AL Takes The Win And Home Field Advantage

GAME RECAP: Stanton Tops Frazier 20-13

A festive Tuesday night in San Diego's East Village quickly became a Royal affair, as Eric Hosmer and Salvador Perez powered the American League to a 4-2 victory in the 2016 All-Star Game presented by MasterCard. Hosmer and Perez both homered in a three-run second inning, sending Red Sox icon David Ortiz off with a victory in his final All-Star Game. Hosmer tacked on an RBI single an inning later and became the first Royal since Bo Jackson in 1989 to take home MVP honors. "This whole week, this whole San Diego All-Star Game has been unbelievable," Hosmer said. "It's a dream come true, and it kind of felt like my first big league homer right there. It was special." The Indians' Corey Kluber pitched a perfect second to pick up the win for the Junior Circuit, which has now won four straight, and he also became the first Tribe pitcher to win an All-Star Game since now-Mets hurler Bartolo Colon in 1998. The Cubs' Kris Bryant put the National League ahead in the first, launching a solo shot off the scoreboard beyond the left-field first deck. Miami's Marcell Ozuna would tack on an RBI single in the fourth, but the AL bullpen didn't falter after that. The game's most dramatic moment came in the top of the eighth, when Astros righty Will Harris punched out the Cardinals' Aledmys Diaz with the bases loaded. Harris' heroics kept the AL in front by two, before Baltimore's Zach Britton worked a smooth ninth to record the save. "It's baseball; we face All-Stars all the time," Harris said. "It's no different. You just want to do your job, and now the game counts for so much. With home-field advantage, there's a little bit extra on the line which makes it that much more fun." Of course, the win means an AL club will have home-field advantage in the World Series (something the reigning-champion Royals would know a thing or two about). Six of the last seven title winners have done so with the benefit of home field -- and nine of 13 overall, since the rule was implemented in 2003. "We don't know who is going to be representing the American League, but we know how much that home-field advantage helped us," said Hosmer. " ... We're glad that we could secure it for the American League. It's something we all set out to accomplish before the game started."

PHILS (AND OTHER) PHACTS:

• Playing in his final Midsummer Classic, 10-time All-Star Ortiz smacked a rocket to first base in the top of the first, but it was picked deftly by the NL's Anthony Rizzo. That was the only official at-bat of the night for Ortiz. He walked in the third and was removed for a pinch-runner to a rousing ovation from fans and players alike. Ortiz, who is batting .332 and leads the Majors in on-base percentage and slugging, plans to retire after the season. "It's something that I'll never forget, when you see all your boys," Ortiz said of being greeted by his teammates as he left the field. "Pretty much everybody in this dugout has been related to me one way or another."
• While playing college ball at the University of San Diego, Bryant became a bit of a local legend with tales of his prodigious power. Evidently, nothing's changed. Bryant launched the first pitch he saw from AL starter Chris Sale out to left at 111 mph -- the second hardest-hit ball against Sale in 2016. "It was a good couple days for me," said Bryant, who pointed out that he's still 0-for-6 with six strikeouts against the White Sox ace during the regular season. "I got to see some people that I haven't seen in a while, had a couple of them here at the game and was able to hit the home run. It was a special moment. I really wanted to just enjoy it and take it all in, and I think I accomplished my goal."
• Mike Trout's first-inning single increased his All-Star Game hitting streak to five -- and he's recorded a hit in his first at-bat on all five occasions. Dave Winfield, Joe Morgan and Mickey Mantle hold the all-time record with hits in seven straight. Trout, who finished 1-for-3, is now 6-for-13 with four extra-base hits all-time in the Midsummer Classic. "I'm enjoying it more; I know what I'm going to do," Trout said of his fifth All-Star experience. "The guys in there do a good job keeping me in the right line, where I'm going at the right time, and I just try to enjoy every minute of it. This time it went so fast."
• Along with Hosmer and Perez, NL starter Johnny Cueto was also a driving force behind the Royals' 2015 World Series run. But on Tuesday, Hosmer and Perez got to face Cueto as All-Star opponents. The current Royals certainly got the better of their former teammate. Hosmer smacked an opposite-field solo blast into the first row, before Perez launched a go-ahead two-run shot, two batters later, putting the AL on top, 3-1. "I felt like a proud papa there in the second inning after those two guys gave us the lead, and I was really excited," said Royals skipper Ned Yost, who was managing the AL. "It's been a long time since I've been that proud of two players in a moment like that."
• Yankees left-hander Andrew Miller loaded the bases with two down in the eighth, prompting Yost to call upon Harris, a first-time All-Star, in the game's pivotal moment. Harris ran the count full on Diaz, before painting the outside corner with strike three to escape the threat. "That's everything you can want when you come to an All-Star Game," Diaz said. "Bases loaded and a chance to hit. I tried to do my best, and he threw me a good pitch on 3-2, and he got me." 
• Fan-favorite Wil Myers roped a two-out double in the fifth, making him the first player to record an extra-base hit in a hometown All-Star Game since Mariners outfielder Mike Cameron did so in 2001. He's also the first Padre with an extra-base hit at the Midsummer Classic since Ken Caminiti in 1996. One inning earlier, southpaw Drew Pomeranz tossed a scoreless fourth and left to a standing ovation. "The fans were just going crazy since we're here in our home city," Pomeranz said. "Especially when they announced both of us. It was pretty awesome. It's pretty special to have your first one anywhere, but even more so here."
• "When I'm in the clubhouse in the All-Star Game, I get really impressed, to be honest with you, with the talent that MLB has. At the same time, those kids, they come back to you and embrace you. It's an unbelievable experience." – Ortiz.
• Nationals second baseman Daniel Murphy led off the fifth inning by bouncing a slow chopper that was bobbled by Jose Altuve at second base. Altuve recovered and fired to first, where Murphy was initially ruled out. But NL manager Terry Collins initiated the first replay review in All-Star Game history, and the call was promptly overturned.
• In a goosebumps-inducing ceremony before the game, Major League Baseball announced that it would name the NL batting title after legendary Padre Tony Gwynn, and its AL crown after Rod Carew. That was followed by a video tribute on the Petco Park scoreboard honoring Mr. Padre and leaving no dry eyes among the 42,386 in attendance.
• Despite the loss, the NL still holds a one-game lead in the all-time series, which now sits at 43-42-2. In fact, the two teams have been so close over the years that the NL holds a one-run edge, 360-359. But the American League has been noticeably dominant of late, having won 22 of the past 29.
• Left-hander Daniel Stumpf returned to the Phillies July 10 after serving an 80-game suspension for performance enhancing drugs. Philadelphia acquired Stumpf from Kansas City last December in the Rule 5 Draft. He pitched in three games before being suspended.
• Active members of the Mets have hit a combined .307 against Hellickson, with Jose Reyes having recorded a .381 batting average to go along with one homer and four RBIs.
• Mets manager Terry Collins has expressed hope that Yoenis Cespedes would be ready to play by the end of the All-Star break. Cespedes, who sustained a right quad strain July 8, leads the Mets with 21 homers and 52 RBIs. In 26 at-bats against the Phillies in the first half of the year, Cespedes hit .269 with three homers and six RBIs.

NEXT GAME:

After limping into the All-Star break with a slew of injuries to key players, the Mets turn to Jacob deGrom (5-4, 2.61 ERA) to set the tone for the second half of the season July 15 against the Phillies, who counter with Jeremy Hellickson (6-6, 3.92 ERA). deGrom and Bartolo Colon have been the only regular members of the Mets' starting rotation to avoid injury issues in recent weeks. Matt Harvey opted for season-ending surgery to repair his thoracic outlet syndrome, while Steven Matz and Noah Syndergaard have both been pitching through bone spurs; Syndergaard left his start July 8 with a "dead arm." Hellickson has provided a veteran presence in a young Phillies pitching staff, but his name has floated around in trade rumors. The Mets could be in the market for a starter given all their issues, but there's been no indication Hellickson could be an option for them.

PHILS PHACTS:

Awed By First Experience – Just a year and a half after the Phillies selected him in the Rule 5 Draft, outfielder Odubel Herrera found himself lined up among the Major Leagues' best players in the 2016 All-Star Game presented by MasterCard on Tuesday night at Petco Park. Herrera entered as a pinch-hitter for the National League in the sixth inning of a 4-2 loss to the American League, facing the Royals' Kelvin Herrera with one out. After taking the first two pitches for balls, Herrera put a good swing on a 94-mph fastball and lined the pitch to center, right into the glove of the Rangers' Ian Desmond. Herrera said he was looking to hit, not walk, after getting ahead in the count. After playing two innings in center field, Herrera was lifted for pinch-hitter Starling Marte in the eighth, ending his All-Star debut. Asked what he'll remember most about his first Midsummer Classic, Herrera said, "Everything. Especially when the manager told me that I was going to go onto the field." The 24-year-old Herrera has enjoyed an impressive follow-up to his breakout rookie campaign, batting .294/.378/.427 in 2016 with 10 home runs and 12 stolen bases. That performance earned him the Phillies' lone All-Star spot. Thanks in part to the play of their center fielder, the Phillies are 42-48 on the season and on pace to win 75 games, a dramatic improvement over their 63-99 finish in 2015. Herrera said in the second half he hopes "to do a better job, to help the team as much as I can and to make adjustments, keep making adjustments." Much of Herrera's success can be ascribed to his improved plate discipline, as he's walked at an impressive 11.6 percent clip following a meager 5.2 rate as a rookie. "Last year, I was striking out a lot. During the offseason, it was a goal that I put to myself to improve [my plate discipline]. And I think that's what we've seen," he said. "He's a special guy," said Phillies manager Pete Mackanin. "I call him a hit collector. I don't know how he does it sometimes." Odubel Herrera Sr. agreed with the skipper's sentiments. "Basically, [when he reached] the age of 12, I started to realize he could be a great player, possibly a professional player," Herrera's father said at MLB's media day on Monday. Both of Herrera's parents are visiting the United States, carefully following Phillies games.

Pregame Honors – The American League and National League batting titles have been renamed after two of the greatest hitters in Major League Baseball history. In a goosebumps-inducing moment before the AL's 4-2 win over the NL in Tuesday night's All-Star Game presented by MasterCard at Petco Park, MLB announced that the NL batting title will be named after Tony Gwynn and that the AL crown will be named after Rod Carew. Commissioner Rob Manfred stood at a podium with the newly minted replica trophies, and he was joined on the field by Carew and his family and Gwynn's wife and children. This moment induced the loudest applause from the fans of all of the memorable moments during the pregame ceremony. "The player with the highest batting average in the American League will now be known as the Rod Carew American League batting champion," Padres Hall of Fame announcer Dick Enberg said. "The player with the highest batting average in the National League will be forever known as the Tony Gwynn National League batting champion. "Oh, my! Commissioner Manfred has given both families a beautiful replica of these new awards. Fans, let's hear it one more time for two of the greatest hitters in the history of baseball, Rod Carew and Tony Gwynn." Carew, a seven-time AL batting champion, won the AL Rookie of the Year Award in 1967 and appeared in 18 consecutive All-Star Games. He was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in '91. Gwynn, who passed away in 2014, played his entire 20-year career with the Padres, compiling 3,141 hits and a lifetime batting average of .338. The 15-time All-Star was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in '07. "Rod is one of the most highly decorated players in American League history, who made 18 straight All-Star appearances in his Hall of Fame career," Manfred said. "Tony is considered one of the greatest hitters in the history of the National League, and there is no better place to honor him than in San Diego. Major League Baseball is pleased to recognize their extraordinary careers by naming our batting crowns in their honor." The announcement prompted the Petco Park crowd into frenzied chants of "Tony! Tony!" Though most of the pregame festivities were joyous, there was some controversy during the Canadian anthem. "Oh, Canada" was performed by The Tenors, a group from Victoria, British Columbia, and a member of the quartet, Remigio Pereira, altered the lyrics to include the phrase "All Lives Matter." Additionally, Pereira held up a small sign containing the controversial three-word phrase. The political statement caused a stir on social media and prompted the group to send out a tweet condemning the action: "The Tenors are deeply sorry for the disrespectful and misguided lack of judgment by one member of the group acting as a 'lone wolf' today during the singing of the Canadian national anthem at the Major League Baseball All-Star Game in San Diego. "The other members of the group are shocked and embarrassed by the actions of Remigio Pereira, who changed the lyrics of our treasured anthem and used this coveted platform to serve his own political views. "Our sincere apologies and regrets go out to everybody who witnessed this shameful act, to our fellow Canadians, to Major League Baseball, to our friends, families, fans and to all those affected. "The actions of one member of this group were extremely selfish, and he will not be performing with the Tenors until further notice." The U.S. national anthem was performed by international pop star Rachel Platten, most known for her smash hit, "Fight Song." Tuesday's pregame events in San Diego also paid homage to Padres history and to the city's strong military presence. The ceremony began with 275 Marines from the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing marching on the field holding the American flag. Two-hundred members of the U.S. Navy from the USS Theodore Roosevelt circled the field in recognition of the Navy tradition of "manning the rails" as a ship comes back to port. The Joint Services Color Guard completed the trifecta, lining the outfield near the other military arms. Following introductions of the AL and NL reserves, the starters assembled along the baselines, accompanied by young fans from local San Diego community groups. The kids were paired with one player each and wore T-shirts bearing the names and uniform numbers of their respective All-Stars. Following the Carew and Gwynn trophy announcement, the familiar first notes of AC/DC's "Hells Bells" played over the loudspeaker, while the Petco Park scoreboard lit up with "Trevor Time." This was a familiar scene during Trevor Hoffman's tenure with the Padres, during which he established himself as the greatest closer in club history and one of the best in baseball history. Hoffman emerged from the bullpen and took the long walk to the mound to deliver the game ball, pointing and waving to all parts of the ballpark along the way. He also joined the crowd in clapping to the beat of "Hells Bells," his signature song the Padres played each time he emerged from the bullpen to close out a game. Six U.S. Air Force Thunderbird Flight Team aircrafts completed the flyover in a winged formation, and the ceremony ended with 2015-16 Boys & Girls Clubs of America National Youth of the Year Whitney Stewart yelling "Play Ball!"

Today In Phils History – Delahanty dominates this day in Phillies history as he hit 4 homeruns (including 2 inside the park homeruns), collected 7 RBI, and went 5 for 5 on this day in 1896. The following year, Delahanty went 9 for 9 in a doubleheader against Louisville and went 4 for 5 the following day tying the MLB record with 3 consecutive games with at least 4 hits. 3 years later, Harry Wolverton tied a MLB record with 3 triples in a game. Red Miller had an unexpected day in 1923 when, in the midst of a Cincinnati route, the Phillies called on the former batboy, clubhouse attendant, batting practice pitcher and semi-pro pitcher, from the stands to take the mound (he threw one scoreless inning which was followed by 2/3 of an inning during which he surrendered 6 hits, a walk, and 6 earned runs). Cy Blanton didn’t fare much better in 1941 when he gave up 13 singles over 5+ innings to St. Louis. The home team was well represented at the Vet during the 1976 All Star Game with Greg Luzinski starting in Left Field with Dave Cash, Mike Schmidt, Larry Bowa, and Bob Boone coming off the bench as the NL won the game 7-1. In 1993, for the 1^st time since Steve Carlton took the ball in 1979, the Phillies had a pitcher start the All Star Game when Terry Mulholland was given the honor (he was joined in Baltimore by starters John Kruk (1B) and Darren Daulton (C) with Dave Hollins having been selected as a reserve player).

THE BEGINNING:

The Phillies are currently 42-48 this season putting them on pace to beat most preseason predictions. All time, the Phillies are 40-43-0 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.

Phillies Continue To Fall From .500

GAME RECAP: Blue Jays Pound Phillies 7-2 

The Blue Jays continue to roll, beating the Phillies, 7-2, on Wednesday night at Citizens Bank Park. The Blue Jays are 15-6 since May 24, which is the second-best record in the American League and the third-best record in Major League Baseball in that span. Edward Encarnacion got things going with a long solo homer in the second, and Marco Estrada took care of the rest, allowing two runs in 6 2/3 innings to improve to 5-2. "We're kind of putting everything together," Estrada said. "We're hitting, we're pitching. I've said it all year, we've a very dangerous team, and when we start putting things together, we're one of the best, if not the best. That's what you're seeing right now, and it shows." Meanwhile, the Phillies continue their slide. They are 6-19 since May 18, which is the worst record in baseball. Jeremy Hellickson allowed four runs in six innings to fall to 0-2 with a 7.41 ERA (14 earned runs in 17 innings) in his last three starts. He walked the first two batters he faced in the fourth, which led to three runs. "You walk the first two guys in an inning, you're just asking for trouble," Hellickson said.

PHILS PHACTS:

• Cody Asche has not provided much offense since he rejoined the Phillies late last month, but perhaps he started something positive Wednesday. He crushed a solo home run into the second deck in right field in the second inning to tie the game, and doubled to score a run in the fourth and doubled into the right-field corner in the ninth. Asche needs to continue to hit as the Phillies are evaluating his future in the organization. Asche began working on ways to get quicker to the ball after he noticed that he was fouling off pitches he should be squaring up. Wednesday night's results could be an indicator that those adjustments paying off. "It's good, confidence-wise, just to feel like you're providing something to the lineup," Asche said. "No one wants to just be there eating at-bats. When you're in the lineup, you want to bring something to the table."
• Phillies setup man Hector Neris had been a surprising and key reason for the Phillies' 24-17 start, but he has struggled mightily lately. After posting a 1.29 ERA through 26 appearances through May 29, he is 0-1 with an 11.37 ERA in his last eight appearances. That included the three runs he allowed in two-thirds of an inning in the eighth. "Everybody has bad times," Neris said. "The point is be back. Like, be focused and come back the next day, because this day has passed."
• "We're starving for offense, and hopefully Cody can get it going. That's the best he's looked in a while." -- Phillies manager Pete Mackanin, on Asche.
• Encarnacion has homered in four consecutive games at Citizens Bank Park. He has 11 home runs in just 19 games at the stadium during his career.
• The Phillies' Maikel Franco did not start the past three games with a sprained right knee. He said Wednesday that he was feeling better and going through normal drills, and struck out as a pinch-hitter to the end that night's game.
• Jose Bautista returned to right field on Wednesday after DHing the last two games against the Phillies in Toronto. He had been battling a right thigh injury.
• Russell Martin drove in a run Wednesday for his sixth straight game with an RBI, tying a career high. Over those six games, Martin is 6-for-13. He'll look to break his personal best in Thursday's series finale. He went hitless in two at-bats the only time he previously faced Nola.

NEXT GAME:

The finale of a four-game, home-and-home matchup between the Phillies and Blue Jays comes to a close Thursday at Citizens Bank Park, pitting Aaron Nola (5-5, 2.98 ERA ) against J.A. Happ (7-3, 3.70). While Happ has gradually regressed after a piping hot start -- his ERA sat at 2.05 on May 10 -- Nola's fall was more dramatic. And short-lived, the Phillies hope. The 23-year-old Nola turned in the shortest outing of his young career in his last start, against the Nationals. He lasted only 3 2/3 innings, allowing four runs on seven hits in an 8-0 loss to the Nats. Happ's regression started on a similar note. Since allowing eight runs in two innings on May 16, Happ's ERA has risen closer to career norms (4.18). The Blue Jays present Nola a tough test. They had scored 10 or more runs in three of their last four games entering Wednesday's contest and have hit 91 home runs, fourth most in baseball.

PHILS PHACTS:

A Kick In The Ache – Pete Mackanin spent the first six weeks of the season longing for an offensive infusion. With Cody Asche's return from an oblique injury, the Phillies manager had hopes help was on its way. But 39 plate appearances into Asche's season, he was hitting .200 with only two extra-base knocks. In plate appearances 40 and 41, though, Asche doubled his season total of extra-base hits, home runs, doubles and RBIs. Asche sparked the Phillies' offense in the club's 7-2 loss to the Blue Jays on Wednesday night, with a second-inning blast to the second deck in right field and a fourth-inning RBI double. "It's good, confidence-wise, just to feel like you're providing something to the lineup," Asche said. "No one wants to just be there eating at-bats. When you're in the lineup, you want to bring something to the table." In plate appearance No. 42, Asche added another two-bagger. But the energy didn't carry through the lineup, as the remaining Phillies combined for three more hits. There's hope, beyond Asche's track record, that Wednesday could be a sign of things to come. Recently, he begun working on shortening his swing to get to the ball faster. "I've been trying to do some things that help me be on time more," Asche said. "I think my first five or six games I had some pitches to do some damage on and foul-tipped them." Asche's three hits marked the first time since he was activated that he recorded a multi-hit effort. He did so 22 times in 2015, 25 times in 2014 and 10 more in 2013. He'll need to continue to do so to stick in the Phillies' lineup. Mackanin has the difficult task of injecting offense into the Phillies' outfield without obliterating its defense. Peter Bourjos has the strongest glove, but his bat is hitting .211 and he struck out two more times in a now-rare start Wednesday. The Phillies traded for Jimmy Paredes because of his power potential, but he's never posted a positive ultimate zone rating (UZR) in the outfield. Mackanin knows Asche's limits defensively. Asche already is exclusively a left fielder. He usurped Tyler Goeddel's starting spot there, sliding Goeddel over to right, where he has struggled at times to track balls but has said he is comfortable. "Paredes isn't the best defender and Asche is limited in his range," Mackanin said before Wednesday's game. "So it's going to be a juggling act from here on out. Goeddel is probably the priority, just to keep him playing as much as possible." Goeddel can hit from either side. His bat didn't contribute much the first month of the season, but it has come around of late. His defense isn't spectacular, but rarely is it a negative. When Mackanin says Goeddel is a priority, he's looking toward the future. With prospects Nick Williams and Roman Quinn looming, it's just as important for the 23-year-old Goeddel to develop as it is for the 25-year-old Asche to earn his role in left field. "I think it's time for him to get on track," Mackanin said of Asche. "And hopefully this is the start of him providing some offense for us."

Can He Bounce Back? – Hector Neris' jovial nature is being tested. Neris had been a surprising and key piece to the Phillies' unexpected 24-17 start, posting a 1.29 ERA in 26 appearances through May 29. But Neris, who is perhaps the most upbeat player in the Phillies' clubhouse, is 0-2 with an 11.37 ERA in his last eight appearances, which includes three runs allowed in two-thirds of an inning Wednesday night in the Phillies' 7-2 loss to the Blue Jays at Citizens Bank Park. "Everybody has bad times," Neris said afterward. "The point is be back. Like, be focused and come back the next day, because this day has passed." But Neris' ineffectiveness has been particularly drastic. He allowed 13 hits, four runs, seven walks and struck out 37 in 28 innings through May 29. Opponents hit just .138 with a .470 OPS against him. In 6 1/3 innings since, he has allowed 11 hits, nine runs, eight walks and struck out just five. Opponents have hit .393 with a 1.219 OPS against him. "We've got to get Neris back on track," Phillies manager Pete Mackanin said. Neris' splitter keyed his early success, but he has lost command of the pitch. No longer able to throw the pitch for a strike, he is getting behind in the count early and often. It got to the point Wednesday that he threw four sliders (none for a strike) to try to change things up. Neris has thrown a few sliders in his last three appearances after throwing none since late April -- again, because his splitter had been so incredibly effective. "We're looking at his arm angle, if he's changed that," Mackanin said. "It might be something in his delivery. We're looking into it. I'm sure he's thinking about it. He needs to have a real good outing, a real good 1-2-3 inning where he's throwing that splitter for strikes."

Injury Updates – A hobbled Maikel Franco homered after he sprained his right knee Sunday in Washington. He has not started since, but Phillies manager Pete Mackanin said following Wednesday night's 7-2 loss to the Blue Jays that he expects Franco to start Thursday night. The Phillies certainly could use Franco. He has hit .270 (10-for-37) with three home runs and five RBIs this month. "I feel better," Franco said Wednesday. "I hit in the cage today and I felt fine." Franco pinch-hit in the ninth inning. He struck out on three pitches. Mackanin also offered injury updates on right-handers Vince Velasquez and Dalier Hinojosa: Velasquez, who is on the DL with a strained right elbow, played catch in Toronto and felt OK. Obviously, because of his importance to the team's future, the nature of his injury and Velasquez's own health history -- he had Tommy John surgery in 2010 and the Phillies had questions about his physical before acquiring him in December -- the Phillies have no plans to rush him back. Hinojosa has been on the DL since April 29 because of a bruised right hand. He is scheduled to throw a 30-pitch live-batting-practice session on Friday. "He's been progressing gradually," Mackanin said. "I'd like to get him back."

From Octagon To Batting Cage – Eddie Alvarez traded in the comfort of the octagon for the batting cage at Citizens Bank Park before the Phillies faced the Blue Jays on Wednesday night. Alvarez, who will fight for the UFC lightweight belt on July 7, grew up playing stickball in Northeast Philadelphia. He and his friends would use a zone painted on a wall or fence to call balls and strikes. Alvarez even made a 16-and-under select team. But the sport didn't stick with him. "I played the outfield, but after three games, I waved the white flag," Alvarez said. "It wasn't fast enough for me." Alvarez fashioned himself more of a soccer fan -- he attended Team USA's Copa America match against Paraguay across the street at Lincoln Financial Field -- but doesn't watch much sports on television. For the two-time Bellator champion, though, just being on a Major League field was enough to enthrall him. Alvarez was on hand Wednesday to take batting practice with the Phillies and throw out the ceremonial first pitch. Alvarez toured the Phillies' clubhouse and met the team before heading out onto the field. He bantered back and forth with players while going through the team's whole stretching routine. Then, he stepped in the cage. "I hit a couple good balls," Alvarez said. "I didn't have too high of expectations." While players such as Tommy Joseph, Cody Asche and Ryan Howard -- whom he'd previously met at Dan Uggla's wedding -- gave Alvarez some hitting tips, they were more interested in getting diet and exercise advice from Alvarez. "It's no different than anything they were already successful at," Alvarez said. "You need to seek out the best resources, and they have that as well. It's the same formula to any success: Just being consistent, having the knowledge behind you, and just doing it." There wasn't much the Phillies could offer in exchange that could translate to the UFC ring. The best Alvarez got was to drive with his hips in his swing, similar to attacking his opponent in an MMA fight -- like he'll try to do July 7 to Rafael dos Anjos for the UFC lightweight belt.

Today In Phils History – Ed Delahanty get the day started in 1894 when he went 6-for-6 as the Phils beat Cincinnati 19-9. In 1963, the Phillies signed Rick Wise who would eventually bring Steve Carlton to the team in 1972. In his first season with the club in 1979, Pete Rose worked a walk off walk against the Cubs. In what would be his only significant appearance in the history books, on this day in 1991 Andy Ashby became the 12^th NL pitcher to strike out the side on 9 pitches. 6 years ago, Jamie Moyer gave up a homerun at the New Yankee Stadium to Robinson Cano setting the new major league record having surrendered a long ball in 42 different ballparks. And, finally, 2 years ago today Aaron Altherr made his MLB debut… hopefully he returns to the lineup soon.  

THE BEGINNING:

The Phillies are currently 30-36 this season putting them on pace to beat most preseason predictions. The Phillies finished the spring exceeding most expectations compiling a record of 15-11-3 (18-11-3 if you include the exhibition games against Reading and the University of Tampa). All time, the Phillies are 46-55-0 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. Let the rebuild begin!

And The Slide Continues For The Phillies

GAME RECAP: Nats Down Phils 5-1

Daniel Murphy completed his scorching hot month of May with another multi-hit game, including a solo home run, and Joe Ross delivered a strong outing to help lead the Nationals to a 5-1 victory over the Phillies on Tuesday night at Citizens Bank Park. Murphy improved his average to .397 on the season and tied a franchise record for most hits in a single month with 47, including seven homers. He had only homered seven times in a single month once, this past October while he helped the Mets complete their run to the World Series. "Murph's ready to hit June, July August and September," Nationals manager Dusty Baker said. "And we've seen him in October. Doesn't really matter, just as long as we can keep him healthy and happy." The Nationals had four homers on the day -- Jayson Werth's solo homer in the first inning, Murphy's homer in the sixth, Danny Espinosa's two-run homer in the ninth inning followed by a pinch-hit inside the park home run from Stephen Drew -- to back Ross, who tossed seven innings of one-run ball. The Nationals will go for a series sweep Wednesday night. Meanwhile, Philadelphia has dropped nine of its last 11 games despite starter Aaron Nola's solid outing. Nola struck out six over six innings, allowing two runs. "That was the one bright spot," Phillies manager Pete Mackanin said of Nola's outing. Bryce Harper sat out with a right knee contusion after being hit by a Jeremy Hellickson pitch in Monday's game.

PHILS PHACTS:

• Despite being only 22 years old and in his first full Major League season, Nola has flourished in his role as the quasi-ace of a staff that never really had one. He took the loss on Tuesday, but to no fault of his own. Nola notched his ninth quality start in 11 tries. He stranded three Nationals on base, escaping the rare jam in which he found himself. The only damage off the Nats' bats against Nola came on two solo home runs. "He competes pitch by pitch is what he does and he doesn't let anything bother him," Mackanin said. "He's like a golfer who sees the water in front of him and the sandtraps to the side and just puts that out of focus." 
• It remains a mystery where the Phillies' offense will come from each night. On Tuesday, the lone run was driven in by a Cesar Hernandez triple. Hernandez was batting eighth only because Pete Mackanin was hoping "to change our luck" offensively. In the past 33 games played at NL parks, Mackanin had hit the pitcher eighth in all but one. But Hernandez, in the eight hole, was the catalyst for the bottom third of the Phils' order. Three of the Phillies' four hits came from their bottom three -- two singles from David Lough on top of Hernandez's triple. "We're just getting out-homered every night," Mackanin said. "Four hits. We're not hitting home runs. I feel like it's a broken record -- we're not hitting."

NEXT GAME:

Adam Morgan (1-3, 6.67 ERA) gets the ball for the Phillies in the series finale against Washington. He has lost his last three starts and his only two quality starts this season have come against the last-place Braves.

PHILS PHACTS:

Nola Continues To Mature – After Clint Robinson reached third with no outs, Aaron Nola appeared to be in trouble in the second inning of the Phillies' 5-1 loss to the Nationals on Tuesday. But Nola bore down and retired three of the next four Nats to strand Robinson on third and keep the Phillies within one. After getting Joe Ross swinging to end the frame, the typically stoic right-hander couldn't contain a fist pump as he left the mound. Nola left for good after the sixth. The two runs he allowed came on two solo home runs. He scattered four more Nats' baserunners and struck out six en route to his ninth quality start in 11 tries. "That was the bright spot of the night," manager Pete Mackanin said. Look beyond Nola, and you'll find just one run scored, four hits and a bullpen that let the score escalate from 2-1 to 5-1. Of Nola's 96 pitches, he'll categorize only two as mistakes: a first-pitch fastball to Jayson Werth in the first inning and another heater to Daniel Murphy in the sixth. Both landed in the seats. After each home run, though, Nola ended the damage there. After Werth's shot, Nola responded by getting Murphy, who leads the Majors with a .397 batting average, looking. After Murphy's homer, he struck out Robinson swinging on a sinker to close the sixth. "It shows a lot of moxie," Mackanin said. "This guy, nothing bothers him." Nola has begun to embody a cold-blooded mentality. And he's the guy the Phillies turn to when they need to stop a losing streak. Since he came up last July, Nola has eight times pitched after the Phillies had lost two or more in a row -- including his last two times out. In those starts, Nola's pitched 49 innings and posted a 2.94 ERA, while striking out 2.8 batters for every one he walks. Yet, he hasn't been able to snap every skid. Of those eight starts, Philadelphia has won five. In the three losses, the Phillies offense has averaged just 2.67 runs of support for Nola. "It's baseball, it happens," the level-headed Nola said. "Sometimes we pitch bad and get a lot of run support. Sometimes we pitch good and don't get too much run support." Nola denied treating these games unlike any other start. Mackanin, though, believes Nola has the special quality it takes for a starter to become a rotation's stopper. Whether the 22-year-old does have it, or if it's just masked by his maturity, Mackanin believes Nola's calm and cool demeanor has become infectious. "It's great to see," Mackanin said. "I think it rubs off on some of the guys."

Today In Phils History – Ed Delahanty made the first mark on franchise history when he hit two inside the park homeruns in the same game in 1893. 30 year later the Phillies weren’t so fortunate as the Giants scored in every inning of a 22-8 drubbing. The Phillies played their first night game, and lost to the Pirates, in 1939. 30 years later, Dick Allen homered in his 5^th consecutive game setting a team record. A decade later, manager Danny Ozark, long before Tony LaRussa, had Steve Carlton bat 8^th in the lineup without any success. 4 years later, Mike Schmidt was once again on the cover of Sports Illustrated. Finally, it has already been 11 years since Chase Utley was sent in to pinch hit in the bottom of the 8^th in a tie game against the Giants and hit a grand slam.

THE BEGINNING:

The Phillies are currently 26-26 this season putting them on pace to beat most preseason predictions. The Phillies finished the spring exceeding most expectations compiling a record of 15-11-3 (18-11-3 if you include the exhibition games against Reading and the University of Tampa). All time, the Phillies are 45-55-0 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. Let the rebuild begin!

Rupp Held On To The Ball!

GAME RECAP: Phillies Stun Reds 4-3

Aaron Nola pitched masterfully for seven innings, but the Phillies literally had to hang on in the ninth inning to secure their 4-3 victory over the Reds on Saturday. The game ended on a double play where Eugenio Suarez tagged up on a fly ball and collided with catcher Cameron Rupp as the throw came to the plate. The Phillies continued their recent dominance by taking the first two games of the series, and are 9-0-1 in home series vs. Cincinnati since 2006. Nola gave up two runs (one earned) with five hits, one walk and nine strikeouts. It was a 1-1 game in the fifth inning when the Phillies scored two runs against Tim Adleman. Tyler Goeddel hit a single through the middle, followed by Nola drawing a full-count walk. After a Peter Bourjos sacrifice, Odubel Herrera shot a hard RBI single through the middle and Cesar Hernandez pulled a roller through the right side that scored Nola for a 3-1 Phillies lead. Adleman was pulled after 67 pitches over five innings, with three runs, eight hits, two walks and three strikeouts. "I think I was a little out of sync early on, especially that fifth inning," Adleman said. "The first three innings turned out. Somebody told me I had 25 pitches and only four balls. I got a couple of double plays, the defense played good behind me. A couple of walks here and there and tough luck on a couple of the groundballs. You look up at the scoreboard and it's 3-1." Philadelphia added a run on Herrera's solo homer to right field against JC Ramirez in the seventh. The ball landed in the first row of seats as a fan reached out and it took a crew chief review before it was determined that the call stands. The game ended in wild fashion. After Adam Duvall's RBI double in the ninth put the Reds down by a run, pinch-hitter Jordan Pacheco lifted a one-out fly ball to left field that was caught by Goeddel. After Suarez tagged up, Goeddel made a perfect throw to the plate. Suarez lowered his shoulder and barreled into Rupp as he caught the ball. He was able to hold onto the ball and make the tag. The Reds challenged, questioning whether Rupp violated Rule 7.13 by blocking the plate. Upon replay review, the call was confirmed and the game was over. "I think they got it right," Reds manager Bryan Price said. "We challenged it simply because you have to take a look at it. We can't tell from there what was going on there from our vantage point. We did the right thing and we had them take a look at it. It validated that the umpires got it right. That isn't really what cost us the ballgame tonight."

PHILS PHACTS:

• Nola loaded the bases with nobody out in the top of the first on singles by Zack Cozart and Jose Peraza and a walk to Joey Votto, but got out of the inning allowing just one run. Nola has allowed six first-inning runs in eight starts this season for a 6.75 earned run average in that inning. "Nola was fantastic after his first inning," said manager Pete Mackanin. "I won't say he struggled. He just gave them a couple pitches to hit. After that he was outstanding. If it wasn't for the error I probably would have sent him out for the next inning. But he was great." The 22-year-old ended up pitching seven innings and allowing just one earned run.
• The Phillies beat the Reds Friday night in part because of a safety squeeze by pitcher Jeremy Hellickson. They won again Saturday night partly because Nola didn't get a bunt down with a runner on first and nobody out and the score tied in the fifth. Instead he walked and the Phillies went on score two runs and take a lead they never relinquished. "The big at-bat of the night was Nola's walk," manager Pete Mackanin said. "Then Bourjos laid down a nice bunt. That was huge."
• In the fourth inning after it initially appeared that Hernandez stole second base and was ruled safe, the Reds challenged umpire Ramon De Jesus' call. Upon the replay review, Phillips tagged Hernandez on the helmet before he touched the base and the call was overturned for the first out.
• "It didn't feel good. My legs rolled up underneath me. I just wanted to recoup and lay there. Whatever. I don't know what was going through my head, honestly." -- Rupp, on the game-ending double play and home-plate collision with Suarez.
• The Phillies are 22-15. Last season they didn't win their 22nd game until June 7 (22-36).

NEXT GAME:

Left-hander Adam Morgan will be attempting to build on his first quality start of the season, May 10 at Atlanta, when he faces the Reds in the series finale Sunday at Citizens Bank Park. Morgan is 1-0 with a 3.94 ERA in three big league starts this season.

PHILS PHACTS:

What A Way To End The Game – It's hard to imagine a more exciting way to end a game. The Reds had already scored once, to pull within a run of the Phillies on Saturday night at Citizens Bank Park, and had runners on second and third with one out. So when Phillies left fielder Tyler Goeddel broke back on pinch-hitter Jordan Pacheco's fly ball, it seemed that the game would be tied and that Cincinnati was still well-positioned to take the lead. Seconds later, the Phillies were celebrating in gleeful disbelief after Goeddel threw a strike to catcher Cameron Rupp, who caught the ball a split second before runner Eugenio Suarez barreled into him. Rupp, who was slow to get up, held onto the ball and home-plate umpire Vic Carpazza emphatically signaled that the runner was out, giving the Phillies a 4-3 win. A replay review confirmed that Rupp had set up properly and that the throw had carried him into the base line. Additionally, since the runner didn't slide, the catcher is exempted from a violation for blocking the plate. The Phillies, now 14-3 in one-run games this season, were naturally jubilant. "I thought there was zero chance," said right-hander David Hernandez, who was pitching the ninth because closer Jeanmar Gomez wasn't available. "It was probably one of the best throws I've ever seen from the outfield. Then the fact that Rupp caught it, tagged him and held onto it. I was in the background jumping up and down. It was one of the best plays I've ever seen to end the game." The Reds, naturally, were deflated. "I think they got it right," said Reds manager Bryan Price. "We challenged it simply because you have to take a look at it. It validated that the umpires got it right." Suarez disagreed. "I thought I might score, but [Goeddel] made a really good throw. [Rupp] gave me nothing. He was in my line. He didn't give me a choice to go this way or that way. I just tried to be safe." Rupp admitted that he isn't sure exactly what happened after the collision. "I was thinking, 'Hold onto that ball for dear life, don't let it go and whatever happens, happens. Sacrifice everything. That's my plate, don't let him get to it,'" he said, adding that he doesn't remember being hit that hard since he played high school football. Said Goeddel: "When he hit it, I broke back on it at first. I knew he hit it pretty well. It was really high, so I was able to get behind it and get everything into the throw." Phillies manager Pete Mackanin laughed when asked if he thought Goeddel had a chance to make the play when the ball was first hit. "I was hoping he did," Mackanin said. "I was hoping he's make a perfect throw. That's what I was hoping. And he made a perfect throw. Things are going our way right now and it's just a great way to end a game."

Watching The Bullpen Arms – Phillies setup man Hector Neris is tied for second in the Major Leagues with 21 appearances and closer Jeanmar Gomez is right behind with 20. Before the Phillies' 4-3 win over the Reds on Saturday night at Citizens Bank Park, manager Pete Mackanin said he wasn't worried about their workload. "The reason I'm not concerned is because I'm well aware of it," he said before the game. "We're going to take care of them. I'm going to be certain we're not going to abuse them." What he didn't say was that he had already made up his mind not to use either pitcher Saturday night if there was any way to avoid it. So Andrew Bailey pitched a strong eighth and David Hernandez, with the help of a terrific throw from left fielder Tyler Goeddel to catcher Cameron Rupp to cut down the tying run at the plate in the bottom of the ninth, earned his first save since July 12, 2013. Earlier in the day, Mackanin spoke at length about his plans to protect his two back-of-the-bullpen relievers and acknowledged that he couldn't keep using them as much as he has to this point. The manager pointed out that Neris and Gomez have each pitched three days in a row just once this season. Their pitch counts are closely watched. It's unusual, he pointed out, for a team to have as many close games as the Phillies have had. "I'm aware that in the course of a long season we can't keep up this pace. And there have been an unusual amount of situations with one-run games that when you try to win games, you've got to do it," he explained. Neris was on a pace to make 94 appearances this season and Gomez, who leads the big leagues with 14 saves, projected to 90 games pitched. The club record is 90, set by Kent Tekulve in 1987. "Once again, I don't feel like I've abused them in any way, shape or form," Mackanin said. "The only thing that happens is, and it happens when you have good pitching and you're playing one-run games, you use your best guys for the eighth and the ninth. Up until this point, Neris has been almost unhittable. Why would I use anyone else? But I have used Hernandez and I have used Bailey in tight situations earlier in the game. It's almost like I'm looking forward to a lopsided game. Preferably in our favor. "When every night it's a one-run game, we've got to try to win the game. But I'm not concerned only because I'm aware of it. It's not going to continue like this. And if it does, we'll have other guys more involved." Which is exactly what he did Saturday night.

A Little Surprise – Close to 30 minutes after Emmanuel Burriss borrowed his glove to field some grounders, 13-year-old Francisco Dotor was still a bit shellshocked. "It was crazy," Dotor said, wearing the glove he shared with a big leaguer. Nearly 100 kids ages 7 to 14 were greeted with surprise appearances from Burriss and Colton Murray at Franklin Delano Roosevelt Park on Saturday afternoon. The Phillies players showed up about halfway through a youth baseball clinic put on by the Phillies Urban Youth Academy for the inaugural Play Ball Weekend. Coaches were sending players through hitting, baserunning, infield and outfield drills when Burriss and Murray arrived. They spent the remainder of the camp rotating through the stations, helping at each. "To be able to come into another city that you're not even from," Burriss said, "and be able to touch on their community as much as our community gave to us, wherever we came from, it means a big deal." There weren't any pitching stations, but Murray harkened back to his high school days, when he also played infield. On the outfield drills, though, Murray gave way to Burriss' expertise. They both tossed popups to the kids, though, Murray even succumbing to one's pleading to "go deep" and overshooting him by about 20 feet. Every kid's request thereafter to also get a deep ball exemplified some of the energy and pure love of the game that inspires the Major Leaguers at events like this one. "All these guys are just out here having fun," Murray said. "It allows you to think back to the times of being with your dad or being around all your friends, going out and playing baseball -- having fun." Make no mistake: Murray cherishes his time in Major and Minor League clubhouses. "It's fun all over again," he said. "The grind of it, though," Burriss added, "sometimes you forget what this is all about. This is why we play the game." For a half-hour on a Saturday afternoon, Burriss and Murray escaped the 162-game drudge. They exchanged high-fives, daps and gloves with dozens of Philadelphia kids, making some lifelong memories in the process and possibly inspiring some to further pursue the sport.

RBI Bond – As Ramon Reyes soft-tossed baseballs to participants in MLB's inaugural Play Ball Weekend on Saturday afternoon, he couldn't help but reflect on what the Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities (RBI) program had done for him. If a 13-year-old Reyes, fresh off a move to Philadelphia, were told in 14 years he'd be making a comfortable living as a realtor in suburban Pennsylvania, it would have been difficult for him to imagine. But at 16, everything changed. After growing up in the south Bronx projects, where "welfare was the norm ... drug dealers were the role models," as he described it, Reyes and his family moved to the City of Brotherly Love. Three years later, he met Jon Joaquin and joined the Philadelphia chapter of the RBI program. Joaquin, for the past 16 years, has headed the Phillies' youth baseball development department. His realm of responsibilities include the RBI program, Play Ball Weekend and other outreach initiatives to help grow interest in the sport among local youth. "It's all about opportunity, and I always preach that," Joaquin said. "If I can provide these kids with an opportunity -- on the field or off the field -- those are things I think it's all about." Reyes' friends coaxed him into trying out for the RBI travel team in 2005. Already being a talented catcher, Reyes made the Triple-A squad and got to travel the country. With the RBI program, Reyes took trips to New York, New Jersey, Florida, California and more. Hopping on an airplane to go play baseball sounds like a good gig for any 16-year-old. But it was particularly impactful on Reyes. Growing up in the projects, he said, he didn't know anything but rich and poor. "I didn't know anything about a medium income, a middle class family," Reyes said. "It helped me see there's a better world out there." It also created lifelong bonds between Reyes and his teammates, coaches and mentors in the program. He was on the 2007 Philadelphia RBI team that beat the reigning champion Los Angeles squad to win the RBI World Series (becoming the first cold-weather team to do so). The players from that title-winning team had a five-year reunion in 2012 -- not unlike a high school or college graduating class would. They shared stories and reminisced while reliving joyous times. More recently, though, the team gathered again on a far more somber occasion. One member of the 2007 team was Oakland A's pitching prospect Sean Murphy, who died unexpectedly last month. They were able to celebrate his life, rather than wallow, thanks to the memories they shared. "A Philly guy straight in, straight out," Reyes said. "A bunch of us went to the funeral and met up again. Of course we're all down. But when we see each other, it was like happy moments." Joaquin stayed in contact, too, like he does with many former RBI participants. Reyes was a freshman in college when he won the RBI title. Joaquin has watched him go from 16 years old to college graduate and now to a mature adult who wants to give back to the community that gave him so much. "It's like a big brother type thing," Joaquin said. "He's really grown up to be a great man." So when Joaquin reached out about helping out on Saturday, "that's the first thing I did, like 'Oh man, I'm in,'" Reyes said. He largely credits RBI for the man he's become. His dedication to the program as a teenager helped build a work ethic and taught him how to stay organized. Mostly, though, it opened window to a new world for him. So when Reyes took the field on Saturday, he did so with plenty of motivation. The 27-year-old realtor hustled onto the field with the kids he was coaching. He gave hands-on hitting tips and one-on-one time for every kid on the field. Hopefully, he said, he can give them just one tidbit of information. "Then I've made a difference." After all, Joaquin said, "You never know when the Ramon Reyes is going to be coming through our system and referencing RBI as an outlet for them."

Today In Phils History – The history of the day begins with the Phillies crushing the Reds in 1911 by scoring 21 runs which was followed 11 years later when St. Louis scored in every inning but the 5^th in a 19-7 loss. In that same game in 1922, pitcher Tom Sullivan hits a home run in his major-league debut becoming the second pitcher to do so in franchise history… thankfully, it overshadowed an ugly performance on the mound. It was also on this day in 1999 when Mike Piazza lined out to Alex Arias who turned a triple play. A decade later, the Phillies visited the White House to celebrate their 2008 World Series victory. A key member of that team, Jimmy Rollins, hit his 433^rd career double 4 years later passing Ed Delahanty and setting a new franchise record. Notable debuts on this day include Johnny Estrada and Nelson Figueroa in 2001 and Jake Diekman in 2012. None of those players stayed in the Phillies uniform for long.

THE BEGINNING:

The Phillies are currently 22-15 this season putting them on pace to beat most preseason predictions. The Phillies finished the spring exceeding most expectations compiling a record of 15-11-3 (18-11-3 if you include the exhibition games against Reading and the University of Tampa). All time, the Phillies are 52-49-1 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. Let the rebuild begin!