Kendrick (5-4) surrendered seven runs in five innings, coughing up a 4-2 lead as the Phillies lost for the fourth time in five games.
Kendrick had been 4-0 with a 1.67 ERA in five previous starts against the Cardinals, including seven shutout innings May 5 in Philadelphia, a game in which Cardinals manager Tony La Russa joked, "We couldn't hit the ball past the pitcher."
This time, they reached the seats.
"My command was off all night," Kendrick said. "I got behind, I left pitches up. They should be hit where they hit them."
In his place, the Phillies have called up righthander Andrew Carpenter.
Carpenter, 25, was 7-6 with a 3.41 ERA in 18 starts for Lehigh Valley this season. For his major league career, he is 1-0 with a 9.45 ERA in four games (1 start) for the Phillies between the 2008 and 2009 seasons.
This is the second recall of the season for Carpenter who was also recalled on April 3, the Phillies said.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
