PHILADELPHIA -- Odubel Herrera put the finishing touches on his All-Star bid.Herrera hit a leadoff homer and drove in two runs, Jeremy Hellickson threw six sharp innings and the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Kansas City Royals 4-3 Friday night for their fourth straight win.Herrera is batting .306 with nine homers and an .835 OPS. Hes a strong candidate to represent the Phillies at the Midsummer Classic in San Diego.If that happens, great, Herrera said through an interpreter. If it doesnt, I just want to help my team win.Asked if he feels he deserves to go, Herrera answered himself: For sure.Hellickson (6-6) allowed one run and five hits in six innings, striking out six. He was 0-9 in his previous 15 starts against AL opponents.The biggest key was just quality strike one, Hellickson said. Theyre aggressive, but they dont strike out a lot, so just making that first pitch down and just trying to keep them off-balance as much as I could.Royals starter Ian Kennedy (6-7) gave up three runs in five innings.Kendrys Morales hit a two-run homer off David Hernandez in the eighth before the right-hander settled down to retire the next three batters. Jeanmar Gomez finished for his 22nd save in 24 tries.Hes swinging the bat really well right now, Royals manager Ned Yost said of Morales, who is 13 for his last 20. He gave us an opportunity to try to tie the game.Back home after sweeping the Arizona Diamondbacks, the Phillies snapped a seven-game home losing streak.A video review helped Philadelphia take a 2-1 lead in the third.Herrera walked with one out, stole second and advanced to third on a throwing error by catcher Salvador Perez. After Peter Bourjos struck out looking, Cody Asche walked. Perez then picked Asche off first, but the Phillies challenged and the call was overturned. Maikel Franco followed with an RBI single.Asche ripped an RBI double to right in the fifth to put the Phillies ahead 3-1. Herreras RBI single in the sixth made it 4-1.Herrera gave the Phillies a 1-0 lead on his ninth homer and first leading off.Alcides Escobar hit a double and scored on Cheslor Cuthberts single to tie it at 1 in the second.STANDINGSThe defending World Series champion Royals fell seven games behind Cleveland in the AL Central. The Phillies finished the first half 36-45. They were 24-17 at one point.STREAKINGEscobar has a 12-game hitting streak. The shortstop has started all 79 games this season. ... Phillies OF Peter Bourjos extended his hitting streak to 10 with an infield single. ... Phillies 1B Tommy Joseph struck out as a pinch-hitter and is hitless in his last 14 at-bats with six strikeouts.K ZONEKennedy has struck out 19 of the last 48 batters hes faced in the past two starts. He fanned eight Phillies.I felt I wasnt getting on top of the ball, he said. It was a constant grind.UP NEXTLHP Danny Duffy (3-1, 3.24 ERA) goes for the Royals while RHP Aaron Nola (5-7, 4.45) pitches for the Phillies. Duffy threw a career-best eight innings in his last start. Nola has failed to pitch four innings in four straight starts.Clearance NHThursday to be evaluated for a concussion.Its unclearers Grand Slam of Curling final. [url=https://www.chinanhljerseys.us/]https://www.chinanhljerseys.us/ . The players spoke Jan. 13 during a Major League Baseball Players Association conference call after Rodriguez sued the union and Major League Baseball to overturn an arbitrators decision suspending him for the 2014 season and post-season. Wholesale NHL Jerseys . But when it comes to determining if Raymond will find a place on the Leafs roster when training camp concludes in a week, well, that decision will ultimately fall to the head coach. Cheap NHL Jerseys Authentic . Sgt. Eric ONeal says most of the arrests at Monday nights game were for public drunkenness, though one person was taken into custody on suspicion of trying to steal a seat from the stadium.METAIRIE, La. -- Mark Ingram will practice Wednesday, according to New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton, who said signs have been encouraging with the running back since he left the game Thursday to be evaluated for a concussion.Its unclear if Ingram was ever officially diagnosed with a concussion or placed into the NFLs concussion protocol. Payton also said Friday morning that he thought Ingram would be fine.I cant officially tell you if he was in the protocol or not, Payton said Wednesday morning. I know hes gonna practice today. I think its encouraging with him, and Ive said that all along.The Saints (4-6) will host the Los Angeles Rams (4-6) on Sunday.If Ingram plays, he will likely serve as the leading half of a timeshare with veteran running back Tim Hightower.ddddddddddddAlthough Ingram has had some inconsistent production this season, he remains on pace for 920 rushing yards, 363 receiving yards and eight touchdowns.Ingram suffered the apparent head injury during the third quarter of the 23-20 loss at the Carolina Panthers. Players immediately waved to the sideline for trainers as Ingram was down on the field for a few moments. He soon walked off the field under his own power and later walked back to the locker room for evaluation. ' ' '
