lifted a foul fly down the left-field line.
Polanco hustled back from third base, tumbled over the tarpaulin and made a backhanded grab while reaching into the seats. Kendrick broke into a big smile and waited to greet Polanco, as did several teammates.
The Phillies pulled away with a four-run ninth. The inning came to a strange end when Ben Francisco's bid for a two-run single deflected off the leg of teammate Raul Ibanez and skittered past Jeter at shortstop. The Yankees ran off the field while Francisco stood at first base, and it took the umpires a couple of minutes to confer and call the out.
Victorino, still subbing for injured leadoff man Jimmy Rollins, hit a two-out, two-run homer in the fifth that made it 3-0. Pettitte shouted at himself as Victorino quickly rounded the bases with his 11th home run.
Victorino became the Phillies' first runner when he singled to start the fourth. Polanco hit a one-out bouncer that rolled under fill-in third baseman Ramiro Pena's glove for an error, setting up Ryan Howard's RBI single.
Carlos Ruiz stopped an 0-for-23 slump by doubling twice. He scored in the ninth when, after sacrificing earlier in the same spot, Wilson Valdez fooled the Yankees by swinging away for a single. Soon after Damaso Marte sailed a pitch that broke a sign on the backstop, Polanco and Howard had sacrifice flies and Ibanez hit an RBI double.
Pettitte, who turned 38 on Tuesday, struck out a swinging Howard with his final pitch to leave the bases loaded in the seventh. With seven strikeouts, Pettitte moved past Ron Guidry into second place on the Yankees' career list with 1,784, a chart led by Whitey Ford's 1,956.
NOTES: Phils reliever Jose Contreras made a nifty, behind-the-back snag on Curtis Granderson's sharp grounder. ... The Subway Series resumes Friday night at Yankee Stadium with Javier Vazquez facing the Mets' Hisanori Takahashi. The Mets took two of three from the Yankees last month at Citi Field. ... Rollins (right calf) is scheduled to play the entire game Friday night at SS for Class-A Clearwater. He'll be re-evaluated Saturday in Philadelphia. ... Yankees 3B Alex Rodriguez (groin) took pregame grounders. He once again was the DH, and there's no set date for him playing the field. ... A dozen tattooed bikers mingled with the Yankees during batting practice and watched the game from a luxury suite. They're members of Rescue Ink, a motorcycle group that helps animals in need. Yankees president Randy Levine and wife Mindy are greatly involved in animal rescue.
