Phils Falter Against Fish As Ichiro Moves One Hit Closer

GAME RECAP: Fish Blank Phils 5-0

Giancarlo Stanton woke up a sluggish Miami offense with two RBIs on Tuesday night, and Ichiro Suzuki energized an eighth-inning rally while also moving closer to 3,000 Major League hits. Stanton's power and Ichiro's timely single provided all the support Tom Koehler needed as the Marlins defeated the Phillies, 5-0, at Marlins Park. After being shut out in consecutive games, the Marlins had gone 24 straight innings without a run before Martin Prado doubled in the sixth and scored on Stanton's two-out single. The Marlins broke the game open with four runs in the eighth inning, with Ichiro's single to left off Andrew Bailey putting the rally in motion. It was Ichiro's 2,997th career Major League hit. "I feel like five out of the last six games against them have been exactly the same game, pretty much," Stanton said. "We're the ones on top this time." Koehler, facing the Phillies twice in five days, worked six shutout innings, scattering three hits and striking out five. In his two straight starts, he has given up three runs (one earned) in 14 frames. Miami needed a strong start because Phillies right-hander Jerad Eickhoff permitted just one run on five hits while striking out eight in seven innings. "It's amazing what attacking and being aggressive will do for your game," Eickhoff said. The Phillies advanced a runner as far as second in the fourth and sixth innings, but Koehler got out of both jams.

PHILS PHACTS: 

• The Phillies entered the All-Star break seeing some progress offensively, but life has not been the same since they returned. The Phillies picked up just four hits as they were handed their fifth shutout loss of the season. They are averaging just 2.75 runs per game in their last 12. "Poor plate discipline, poor plate discipline," Phillies manager Pete Mackanin said. "Swinging at too may bad pitches. We get ourselves out too often." 
• Phillies right fielder Peter Bourjos left the game after the first inning when he slammed into the right-field wall to make a catch, robbing Ichiro of a hit. The Phillies said Bourjos injured his right shoulder, but they offered no further details. The injury is noteworthy because the Phillies have been trying to trade him before Monday's non-waiver Trade Deadline. "I just kind of jammed it into the wall," Bourjos said. "There was no fracture or anything, so that's good news. Hopefully it's not too long. It's just more sore and stiff right now. I think if I get a few days out, hopefully it's doing better." 
• Expect Phillies first baseman Tommy Joseph to be back in the lineup on Wednesday. He went 0-for-2 after replacing Ryan Howard, who started on Tuesday and struck out in both of his at-bats.
• Ichiro is closing in on history. Ichiro was making his first start since last Thursday, when he went 2-for-5 in Philadelphia. The iconic outfielder is now three hits shy of becoming the 30th player in Major League history to reach 3,000. In the eighth inning, Ichiro actually had a chance for a second hit, but he flied out to left against Severino Gonzalez, finishing the game 1-for-5. In the first inning, Ichiro nearly cleared the wall in right, but Bourjos made a catch while crashing into the wall. Statcast™ projected the drive at 394 feet with an exit velocity of 100 mph. Ichiro is not expected to start on Wednesday.
• The Marlins' offense has been struggling this week, but it entered Tuesday first in the NL with 929 hits. Only the Red Sox (1,000) had more in the Majors.

NEXT GAME:

Phillies rookie Zach Eflin has been one of the hottest pitchers on the planet since his big league debut on June 14. Eflin (3-3, 3.40 ERA) faces Marlins left-hander Adam Conley (6-5, 3.58 ERA) at 12:10 p.m. ET in Wednesday's series finale at Marlins Park. Eflin is 3-2 with a 2.08 ERA in seven starts, including a complete-game shutout his last time out, since he allowed nine runs (eight earned) in just 2 2/3 innings in his debut in Toronto. He has the seventh-best ERA in the Majors out of 85 qualified pitchers since June 15. Conley held the Phillies to just one earned run in six innings in mid-May at Citizens Bank Park. He hopes to pitch well as the Marlins entered Tuesday tied with the Mets for the second National League Wild Card spot.

PHILS PHACTS:

Phillies Lacking Discipline – Phillies manager Pete Mackanin had little to say on Tuesday night at Marlins Park. Mackanin praised Jerad Eickhoff, who pitched splendidly in a 5-0 loss to the Marlins. The right-hander allowed one run on five hits and struck out eight in seven innings. "I'm real happy about that," Mackanin said. "That's about all I'm happy about." Mackanin's biggest beef? "Poor plate discipline, poor plate discipline," Mackanin said. "Swinging at too many bad pitches. We get ourselves out too often." The Phillies managed just four hits and one walk on Tuesday. They struck out 10 times. They have hit just .208 and averaged just 2.75 runs per game in 12 contests since the All-Star break. They have walked 28 times and struck out 112 times during that stretch. Philadelphia might activate outfielder Aaron Altherr on Thursday, which could help. They also could promote top prospects J.P. Crawford and Nick Williams before the end of the season, although it is unrealistic to expect them to carry the load. Looking beyond this season, it is unlikely the Phillies can improve their offense before Monday's non-waiver Trade Deadline, unless they get creative and trade one of their more attractive, controllable talents on the roster. MLB Network's Jon Paul Morosi reported earlier this week that the Rangers have interest in Vince Velasquez, who was the key piece in the Ken Giles trade in December. Velasquez, who is 8-2 with a 3.34 ERA, figures to be an important part of the Phillies' future, so it goes without saying the organization would have to be overwhelmed to even think about trading him. That said, a talent like Velasquez could possibly acquire a bat to help the lineup. If only the Phillies feel what they felt before the All-Star break. They averaged 5.6 runs per game in 19 contests before the break. "It's almost like it was probably bad timing for that All-Star break," said Phillies right fielder Peter Bourjos, who left the game in the first inning with an injured right shoulder. "Everything was rolling, we were swinging the bats really well. Everyone looked comfortable in the box and feeling good, and it's tough right now. You can see what was there with the offense. I think it's going to come back. We just need to get back into the rhythm that we had, and everything's going to be all right."

Impressive Catch With A Penalty – The Phillies have been looking to trade right fielder Peter Bourjos before Monday's non-waiver Trade Deadline. A deal might be a moot point after he left Tuesday's 5-0 loss to the Marlins in the first inning with a right shoulder injury. Bourjos crashed into the right-field wall, robbing Ichiro Suzuki of a hit. Bourjos said Wednesday morning that the shoulder remains sore, although it is no better or worse than Tuesday night. Asked if he can avoid a stint on the 15-day disabled list, he said he did not know. Bourjos is a free agent after the season, and the Phillies are expected to activate outfielder Aaron Altherr from the disabled list on Thursday. Trading Bourjos would have created more playing time for Altherr and possibly even Triple-A outfielder Nick Williams sometime later this season. But even if the Phillies can't trade Bourjos this month, he should be a candidate to be moved before the Aug. 31 waiver Trade Deadline. Bourjos is hitting .253 with 15 doubles, five triples, four home runs, 20 RBIs and a .674 OPS in 303 plate appearances.

One Hit Closer – With a flick of his bat, Ichiro Suzuki moved three hits away from a major milestone, and in the context of Tuesday night, his single also brought Marlins Park to life and helped inspire Miami's 5-0 win over the Phillies. Leading off the eighth inning, Ichiro sliced a pitch to left off right-hander Andrew Bailey as he inched closer to 3,000 for his Major League career. The hit energized a four-run inning that broke the game open. "It livened the place up a lot with that hit," right fielder Giancarlo Stanton said. "It was definitely a big hit for us." Ichiro stole second base and scored on Stanton's double. The Marlins carried a 1-0 lead into the inning before gaining some breathing room. "He's had a lot of huge hits for us," manager Don Mattingly said. "He's given us what we've needed." Until the eighth, Ichiro had been frustrated on the night, going 0-for-3 against starter Jerad Eickhoff, including a long flyout to right field to open the first. Ichiro had been in an 0-for-7 rut before his single. The fly ball in the first inning was a projected by Statcast™ at 394 feet with an exit velocity of 100 mph. It almost had home run distance, but right fielder Peter Bourjos ran it down before crashing into the wall. Bourjos also robbed Ichiro of extra bases last week at Philadelphia. But on Tuesday's, Bourjos exited with a right shoulder injury. After Ichiro's single in the eighth, the hit counter switched to 2,997. With the building buzzing as the Marlins scored four times, Ichiro actually had a second at-bat in the frame, but he flied out to left against Severino Gonzalez. As he has closed in on 3,000, Ichiro has received loud ovations every time he has been introduced. Getting the nod in center field in place of All-Star Marcell Ozuna, Ichiro made his first start since last Thursday in Philadelphia, when he went 2-for-5. "We wanted to give guys breathers," Mattingly said. "Him to be able to get Ozuna off his feet, and hopefully get a little work, and with a 12 o'clock game [Wednesday], that gets him rested." The Marlins wrap up their series with the Phillies at 12:10 p.m. ET on Wednesday, and Ichiro is not expected to start. The hope is to get him in the lineup at some point during the four-game series that begins on Thursday against the Cardinals. In the first four games of the Marlins' 10-game homestand, Ichiro made four straight pinch-hit appearances and didn't log a hit. Ichiro entered the season 65 hits shy of 3,000, and he is closing in on becoming the 30th player in Major League history to reach the milestone. "This isn't a guy we're putting in there for no reason," Mattingly said. "When Ich has been playing, he's been in any type of big situation. When he's not in the lineup, he's usually in there with a guy in scoring position or the game on the line. "We're trying to hold him for those spots. No matter if it's a lefty or righty, we like Ich up. This is not a guy who is just treading his way to 3,000. This guy has been helping us, big time."

Perseverance Pays Off – With an eighth-inning single against the Phillies on Tuesday night at Marlins Park, Ichiro Suzuki crept three hits away from a place where only 29 Major Leaguers before him have gone: the 3,000-hit plateau. No one knows better how rare and tough it is to get there than Marlins manager Don Mattingly. His playing career with the Yankees petered out at 34 because of a bad back and he finished with 2,153 hits. Mattingly had three seasons with more than 200 hits and seven with no less than 184. But he couldn't sustain that pace to get to 3,000, and he retired after 14 seasons. "Woulda, coulda, shoulda," Mattingly said after his Marlins defeated the Phils, 5-0. "I'm never going to get there." Ichiro will, eventually. He was in the starting lineup on Tuesday for the first time in five games and went 1-for-5. But Ichiro won't start on Wednesday in the finale of the three-game series against the Phillies, his manager said. Ichiro could have had another hit, but Phils right fielder Peter Bourjos robbed him by banging into the right-field wall to grab a searing line drive in the first inning. Bourjos injured his right shoulder and had to leave the game for all his troubles. Mattingly thought center fielder Marcell Ozuna needed a day off, so he turned on the Ichiro switch, leading him off and putting him in center. Had Giancarlo Stanton needed a blow on Wednesday, Ichiro might have subbed for him in right. Stanton went 2-for-4 with a booming ground-rule double and a pair of RBIs. Mattingly intends to play Ozuna and stay with the hot bat of Stanton on Wednesday, relegating Ichiro again to the bench. The Cardinals come in for a four-game series on Thursday night, and Mattingly said he'll look at the matchups and give Ichiro at least another start, perhaps two, disappointing the scores of Japanese reporters here to follow Ichiro in his quest for the big hit. "That's what we've had to do with [Ichiro]," Mattingly said. "We have to make sure he continues to do his work and it's been easy to put him in there. That's been the toughest thing with this. Look at our outfield. It's been one of the best in the league." It's an unorthodox way to go about getting to 3,000 and really, there's no blueprint for it. The 3,000-hit mark has been reached just three times since 2007, and each time it was done by a fading star still playing almost every day. Craig Biggio did it for the Astros with a single in 2007. Derek Jeter followed in 2011 and Alex Rodriguez last season. Both of them were with the Yankees, and both did it with a home run. Consider, too, that all three guys collected their hits in careers of 20 years or longer. Ichiro didn't get to the Major Leagues from Japan until he was 27 and he has collected all these hits in just 16 big league seasons. Ichiro had 10 seasons in a row of 200 hits or more from 2001-10, breaking the single-season record with 262 in '04. "Plus he threw up something like 1,200 [1,278 in Japan] before he even got here," Mattingly said. "This is not a regular player. Ich is an incredible guy. I feel very fortunate to have him this year on this club. He's a great example for our players. You have to respect every way he goes about his business. He's been a real joy." To underscore just how rare it is to collect 3,000 hits, there's not a big group coming behind Ichiro. Rangers third baseman Adrian Beltre is next up at 2,868. He is only 37, in his 19th season and still has plenty of time. Behind Beltre is Angels designated hitter Albert Pujols, who at 36, is at 2,760. Behind Pujols is Yankees right fielder Carlos Beltran at 2,558. At 39, the switch-hitter seems beyond reach at this juncture of his 19-year career. The way it's going, the 3,000-hit player eventually may become as extinct as the 300-win pitcher. And with Bartolo Colon at 226, the closest active pitcher to that mark at 43, it's going to be a long time before we get one of those again. "All the guys to me who get to 3,000 are guys who love playing and take care of themselves over a long period of time," Mattingly said. "It takes a long time to get there. So you have to play a long time. You have to have a little bit of luck with injuries, but usually that luck comes from those guys taking care of themselves." Ichiro is the epitome of a guy who takes care of himself and has never had a serious injury. And now he's on the brink of the promised land, slowly counting the days, the at-bats and the hits until he gets there.

Today In Phils History – Phillies players were shocked (but shouldn’t have been based on their record) in 1943 when 42 year old Brooklyn pitcher Freddie Fitzsimmons is named manager replacing Bucky Harris forcing owner William Cox to issue an apology to the departing skipper. In 1950, Del Ennis recorded 7 RBI in the 7^th and 8^th innings against the cubs leading the Phillies to victory. Jim Bunning was outdueled by Sandy Koufax by a score of 2-1 in 1966 as the two aces combined for 28 strikeouts. 5 years later, catcher Bobby Pfeil hit the only 2 homeruns of his career against Houston. 3 years ago, former Philadelphia Daily News writer Paul Hagan received the Spink award from the MLB Hall of Fame.

THE BEGINNING:

The Phillies are currently 46-56 this season putting them on pace to beat most preseason predictions. All time, the Phillies are 50-53-0 on this day. I expect the Phillies to finish in the bottom half of the division but not last in the NL East by finishing the season with a 77-85 record.

Franco Returns, Lee Retires, And Howard In-Between

PHILS PHACTS:

Welcome Back, Now Get To Work! – Maikel Franco could be a cornerstone for the Phillies, and he hopes to solidify those expectations with a strong 2016. His work began Tuesday, when the Phillies held their first full-squad workout at Carpenter Complex. Franco, 23, hit .280 with 22 doubles, one triple, 14 home runs, 50 RBIs and an .840 OPS in 335 plate appearances in his rookie season. He played so well that former teammate Jeff Francoeur agreed to buy him a suit, which he has not yet received. "I'll let you know because I need it," Franco said. Franco's play in 2015 was encouraging, but he needs to continue to play well for the Phillies' rebuild to keep moving in the right direction. "I put a lot of work in in the D.R. [Dominican Republic] and I'm prepared for everything," Franco said. "I'm ready to go for everything." Franco said he worked on everything while he played winter ball this offseason. "Mental, physical, worked on my body," he said. "I tried to learn more about hitting. I worked on ground balls. Everything. That's what I did in the D.R. and that's what I'm continuing to do." But news also broke this offseason that Franco filed a grievance against the Phillies, claiming they manipulated his service time to delay his eligibility for free agency. Franco opened the season in Triple-A before being recalled May 15. Franco accrued 170 days of service time, which is two days short of a full season. Those two days delayed his free agency from 2020 to 2021. Franco's agent, Ryan Royster, said in December the grievance will not be an issue moving forward. Franco's absence from camp until Tuesday raised eyebrows from some in the organization both in and out of uniform. The Phillies always have asked players to arrive in camp a day before the first full-squad workouts to take physicals, but Franco arrived Tuesday morning. He is the first Phillies player in recent memory not to arrive at least a day before the first workout, although it is not an official requirement according to the Collective Bargaining Agreement. Manager Pete Mackanin said he has no problem with it. "Only thing I heard is this was the day I had to report and this is the day I'm here," Franco said. What is important at this point is that Franco is healthy and ready to go. He broke his left hand in August, when current teammate Jeremy Hellickson hit him with a pitch while with Arizona. Franco said the hand feels fine. "It's exciting," Franco said about camp. "A lot of players and new faces. I want to be a good teammate, put in a lot of work and hopefully everybody has fun and enjoys the game. I'm happy. I'm here. I want to put everything into getting better."

Every Day Might Not Be A Good Idea – Ryan Howard made the points he wanted to make Tuesday at Bright House Field. He said the past is in the past. But, frankly, he feels disrespected that arguably the greatest first baseman in franchise history -- a National League MVP and World Series champion -- has been criticized so harshly recently. Suggestions he no longer can hit left-handed pitching befuddle him, and he believes his career successes have earned him the right to be more than a platoon player on a rebuilding team. "The track record speaks for itself," Howard said. "It doesn't matter righty or lefty, I know I can get the job done. I know all the talk over the past few years, this and that, I'm not going to focus on that. For me, it's taking advantage of the opportunities when I get to go out there and play. "Do I think it's fair? Me, personally, probably not. But it is what it is. The situation is the situation. You just go out there and play." This almost certainly is Howard's final season with the Phillies. He will make $25 million, plus he is expected to receive a $10 million buyout on a 2017 club option. The Phillies have tried to trade him, but have had no takers, even after they've offered to pay most of his salary. "Am I surprised that I'm still on this roster? Um, I don't know, to be honest with you," Howard said. "You know, I'm still here. I've got a contractual obligation through this year and you just see what happens. I mean, I don't sit at home waiting for the call, 'Hey, Ry. You're traded.' I've got to focus on getting ready for the season. "And do I want to be here? Yeah, I want to be here. Why wouldn't I?" Well, maybe because former teammates and friends like Jimmy Rollins, Chase Utley, Cole Hamels, etc., are elsewhere and he understands he is not part of the Phillies' future. Howard also said criticism about his play has been unfair. "The way I felt with everything that I've done here in Philadelphia, I just felt I was being portrayed as something worse," Howard said. "I felt like I was being portrayed as the bad guy. When you all know me, you know how I'm always joking and stuff. I didn't have a problem at all with my teammates. That's why I didn't talk to you all last year. It was more of a personal thing for me. But it's like, this year … last year is in the past, man." But this year he will have to prove he can hit lefties to play. "Check the numbers, check the track record, all that good stuff," he said. "I know I can hit lefties. There's been talk in the media and all this kind of stuff over the past three years and this and that or whatever about not hitting lefties and whatever. It's about just going out there and doing it." A look at the numbers: Howard hit .130 with three home runs, 10 RBIs and a .418 OPS in 107 plate appearances last season against left-handers. If he had enough plate appearances to qualify, his OPS against lefties would have been the lowest in baseball by 47 points; Howard hit .230 with 10 home runs, 32 RBIs and a .770 OPS in 189 plate appearances against lefties in 2014. He led the National League in homers and RBIs as a left-handed hitter against lefties; Howard had a .771 OPS against lefties from 2005-10, which ranked 22nd out of 61 qualified left-handed hitters. He has a .619 OPS against lefties from 2011-15, which is 54th out of 63 left-handed hitters and 201st out of 212 hitters overall. "I think people forget that," he said about his 2014 numbers. "Last year? There's nothing you can do about it. Last year is last year. This is a fresh year. Just as last year was bad, this year I can go out and hit .300 against lefties. Then what do you say? If I was able to go out and hit .300 against lefties this year. Then what?" Howard has more on his plate than just hitting lefties. He has a lawsuit against Al Jazeera Network. It is his second lawsuit in as many offseasons. He settled one with his family in October 2014. His brother had sued him for $2.8 million. His father had requested a $10 million separation payment after Howard severed financial ties with his parents. Howard claimed in a countersuit that his family conspired to defraud him. Then in December, Al Jazeera ran a report that linked Howard to performance-enhancing drugs. Howard filed a defamation lawsuit in January. "That kind of stuff is life," Howard said. "Stuff that happens in life, it comes up and you have to deal with it. I think it would be tough for anybody at any time. But baseball becomes a great getaway for all that kind of stuff." Howard said he has no idea why his name is one of the names that appeared in the report. "I haven't the faintest idea," he said. "I really can't tell you. I really don't know." MLB said it planned to investigate the claims against Howard. Howard said his focus is on baseball until then. He said he is ready for a fresh start. "I leave here, I go to Philadelphia, I'm going to go out there and give 110 percent every game I've got," Howard said. "Until they come to me and say they've traded you to so-and-so, then I'll go to whoever and play 110 percent. For me, it's just about playing the game right now."

No Comeback Attempt This Time – Despite a recent attempt to extend his career, veteran left-hander Cliff Lee is expected to retire, according to FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal. "We don't anticipate him playing at this point," Lee's agent, Darek Braunecker, reportedly told Rosenthal. Lee last pitched in the Majors in 2014 for the Phillies before missing all of last season due to an elbow injury. Currently a free agent, the 37-year-old went 41-30 with a 2.89 ERA over his final four seasons in Philadelphia from 2011-14, including 4-5 with a 3.65 ERA over 13 starts in '14. The four-time All-Star's best season came in 2008, when he went 22-3 with a 2.54 ERA for the Indians. He led the American League in wins, ERA, shutouts, ERA+, FIP, walks per nine innings and home runs per nine en route to winning the AL Cy Young Award. Lee went 143-91 with a 3.52 ERA and 1,824 strikeouts over his 13-year career, during which he spent time with the Indians, Phillies, Mariners and Rangers.

Contest Now Open – Entries are open through April 14 for Major League Baseball's annual Honorary Bat Girl Contest, which will recognize one fan from each MLB club who has been affected by breast cancer and has demonstrated a commitment to battling the disease. Women and men 18 or older can share stories about themselves or loved ones who are "Going to Bat Against Breast Cancer" by visiting HonoraryBatGirl.com for a chance to be recognized on the field by their favorite team on Mother's Day, May 8. Fans also are invited to visit the site to vote for these inspirational stories, which are designed to provide hope and motivation for those currently in the fight against breast cancer. During MLB's annual recognition of Mother's Day, one Honorary Bat Girl per club will take part in pregame activities -- including being recognized during an on-field ceremony -- and also receive pink MLB merchandise along with two tickets to the game. For clubs that are away on Mother's Day, another home game will be selected to recognize their Honorary Bat Girl. Serving as guest judges for the contest will be Jillian Michaels, health and wellness expert and star of "Just Jillian" on E! Network; Gregor Blanco of the Giants; Robinson Chirinos of the Rangers; Kevin Gausman of the Orioles; Curtis Granderson of the Mets; Jeremy Jeffress of the Brewers; Scott Kazmir of the Dodgers; Taijuan Walker of the Mariners; Jered Weaver of the Angels; Sam Ryan and Chris Rose of MLB Network; and Lindsay Berra and Alyson Footer of MLB.com. Michaels is an ambassador for Stand Up To Cancer, a program of the Entertainment Industry Foundation that MLB has supported as founding donor since 2008. The mothers of Kazmir, Walker and Weaver are all breast-cancer survivors. Blanco and Granderson both lost a grandmother to breast cancer; Gausman lost both of his grandmothers to the disease. Jeffress lost both his aunt and uncle to cancer. Ryan's mother is a breast-cancer survivor, and both Rose and Berra have several close friends who have been affected by the disease. Footer lost her mother to cancer, and her aunt is a breast-cancer survivor. Chirinos is active in the Dallas-Fort Worth community and is honored to participate in this initiative. Each judge will review a portion of the submissions, and their opinions will be considered in the selection process. Additional Major Leaguers may also join the panel and will be announced at a later date. A panel of judges, including the guest judging panel, will help select the winning submissions based on the following criteria: originality, quality of writing, demonstration of commitment to breast-cancer awareness and public appeal (as determined by online fan votes). The Honorary Bat Girl program was introduced in 2009 to raise additional awareness and support for the annual "Going to Bat Against Breast Cancer" initiative, which is commemorated on Mother's Day. In seven years, thousands of unique testimonials have been submitted and millions of fan votes have been cast in the MLB initiative, which is supported by charitable partners Stand Up To Cancer and Susan G. Komen. The initiative raises awareness about breast cancer while also raising funds to support breast-cancer research. Look over the 2015 winners as a reminder of the true meaning behind the Honorary Bat Girl recognition. It meant the world at the time to Sara Tresselt of Jefferson, Md. A sergeant with the Loudoun County Sheriff's Office in Virginia and a former outfielder for her Maryland high school state champion softball team, Tresselt was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2011 after a mammogram revealed more than what she had believed was simply a bruise. Tresselt fought bravely with an infectious positive spirit for the next four years and was named the Orioles' Honorary Bat Girl last March. She called that honor "probably the coolest thing I've ever done" -- but the occasion was tempered by the news at about the same time that her disease had spread to her brain. Tresselt passed away last Sept. 11 at age 36. "If something doesn't feel right, go in [for a checkup]," she had said as advice for others. "I think it's important to do your checks and know your body." Last year, Julie Gross of Duluth, Minn., was named the Twins' Honorary Bat Girl after being nominated by her lifelong friend Linda Louie. Gross is a breast-cancer survivor and an ardent advocate against the disease. Two years before receiving this honor, Gross had lost her mother in part to the return of breast cancer. "It is a tough time for her," Louie said in submitting that nomination. "But something like this is a monument to moms and all women that we have loved and lost to the disease." On every Mother's Day since 2006, hundreds of MLB players have used pink Louisville Slugger bats stamped with the MLB breast-cancer awareness logo. To further demonstrate their support for the breast-cancer cause, players and on-field personnel have worn the symbolic pink ribbon on their uniforms, as well as pink wrist bands. Commemorative dugout lineup cards also have been pink and stamped with the pink-ribbon logo. Game-used Louisville Slugger pink bats and other game-used gear from Mother's Day games will again be placed for bidding exclusively at MLB.com/auction to raise funds for the fight against breast cancer.

Today In Phils History - It was the Phillies who started the trend of pitchers and catchers reporting first followed by position players a week later when the club instituted this format from their camp in Savannah, GA in 1906. Three years later, the club was sold to State Senator Israel Durham and a group of his state Senate colleagues after which Durham was elected club president. In 1943, Bucky Harris took the helm as manager following a 42-111 performance by former skipper Hans Lobert. 4 years later, the Phillies opened their first spring training in Clearwater where the team has stayed ever since. Finally, Jimmy Rollins was excused from spring training 5 years ago to attend a tribute to Motown at the White House... given his decline, not sure if he would still be able to get a ticket these days. 

THE BEGINNING:

With the Phillies having finished the 2015 season with a spectacularly awful record of 63-99 it will be interesting to see what kind of team new President Andy MacPhail and GM Matt Klentak put on the field. At the same time I am definitely looking forward to the games against Boston with former GM Ruben Amaro on the field. Given the departures, lingering contracts, a history of injuries, bipolar performances, and unproven talent, it should, at the very least, be an interesting season for the Phillies. Who knows, maybe they can avoid 100 losses... hopefully by more than one game!

Nola Earns First Win As Phillies Sweep Cubs

GAME RECAP: Phillies Sweep Cubs 11-5

Aaron Nola didn't need to throw a no-hitter to shut down the Cubs on Sunday at Wrigley Field. Maikel Franco and Ryan Howard each hit two-run homers and Domonic Brown had four RBIs to back Nola, who picked up his first big league win in his second career start as the Phillies romped, 11-5. Nola gave up five hits, including a two-run homer by Addison Russell in the eighth, over 7 2/3 innings for the win to help the Phillies post their third sweep this season, and first on the road. They're now 8-1 since the All-Star break. "It's hard to follow up," Nola said about pitching less than 24 hours after Hamels' dramatic no-hitter. "I was just going out there and my mindset was just get outs, get as many outs as I can, as many ground balls and popups as I can. It was amazing to watch yesterday. My palms were sweating on the bench in the ninth. Once he got it, it was awesome. To be a part of it my first week up here is pretty amazing." Brown hit an RBI double, a two-run triple and a single as the Phillies totaled 17 hits off four Cubs pitchers, including starter Jason Hammel, who served up six runs in 3 2/3 innings. Chicago has lost four of its last five games. "That definitely wasn't the way the weekend was supposed to go," Hammel said. "My role today was just garbage, unacceptable. … Hats off to them. They came out swinging and things are going right for them right now."

OTHER NOTES FROM THE DAY:

• Nola could not match Cole Hamels' no-hitter, but he pitched well enough to help the Phillies sweep their first series on the road since July 7-10, 2014, in Milwaukee. He allowed five hits, four runs, two walks, two home runs and struck out six in 7 2/3 innings to earn his first big league win. Nola also singled in the fourth inning for his first career RBI. "Nola made it look easy," Phillies interim manager Pete Mackanin said. "Boy, was he painting."
• The Phillies have not hit for much power this season, but they tied a season high with eight extra-base hits in the series finale. It included triples from Odubel Herrera, Cody Asche and Brown, and home runs from Franco and Howard. Sunday's effort followed a season-high eight extra-base hits Saturday and five on Friday. They were the most extra-base hits for the Phillies in a three-game series since June 14-16, 2001. "We've seen our offense the whole year," Mackanin said. "But the reason you play the young guys ... Freddy [Galvis], and [Cesar] Hernandez and Franco. All these guys in the game. Brown is starting to come around, Asche is starting to come around, Herrera looks like he's learned a lot. You kind of hope it comes around in this manner to where you're putting some runs on the board and consistent at-bats. And we're getting more consistent at-bats from these guys, and I think that's why we're scoring more runs."
• For the second time this season, catcher David Ross was called on to pitch. The 38-year-old, who threw one inning in relief on May 9 against the Brewers, entered the game in the ninth and retired the side on eight pitches. Ross helped himself by hitting a leadoff home run in the bottom half. Ross is the first Cubs reliever to homer since Carlos Marmol did so on Sept. 7, 2006, against the Pirates.
• The Cubs and Phillies split the six-game series last year, but the Phillies now have a 3-0 lead, notching their first sweep at Wrigley Field since May 16-17, 2012.
• The Phillies reviewed Anthony Rizzo's strikeout in the fourth inning, when he initially reached first base on a wild pitch. But replay showed the ball hit Rizzo's back leg as he swung, making it a clean strikeout.
• "I'll stick with some water." -- Nola, referring to Hamels getting a bottle of Dom Perignon for pitching Saturday's no-hitter. Nola got the game ball for his efforts Sunday.
• Morgan has been up-and-down in his first five starts. He allowed nine hits and three runs in just 4 1/3 innings last week against the Rays, but he has allowed two or fewer runs in 5 2/3 innings or more in three of his first four.
• The Blue Jays are 8-0 against the Phillies since Roy Halladay beat them on July 2, 2011.
• Doubront has made three starts for the Blue Jays, and he has gone more than five innings just once. He allowed seven hits and three runs in 4 1/3 innings in his last start last week against the A's.

NEXT GAME:

If the Blue Jays decide to make a serious push for Phillies closer Jonathan Papelbon they will have the opportunity to see him up close and personal beginning Tuesday night in a two-game series at Rogers Centre. Sources told MLB.com that the Blue Jays, Cubs and Nationals are three teams that have expressed interest recently in Papelbon, although the Blue Jays' interests might be elsewhere. The Phillies would have to eat plenty of Papelbon's salary to make it happen, but they have said they are willing to do that. Games will be played regardless, and Phillies rookie left-hander Adam Morgan and Blue Jays left-hander Felix Doubront will start the opener Tuesday night.

PHILS PHACTS:

Not A Bad Way To Follow A No No – Cole Hamels got a bottle of Dom Perignon as a gift for pitching Saturday's no-hitter against the Cubs. Aaron Nola got Sunday's game ball. Nola earned his first big league win in an 11-5 victory at Wrigley Field, which completed the Phillies' first series sweep on the road since July 7-10, 2014, in Milwaukee. Nola allowed five hits, four runs and two walks, and he struck out six in 7 2/3 innings. He also singled to score a run in the fourth inning for his first career RBI. "It's hard to follow up," Nola said about pitching less than 24 hours after Hamels' dramatic no-hitter. "I was just going out there and my mindset was just get outs, get as many outs as I can, as many ground balls and popups as I can. "It was amazing to watch yesterday. My palms were sweating on the bench in the ninth. Once he got it, it was awesome. To be a part of it my first week up here is pretty amazing." Really, what a week for Nola. He was promoted to the big leagues early last week, and he allowed one run in six innings in his debut Tuesday against the Rays at Citizens Bank Park. He watched Hamels throw the 13th no-hitter in franchise history in possibly his final start for the Phillies. And then Nola pitched well against the Cubs. Pretty surreal, huh? "Absolutely," Nola said. "I'm just soaking as much as I can in. Being a part of all this is pretty amazing." Nola allowed just two runs and threw just 74 pitches through seven innings before he surrendered a two-run home run to Addison Russell in the eighth. But for those first seven frames, he made quick work of a team challenging for a postseason berth. "I was just getting ahead of guys, just keeping the ball down," Nola said. "I was getting early ground balls and early popups, which definitely helps. It speeds the game up and keeps everybody in a rhythm. But I missed some balls over the plate and they hit them." "Nola made it look easy," Phillies interim manager Pete Mackanin said. "Boy, was he painting." The Phils hope that continues. They certainly will need Nola if they trade Hamels before the end of the week. "It's fun to watch and learn from him," Nola said. Maybe one day, Nola will pitch a no-hitter and get a bottle of Dom for himself. Until then? "I'll stick with some water," Nola said.

Sinking In – Cole Hamels celebrated his no-hitter Saturday night with family and friends, but the once-in-a-lifetime moment still had not sunk in Sunday morning. "Not really," Hamels said in the visitors' clubhouse at Wrigley Field. "It's weird. I think the postseason has a bigger impact because it comes at the end of the season. Here, you can't dwell on it because you're still playing. You still have basically a half-season to go and you have to get ready to go again in five days." Hamels is scheduled to pitch for the Phillies on Thursday night against the Braves at Citizens Bank Park, but he could be traded by then. Sources told MLB.com that the Rangers, Dodgers, Cubs, Yankees and Giants are most aggressively pursuing Hamels, with Texas and Los Angeles possibly in the lead at this point. Time will tell. "I felt great," said Hamels, who threw 129 pitches. "Everything felt more in sync than it had. I feel great today. I don't feel like I threw as many pitches as I did. That's a good sign. It means I was throwing correctly." Hamels said he heard from plenty of people afterward, including Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee, Roy Oswalt and Brett Myers. "That was nice, because those guys all helped impact me," Hamels said. To the Hall: The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum collected a couple things from the game, including Hamels' Phillies cap. "That's cool, but unfortunately it probably smells pretty bad," Hamels said. Pete follows Whitey: Ben Revere replaced Cody Asche in left field in the ninth inning, which is kind of a no-win situation for Revere. If he catches a ball hit to him, he did his job. If he does not, he is the defensive replacement that lost the no-hitter. But Phillies interim manager Pete Mackanin felt comfortable with the move. He played for the Rangers in 1973, when Jim Bibby threw a no-hitter against the A's. Texas manager Whitey Herzog approached Mackanin in the eighth inning and told him to replace shortstop Jim Fregosi. "If it was good enough for Whitey, I figured it was good enough for me," Mackanin said Sunday morning. Mackanin made two plays in the eighth inning to preserve Bibby's no-hitter. Revere didn't have a ball hit to him. "I would have dived through the brick wall to catch a ball," Revere said. "I don't care. Every time they swung, I thought a line drive was coming my way, or a ball would knuckle on me. A lot of things were running through my head. But I died for two seconds when [Odubel] Herrera made that catch in center. Luckily, he caught it." Mack's "code": Mackanin has been part of several no-hitters and perfect games, including Halladay's perfect game and postseason no-hitter in 2010. Mackanin wrote out the lineup cards for those games, and if you ever get a look at them in the Hall of Fame, you will see Mackanin's initials in the lower right-hand corner. Former Phillies coach Sam Perlozzo told him to do that before every game just in case something historic happened. "So I'm in the Hall of Fame," Mackanin said with a smile.

Breaking Out In Chicago – If the Phillies trade Cole Hamels before Friday's 4 p.m. non-waiver Trade Deadline, they would love to get at least one power hitter in return. The Phils entered this weekend's three-game series against the Cubs at Wrigley Field ranked 26th in baseball with just 242 extra-base hits. But they had 21 in the series against Chicago, including a season-high eight Saturday and again Sunday in an 11-5 victory. They were the most extra-base hits in a three-game stretch for the Phillies since June 14-16, 2001, when they also had 21. The power surge helped Philadelphia to its first road series sweep since July 7-10, 2014, in Milwaukee. "We've seen our offense the whole year," Phillies interim manager Pete Mackanin said. "But the reason you play the young guys ... Freddy [Galvis], and [Cesar] Hernandez and [Maikel] Franco, all these guys in the game. [Domonic] Brown is starting to come around, [Cody] Asche is starting to come around, [Odubel] Herrera looks like he's learned a lot. You kind of hope it comes around in this manner to where you're putting some runs on the board and consistent at-bats. And we're getting more consistent at-bats from these guys, and I think that's why we're scoring more runs." Ryan Howard and Franco homered Sunday. Herrera, Asche and Brown tripled. Franco, Brown and Cameron Rupp doubled. Six Phillies had multihit games, including Brown, who went 3-for-4. Brown needs to step up if he wants to keep playing. He is batting .333 (15-for-45) with two doubles, one triple, five RBIs and a .770 OPS in his past 14 games. But the Phillies need to see more power from Brown. Sunday was a start. "Just out there really just grinding, really," Brown said. "I'm just doing whatever I can do for the team. Having a lot of fun, though, for sure. I just play baseball, man. "I know what I can do on the field. It ain't nothing with confidence or anything like that. I just play. It's just a matter of time before stuff starts falling. It's baseball."

Trade Talk Heating Up – Even before Phillies ace Cole Hamels pitched a no-hitter against the Cubs on Saturday, trade discussions between Philadelphia and multiple postseason contenders had escalated. Hamels' dominant performance at Wrigley Field certainly has not slowed those talks. Several sources have told MLB.com that the Dodgers and Rangers lead the race to acquire Hamels, with the Rangers privately bracing themselves to finish second. The Yankees, Giants and Cubs are the other teams most actively pursuing Hamels. The Dodgers are willing to deal, but they are expected to hold onto shortstop Corey Seager and left-hander Julio Urias, whom MLBPipeline.com considers the fourth- and fifth-best prospects in baseball, respectively. Right-hander Grant Holmes ranks 75th overall, and right-hander Jose De Leon is 89th, but the Phillies need power bats. Dodgers outfield prospects Alex Verdugo and Scott Schebler have power potential. The Dodgers also have a couple of catchers in their system who could interest Philadelphia. Perhaps the Phillies and Dodgers get will creative again, as they did last December, when they included the Padres to help facilitate the Jimmy Rollins deal. Of course, the Rangers still have a shot, because the Phillies like their farm system. Texas is becoming more comfortable with the prospect of taking on Hamels' remaining salary, which pays him $22.5 million through 2018, plus a $6 million buyout on a $20 million club option for 2019. Texas catching prospect Jorge Alfaro and outfield prospect Nomar Mazara, who rank 34th and 42nd overall, respectively, could be part of a package for Hamels. Both have power. Sources said that no deal is imminent, but with five days remaining before the non-waiver Trade Deadline, there is plenty of time to make something happen. The feeling around baseball is that Hamels finally will be dealt. But will anybody else from the Phillies? The Cubs, Blue Jays and Nationals have been pursuing closer Jonathan Papelbon. Philadelphia almost certainly will have to eat some of Papelbon's salary to get a prospect it desires. That is the reality of the game these days. The more money a team pays, the better the prospects they receive. Ben Revere, Jeff Francoeur and, perhaps surprisingly, Chase Utley have been receiving interest. The Angels still like Revere, and they are monitoring Utley's return from an ankle injury. But if Utley is traded, it likely would be a waiver trade next month, because he is still on the disabled list.

Historic Hall Of Fame Weekend – For anyone who has been there to make the comparison, Sunday's induction ceremony for the National Baseball Hall of Fame was much like a World Baseball Classic contest with the defending-champion Dominican Republic participating. Dominican flags were waving in clusters as the rhythmic sound of cymbals clanging and congas beating resounded throughout the grounds behind the Clark Sports Center. The Class of 2015 was dominated by three of the greatest pitchers of their era, plus a versatile position player who ended his 20-year career, all with Houston, with 3,060 hits -- Randy Johnson, Pedro Martinez, John Smoltz and Craig Biggio. The estimated crowd of 45,000, was highly partisan with fans from Texas supporting Biggio -- the first Astros player elected to the Hall -- and Latin American fans there to see Martinez inducted. He was the first Dominican to enter since Juan Marichal in 1983 and just the second overall. Biggio led off among the speakers, and he encouraged Astros fans, who had made the trek to upstate New York. "Let me hear you," Biggio said. "Pedro is going to give you guys a run for the money." And that he did. Martinez was decked in a light blue suit boasting a patch below his right shoulder detailed with the Dominican national coat of arms and another on his left shoulder representing the U.S. His tie had wide slanted stripes of red, white and blue, the Dominican national colors. The coat of arms is in the middle of the flag, too. Of course, Martinez said after the festivities that he had a reason for all that. "I wanted to make sure I recognized both sides," said Martinez, who played for the Dodgers, Expos, Mets and Phillies in his career, but went into the Hall as a member of the Red Sox. "The Dominican because I was born there, and a lot of the people -- as you saw -- showed up from all over the country and the Dominican Republic and different places to support one of their sons being inducted into the Hall of Fame. "At the same time, I'm a U.S. citizen. I respect America. I wanted to recognize America. I wanted to give America the same props I gave the Dominican Republic, because without America, I wouldn't be standing in Cooperstown, N.Y., being inducted into the Hall of Fame." It was perhaps one of the most festive, and at the same time emotional, induction ceremonies in recent memory. It was presided over for the first time by new Commissioner Rob Manfred, who read the inscription on each plaque to all the inductees before they launched into their respective speeches. Biggio, who grew up on Long Island, admitted leading up to the speech that he might cry, and he began to tear up when remembering his parents, who had passed away long before his election this past January in his third appearance on the Baseball Writers' Association of America ballot. The other three men honored on Sunday were overwhelming first-ballot electees. Biggio went in with a vintage Astros star on his cap that he donned for the final eight years of his career etched into the bronze plaque. "My journey started in the little town of Kings Park, N.Y., not too far from here," Biggio said to a smattering of applause. "I hear you," he added in an aside before continuing. "My mother, Johnna Biggio, and my father, Lee Biggio, were two hard-working people, who are no longer here. But I know they're watching." That's when Biggio began to choke up. "This was very special," Biggio said afterward. "When you think about the amount of people who were here from Houston, it's a long journey, and obviously it's not easy to get here. For them to come to enjoy this together, and so many of them to come to enjoy this together, it was just a great day." Johnson conducted his speech stoically, but he said afterward that he is a highly emotional person and that the experience was, indeed, a very emotional one. Johnson won 303 games pitching for the Expos, Mariners, Astros, D-backs (twice), Yankees and Giants. He chose the D-backs over the Mariners and was torn about that decision, which Seattle officials in attendance actually endorsed. The Big Unit is the first D-back to enter the Hall, and with Ken Griffey Jr., heading up the next BBWAA ballot, he should be the first Mariner. "It was extremely emotional talking about the things I care about," Johnson said. "There have been a lot of events in the last two weeks. I'm pretty relaxed now. I don't know why I wasn't nervous in front of a crowd of 50,000. Go figure!" Johnson, whose 4,875 strikeouts rank No. 2 all-time behind Nolan Ryan's 5,714, said the day was about thanking all those who helped him get to the Hall of Fame. Johnson also pitched a no-hitter for the Mariners, a perfect game for the D-backs and was the co-MVP of Arizona's seven-game win over the Yankees in the 2001 World Series. "It's very humbling to look behind me and see the best who have played this game," Johnson said in the speech. "So many of the reasons that I've been inducted into the Hall of Fame are long gone now. My fastball is gone. I no longer have a mullet. And my scowl is long gone. I'm so happy to be elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame and be in the greatest fraternity of all time." Smoltz played his first 20 seasons with the Braves, finishing after right shoulder surgery in 2009, starting that season with the Red Sox and ending it with the Cardinals after Boston released him. Smoltz went in wearing the script Atlanta "A" on his plaque. Smoltz missed the entire 2000 season and his career was bifurcated by Tommy John elbow surgery. He won 213 games, 210 of them as a starter, and saved 154 as a closer. The right-hander is the first Hall of Fame pitcher to have had Tommy John surgery. Smoltz admitted the best way to describe his career was "unique," and said that he's received four major phone calls in his life. The first two were from the Tigers, first finding out he was drafted and then later traded to the Braves. The third was from Tommy John, the first pitcher to undergo ligament replacement surgery, encouraging him to continue his career. "That phone call, at the age of 34, meant the world to me," Smoltz said. "Emotionally, I'd given up. I thought no one would wait for a pitcher my age on my contract. That was a pivotal moment in my career." Smoltz also spoke about the rising number of Tommy John surgeries, calling it an epidemic and reminding young players and parents that "baseball is not a year-round sport." The fourth call came in January, when he found out he'd been elected to the Hall of Fame. But the lion's share of the love on what turned out to be a warm and sunny afternoon was for Martinez -- 219-100 in his career, a winning percentage of .687 that ranks sixth all-time and trails only Whitey Ford's .690 among pitchers in the modern era with at least 150 victories.  With the crowd in a melodic frenzy, Pedro actually boogied on the stage beneath the white canopy and in front of 48 returning Hall of Famers as Manfred recited the text off his plaque. He adlibbed the entire speech, beginning it with a tad of Spanish, went into the next portion of it in English and pretty much concluded in Spanish. In a finishing flourish, he called on Marichal, the Giants' great right-hander, to come forward, and the two of them unfurled the Dominican flag. "I thought today, which is Father's Day in the Dominican Republic, I didn't think there would be a better image for the people down there than to see me and Marichal together," Martinez said. "We cleared the way for us to Cooperstown. I don't think I could give a better gift on Father's Day for the people of the Dominican Republic."

THE BEGINNING:

The Phillies are starting the season as expected and are now at the bottom of the NL east at 37-63. Given the departures, aging stars, injuries, and performance so far this season, this could end up being the worst team in franchise history! All time, the Phillies are 59-63-0 on this day.