Ugly. Just Plain Ugly.

GAME RECAP: Blue Jays Obliterate Phillies 13-2 

The Blue Jays' offense proved to be too powerful for the Phillies to handle this week. They bashed five home runs in a 13-2 victory Thursday night at Citizens Bank Park. They outscored the Phillies, 31-7, in the last three days. But Blue Jays left-hander J.A. Happ did his job Thursday, too. He allowed just three hits and one unearned run in seven innings as Toronto improved to 19-8 since May 18. Phillies right-hander Aaron Nola suffered the shortest start of his career, allowing eight runs in three-plus innings. Odubel Herrera capped an ugly night when he threw a ball into the stands with two outs in the eighth inning, allowing Edwin Encarnacion to advance from first to third. "Oh man, that was an outburst," Happ said of his club's offensive performance. "It was fun to watch in our dugout. It was a good time. Hopefully we can carry some of that momentum into a big series in Baltimore."

PHILS PHACTS:

• Nola would love to forget his last two starts. He lasted just 3 2/3 innings Saturday against the Nationals and just three-plus innings against the Blue Jays. Nola's ERA jumped from 2.65 to 3.51 in that span. "I mean, it's tough for the team when I can't get out of the fourth inning," Nola said. "It's unacceptable for my part. I felt like it's a letdown for the team. It's unacceptable for me to go that short in a game. My job is to go deep in a game and save the bullpen and keep the game as close as I can."
• "There's a choice to be made. You either cave in or you fight your way back out. I don't want to see guys pouting or feeling sorry for themselves. If you want to prove you belong here you've got to fight." - Phillies manager Pete Mackanin, who called a team meeting after the game.
• Encarnacion has at least one RBI in seven consecutive games. He also has now homered in five consecutive games at Citizens Bank Park dating back to 2014.
• The Phillies challenged Pillar's slide into second base in the third inning, which broke up a double play and allowed a run to score. The replay official determined Pillar failed to engage in a bona-fide slide. Additionally, Pillar's actions hindered and impeded the fielder.
• After Aaron Nola allowed eight runs in three-plus innings on Thursday, Phillies' starting pitchers have posted a 5.93 ERA since May 23. The D-backs offense will be a welcome sight for a team that's faced the Cubs, Nationals, Blue Jays and Tigers in 19 of their last 23 games.
• Neither Ray nor Morgan has faced their respective opponent. No Phillies player has had a plate appearance against Ray, though Michael Bourn (0-for-2) and Jean Segura (1-for-3, RBI) previously faced Morgan on other teams.
• Ray has never pitched against the Phillies and has never faced any player on their roster.
• This is the start of a three-city, 10-game road trip with no off-days for the D-backs, who played their past nine at home. This is the last series of a six-game homestand for the Phillies after two games against the Blue Jays. 

NEXT GAME:

The D-backs and the Phillies open a four-game series in Philadelphia on Friday night with a battle of left-handed starters in Robbie Ray and Adam Morgan. Ray (3-5, 4.57 ERA) is coming off his best start of the year for Arizona. He pitched 7 2/3 scoreless innings in a win over the Marlins last time out, his first victory since May 16. It was only the second time in his past 10 starts that Ray lasted at least six innings. Morgan (1-5, 6.33 ERA) had lost five straight starts until his last outing against the Nationals. He gave up three earned runs on five hits in 6 2/3 innings in a no-decision. The lefty also set a season high with eight strikeouts.

PHILS PHACTS:

Today In Phils History – On this day in 1930, Chuck Klein set the modern franchise record by recording a hit in his 26^th straight game. Milt Thompson was always an intelligent baserunner and it was never more evident than in a game against the Mets on this day in 1988 when he prolonged the double play (ball was hit by Steve Jeltz) long enough to allow 2 runners to score before the inning was retired. 4 years ago, Jim Thome earned another mention in the history books when he became the 4^th player in MLB history to hit at least 100 homeruns for 3 different teams joining Reggie Jackson, Darrell Evans, and Alex Rodriguez.

THE BEGINNING:

The Phillies are currently 30-37 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 48-60-0 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!

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!

Some Debuts Don’t Go As Planned

GAME RECAP: Jays Jack Phils 11-3 

Josh Donaldson hit a grand slam and Ezequiel Carrera and Edwin Encarnacion added a pair of two-run shots as the Blue Jays scored early and often against rookie Zach Eflin in an 11-3 victory over the Phillies on Tuesday afternoon at Rogers Centre. Donaldson went 3-for-4 with five RBIs and three runs scored. It was his second five-RBI game of the season and the fourth of his career as the reigning American League MVP Award winner also extended his on-base streak to 19 consecutive games. "We watched a little bit of film on him," Donaldson said of Eflin. "I was paying very close attention to Jose [Bautista's] at-bat, and it looked like he wanted to throw his heater early on. In my first at-bat, he threw me a fastball that I could hit, and I was able to hit it pretty well to right field. That kind of started me on the right track. I was able to get some pitches to hit, and I was able to take advantage of it." Kevin Pillar also enjoyed a three-hit game with a homer and a pair of runs scored. Carrera went 2-for-5 with a pair of RBIs and a run scored. The offensive outburst came less than 24 hours after Toronto was shut out by Philadelphia, but the club has now scored at least 10 runs in three of its past four games. Eflin was making his Major League debut, but it did not go as planned. He allowed nine runs (eight earned) on nine hits and three walks while striking out two. Eflin became the first rookie Phillies pitcher to allow eight earned runs or more in a start since Gavin Floyd on April 19, 2005. "You've got to forget about it," Eflin said about his first Major League start. "Obviously, I'll remember it for the rest of my life, but from a pitching standpoint, I've got to bounce back. I've got to throw quality strikes and get ahead of the hitters." Right-hander Marcus Stroman picked up the victory for Toronto. He entered Tuesday having allowed 25 runs over his previous 29 2/3 innings, but Stroman was much better in this one. Stroman scattered six hits and one walk with six strikeouts over seven strong innings. The one big blow was a solo home run by Cesar Hernandez in the seventh. "I felt a lot better out there," Stroman said. "I think the work that we've been putting in between the last few starts is starting to take shape. Not exactly where I want to be, but definitely made strides and looking forward to the next one."

PHILS PHACTS:

• Playing in his first game against the Blue Jays since being traded from Toronto to Philadelphia for cash considerations on June 1, Jimmy Paredes finished 2-for-2 with an RBI and a run scored. Paredes brought home the Phillies' first run of the afternoon with a double down the left-field line in the sixth inning, before notching a single and scoring on Andres Blanco's sacrifice fly in the eighth. The 27-year-old switch-hitter entered the game in the bottom of the fifth inning for center fielder Odubel Herrera. Paredes played right, with Peter Bourjos moving to center. "I feel good being back in Canada," Paredes said. "We had a bad game, but we'll see what we can do tomorrow. What I've learned in the National League is that you have to be ready every inning with all the double switches. You never know what's going to happen, and I try to make the most of my opportunities."
• The eight earned runs allowed by Eflin was the highest total given up by a Philadelphia starter since Jerome Williams surrendered eight on Aug. 20, 2015.
• Phillies third baseman Maikel Franco missed his second straight game on Tuesday with a right knee sprain he sustained Sunday, and he is considered day to day. If Franco is unable to go Wednesday, Andres Blanco could make his third consecutive start at the hot corner.
• After spending the past two games at designated hitter, Jose Bautista could make his return to right field on Wednesday. Bautista exited Thursday's game against the Orioles with right thigh tightness, and he missed three consecutive contests before returning to the lineup on Monday.
• Edwin Encarnacion is expected to get the start at first base in Philadelphia, with Justin Smoak coming off the bench for the Blue Jays. Encarnacion has seen a majority of his at-bats as the DH, but he started at first base on Tuesday.

NEXT GAME:

After playing a pair of games in Toronto, the Blue Jays and Phillies shift over to Citizens Bank Park for two games beginning on Wednesday. Marco Estrada (4-2, 2.57 ERA) gets the ball for Toronto having allowed five hits or fewer in nine consecutive starts. Estrada's .168 batting average against is the lowest mark among American League starters, and the 32-year-old has limited the opposition to two runs or fewer in seven of his 12 starts this season. In his last outing against the Orioles, Estrada went six innings and allowed three earned runs. The right-handed finesse pitcher has won his past three decisions, and he has not been defeated since a 4-0 loss to the White Sox on April 27. The Phillies will counter with Jeremy Hellickson (4-4, 4.34 ERA), who will look to rebound after one of his worst starts of the season. The 29-year-old right-hander allowed nine hits and seven earned runs -- including three home runs -- over six innings in a loss to the Nationals on Friday. Prior to his start against Washington, Hellickson had allowed three runs or fewer in six consecutive outings. Hellickson made 15 starts against Toronto from 2010-14 during his time with the Rays, going 5-4 with a 3.45 ERA. However, he is 1-10 with a 6.69 ERA in 15 Interleague starts.

PHILS PHACTS:

Dreadful Debut – Zach Eflin experienced both the highs and lows of life in the Major Leagues during his debut on Tuesday. Eflin was called up from Triple-A Lehigh Valley to start in place of the injured Vince Velasquez, and he struck out two of the first three batters he faced -- Jose Bautista and Edwin Encarnacion -- on hard sliders. After that, however, things took a turn for the worst for Eflin, the Phillies' No. 13 prospect. The 22-year-old right-hander lasted just 2 2/3 innings, giving up nine runs (eight earned) in an 11-3 loss to the Blue Jays. Three of the nine hits Eflin allowed were home runs, and he also walked three. He became the first Phillies rookie to allow eight earned runs in a game since Gavin Floyd on April 19, 2005. "This was his Major League debut, and I suppose he was a little nervous," Phillies manager Pete Mackanin said. "He just made a lot of bad pitches. He normally locates a lot better than he did. He was just up in the zone with all his pitches and got hit. Sorry to see his debut turn out that way, but this is a good lineup, and he can't make mistakes to them." The big blow from Toronto came in a six-run third inning, when reigning American League MVP Award winner Josh Donaldson took Eflin into the second deck with a grand slam for a 9-0 Blue Jays lead. Known for his ability to keep the ball down and command his fastball, Eflin didn't display those tendencies in Toronto. "You've got to forget about it," Eflin said. "Obviously, I'll remember it for the rest of my life, but from a pitching standpoint, I've got to bounce back. I've got to throw quality strikes and get ahead of the hitters." "You just got to keep him calm, don't let him get to himself, don't let him get down about himself," added catcher Cameron Rupp. "Just tell him, 'Come on, you can do it, you got one pitch left, you got two outs, you're one pitch away.' And then it was tough for him not to get it. He battled, he never gave in to those hitters, and that's a good lineup, too. You can't make mistakes to that lineup and those guys, and they got him when he did." Acquired from the Dodgers as part of the Jimmy Rollins deal in 2014, Eflin's Major League debut came in front of a packed house at Rogers Centre. In the first row behind the Phillies' dugout were Eflin's father, grandparents, two sisters, girlfriend and her brother. "It was very special," Eflin said about having his family on hand. "Especially because they had their passports and everything ready for whenever and whatever happened, so it was awesome to have them here." While the Phillies are unsure of what the season holds for Eflin as far as a permanent spot in their rotation, they do expect him to get another outing. The 6-foot-6, 215-pound right-hander knows he'll have to make some tweaks in order to have a better performance his next time out. "Really make sure I limit my pitches up in the zone," Eflin said. "I need to make sure that I focus on every pitch and work down in the zone and really don't give them anything to hit, and go from there."

Today In Phils History – It was on this day in 1945 that Ben Chapman was acquired from the Dodgers… his history with that team did not stop there. 4 years later, Eddie Waitkus is shot in a Chicago hotel by 19-year old Ruth Steihagen. 3 years later, Granny Hamner demonstrated why it is always important to cover home plate when he scored on a foul pop up which was fielded by the Pittsburgh catcher. In 1960, the Phillies said goodbye to Wally Post and Sparky Anderson but also welcomed Tony Gonzalez to the team. 2 year later, the Phillies made a smart acquisition (which they would later negate) when they signed minor-league free agent Ferguson Jenkins. Long time Phillies manager Gene Mauch was fired on this day in 1968 and replaced by Bob Skinner. In 2001, the Phillies honored 2 players from 2 very different eras when Gary Maddox and Gavvy Cravath were inducted into the Philadelphia Baseball Hall of Fame. It is also the birthday of Bab Dahlgren (1912) and Lance Parrish who turns 60 today.

THE BEGINNING:

The Phillies are currently 30-35 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 42-57-0 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!

You Don’t Mess With The Hoff, Eh!

GAME RECAP: Phillies Shutout Blue Jays 7-0 

Ryan Howard and Odubel Herrera each homered while Jerad Eickhoff tossed six scoreless innings in the Phillies' 7-0 victory over the Blue Jays on Monday night at Rogers Centre. Herrera finished 2-for-5 with three RBIs and a run scored in his third multi-hit game of the month. Howard went deep in his first start since June 8, and he now has two home runs over his last three games. "He's fun to watch," Phillies manager Pete Mackanin said of Herrera. "You just never know. He can look so bad for two pitches and then hit a home run; he can look so bad for two at-bats, and then all of a sudden, come through with a big hit off a lefty. He's amazing." Eickhoff tamed a Blue Jays lineup that came into this game red-hot. Toronto scored 30 runs over a recent four-game series against the Orioles, but it managed to put just two runners in scoring position when Eickhoff was on the mound. The 25-year-old scattered three hits and four walks while striking out five. "We have a game plan," Eickhoff said about shutting down the Blue Jays. "We kind of deviate from that or change from that as the game progresses or how I'm feeling. Especially having that fastball command, it wasn't the best that I've had, but it was enough to keep them off balance and throwing that slider was huge in those fastball counts." Knuckleballer R.A. Dickey was charged with the loss despite a strong night on the mound. He surrendered the two solo shots and left with one out and a man on base in the seventh inning. When Dickey departed the game it was 2-0, but the Phillies tacked on five more runs to snap their four-game losing streak. "It's a tough place to pitch for anybody," said Dickey, who dropped to 0-5 at home. "Both Howard's ball and Herrera were wall-scrapers here, and you usually don't lose when you give up solo home runs. I was OK with that. The pitch to Herrera was a poor pitch, the one to Howard not so much. He hit it off the end and it top-spinned over the wall."

PHILS PHACTS:

• The Phillies opened up a 4-0 lead in the top of the seventh after stringing together three hits and adding three runs. Howard led off the seventh inning with a solo shot, Peter Bourjos added a two-out RBI double and Herrera brought home his second run of the game with a single. Howard, who recently lost his first-base job to Tommy Joseph, started at designated hitter on Monday and hit just his second home run since May 11.
• Herrera gave the Phillies an early 1-0 lead with his sixth home run of the season in the top of the third inning. Herrera took a 2-1 knuckleball from Dickey and sent it just over the right-field wall. According to Statcast™, Herrera's blast left the yard at 109 mph while traveling a projected 345 feet.
• Gibbons lost his challenge in the bottom of the eighth inning. Toronto had runners on first and second with nobody out when Kevin Pillar hit a grounder to third. Philadelphia's Andres Blanco stepped on third for the first out, and then threw across the diamond for a double play. Pillar felt he beat the throw to first and the Blue Jays decided to challenge, but following a review of one minute and 19 seconds, it was ruled that the call on the field stands.
• Tuesday's 7-0 victory was the Phillies' first shutout against an American League opponent since blanking Oakland, 3-0, on Sept. 20, 2014.
• Phillies third baseman Maikel Franco missed Monday's series opener with a right knee sprain he sustained in Philadelphia's 5-4 loss to the Nationals on Sunday. Franco is day to day, and he could make his return to the lineup on Tuesday.
• With a single in the first inning on Monday, Toronto outfielder Michael Saunders extended his hitting streak to seven games. Saunders has been a welcome addition to the Blue Jays' right-handed-heavy lineup after missing a majority of the 2015 season and leads the team with five three-hit games.
• Edwin Encarnacion missed Monday's contest after sustaining a jammed right index finger in Toronto's 10-9 win against the Orioles on Sunday. Encarnacion is expected to play Tuesday and is also considered day to day.

NEXT GAME:

Phillies starter Zach Eflin was all smiles as he walked into the visiting clubhouse at Rogers Centre in anticipation of his Major League debut. The 22-year-old right-hander was recalled to start Tuesday against the Blue Jays. Eflin was acquired by the Phillies as part of the deal which sent Jimmy Rollins to the Dodgers in 2014, and he put together a 5-2 record with a 2.90 ERA in 11 starts at Triple-A Lehigh Valley. "It's been unbelievable," said Eflin, who had seven family members make the trip up north. "Obviously, it's a dream come true. I've always wanted this to happen ever since I was a kid, and for it to finally happen and come true is something special. I'm just really looking forward to getting out there on the mound tomorrow." The Blue Jays will counter with Marcus Stroman (5-2, 4.94 ERA), who will look to get back on track after three consecutive disappointing outings. Stroman has has not made it out of the sixth inning in each of them, while also allowing a total of 17 earned runs. Toronto's Opening Day starter has seen his ERA climb over a full run higher in that span. In seven career Interleague games (three starts), Stroman is 3-0 with a 1.72 ERA. The 25-year-old graduate of Duke University is also 10-3 with a 3.59 ERA all time at Rogers Centre.

PHILS PHACTS:

Did He Turn The Corner? – Looking at the numbers, you'd be hard-pressed to find much fault in Jerad Eickhoff's outing against the Blue Jays. But the right-hander didn't see it that way, relying heavily on the usage of his slider to fire his second consecutive dominant performance and third straight quality start in the Phillies' 7-0 rout of the Blue Jays on Monday. In total, Eickhoff threw 30 sliders, using it to set up his fastball and as an out-pitch to silence Toronto's lineup, which came into the night having scored 21 runs in the last two games. The 25-year-old needed 26 pitches to get out of the first before modifying his approach to go deep into the game. "We have a game plan," Eickhoff said. "We kind of deviate from that or change from that as the game progresses or how I'm feeling. Especially having that fastball command, it wasn't the best that I've had, but it was enough to keep them off balance and throwing that slider was huge in those fastball counts." In total, Eickhoff managed five strikeouts and walked four over six innings, overcoming the command issues in the early frames. The Evansville, Ind., native managed to put up his 16th quality start in 21 big league outings and allowed an opponent to score one earned run or fewer for the fourth time in 13 outings this season. "I think I knew when my fastball wasn't kind of drifting off the plate a little bit, and I knew that I had to get a pitch to get them off," Eickhoff said about the deviation from his regular approach and going to his breaking stuff. "I knew it wasn't where it needed to be. This is a great team, they hit fastballs really well and I knew that coming in, so I've got to be precise with that offspeed stuff." Eickhoff's slider was also a big part of his seven-inning performance against the Cubs on Tuesday, in which he limited Chicago to a single run on two hits. The 6-foot-4, 245-pound righty heavily relied on the the pitch when initially called up to the Major Leagues last season, and he has once again found a way to integrate it aggressively into his arsenal. "I threw the slider a lot when I first came up last year, because I didn't have my curveball yet," Eickhoff said. "I was still trying to figure out that new baseball at the big league level. I reverted to that quite a bit, and I think these past couple starts have been kind of an eye-opening transition."

Taking Precautions – Phillies manager Pete Mackanin updated the status of recently injured starter Vince Velasquez and third baseman Maikel Franco prior to Philadelphia's home-and-home series opener against the Blue Jays on Monday. Velasquez left his Wednesday afternoon start against the Cubs after just two pitches, and was placed on the 15-day disabled list on Friday with a right biceps strain. "He'll be re-evaluated tomorrow and then we'll determine when he'll start throwing," Mackanin said. "He's here [in Toronto]." The 24-year-old is 5-2 with a 3.65 ERA after coming over in a trade with Houston for Ken Giles in December, and he has been a major bright spot for the Phillies' rotation this season. While no timetable has been set for a return, Mackanin insisted the team will be cautious with their young starter. "Everything's in pencil," Mackanin said. "I'm anxious to see him tomorrow." Franco, who was out of the starting lineup for Monday's contest, suffered a right knee sprain in the Phillies' 5-4 loss to the Nationals on Sunday and is day to day. Franco hurt himself in a rundown play during the fifth inning, but he stayed in the game and finished 2-for-4 with a go-ahead home run in the ninth inning. "I didn't want to chance anything today, so we'll see how he is tomorrow," Mackanin said. "There's a little bit of swelling." "I don't feel I can be able to play today, so we'll figure it out tomorrow," added Franco, who leads the Phillies in both home runs (11) and RBIs (33). "When I come in, we'll see if my leg is better and try to be ready."

Welcome To The Majors! – Prior to Monday's game, Mackanin talked to starting pitcher Zach Eflin, the newest member of the Phillies. Eflin was called up to make his Major League debut against the Blue Jays on Tuesday in the spot normally occupied by Velasquez. While the Phillies' skipper did not guarantee a long-term spot in the rotation for the 22-year-old, he did share a few words of advice. "I was in here talking to him today," Mackanin said. "I told him, 'Up here, if you make your pitches, you're going to be successful. If you make mistakes, you're going to get hit. It's as simple as that. Pitch the way you normally pitch, and if you make quality pitches, you're going to be OK.' He's got the stuff to be successful. It boils down to command and control." Originally selected by the Padres in the first round of the 2012 Draft, Eflin was acquired from the Dodgers alongside left-handed pitcher Tom Windle in December 2014 for shortstop Jimmy Rollins. The Orlando, Fla., native went 5-2 with a 2.90 ERA in 11 starts for Triple-A Lehigh Valley.

Today In Phils History – Milestones and Oddities are the name of the game today beginning in 1890 when owner Al Reach took over as manager due to the temporarily blindness experienced by Harry Wright. In 1983, for some reason, manager Pat Corrales tied a MLB record by using 4 right fielders in a game. Of course, I am sure there were some additional oddities on display in 2009 when the Phillies bullpen was on display in the MLB Network show “The Pen”. Who knows maybe if they followed the current Phillies they might discover some birthday shenanigans today as Hector Neris turns 27. However, the most notable moments that happened on this day occurred in 2004 when Jim Thome connected for his 400^th career homerun. 10 years later, Jimmy Rollins, who is currently a free agent, became the Phillies’ all-time hits leader with a single in the 5^th, his 2,235^th career hit, passing Mike Schmidt.  

THE BEGINNING:

The Phillies are currently 30-34 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 42-57-0 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!

Former Phillie Foils Comeback

GAME RECAP: Nationals Sweep Phillies 5-4

Call Jayson Werth, Mr. Clutch. His single in the bottom of the ninth inning helped the Nationals edge the Phillies, 5-4, at Nationals Park on Sunday afternoon. The Nationals are now 15 games over .500 and 4 1/2 games ahead of the Mets in the National League East race. The Nationals were down, 4-3, when they rallied to score two runs in the ninth inning off closer Jeanmar Gomez. After Bryce Harper and Danny Espinosa reached on singles and Clint Robinson walked to load the bases, Werth drove a 2-2 pitch up the middle, scoring Harper and Espinosa. The walk-off win completed a three-game sweep for the Nationals, who chased Werth into the outfield in celebration. There was manager Dusty Baker doing his hop, skip and a jump after the winning run scored. Werth was then doused with Gatorade twice. "As a kid, you always want that last at-bat because you can walk off. You are just glad it didn't happen on the road," manager Dusty Baker said. "No matter what he is doing or how he is playing, he has been a clutch man all these years. A clutch man knows how to come through." Said Werth: "You live for those moments. You grew up playing Wiffle ball in the backyard. You always run through those situations. I've been lucky to get those chances during my career. I want to win, I want to help my teammates win and be part of a championship team. Whatever I can do." It looked like the Phillies had the game won when Maikel Franco's homer in the top of the ninth gave them a 4-3 lead. The solo shot came off closer Jonathan Papelbon on a 2-2 pitch that Franco hit into the left-field stands. The Nationals offense started strong against left-hander Adam Morgan, scoring three runs in the first two innings. Espinosa highlighted the scoring with a home run. But Nationals right-hander Joe Ross allowed the Phillies to tie the score by the sixth inning. As Philadelphia came back, Morgan settled down, for what manager Pete Mackanin called "the best I've seen him pitch in two years, after that first inning." "I tried to keep it simple," Morgan said. "I think in the first couple of innings I was trying to be too fine and picky, and that's not who I am."

PHILS PHACTS:

• In the fourth inning, Franco appeared to injure his ankle after tripping over a baserunner. After a brief conversation with the training staff, the third baseman stayed in the game. Five innings later, Franco homered to left field off Papelbon to break the tie score. The long ball was a good sign for Franco, who recorded his second multi-hit game, and for a struggling Phillies offense. "We've got to get our offense going," Mackanin said. "Good to see Franco bust out, but the rest of the guys have to give us consistent at-bats."
• The Nationals were getting good swings against Morgan in the first three innings. But after Chris Heisey was caught trying to steal third base, the Nationals collected one hit and struck out seven times the rest of the way against Morgan.
• The Phillies fell behind 3-0 in the second inning, and it looked like more of the same for a team that was shut out Saturday and ranks near the bottom of the league in many offensive categories. But Cody Asche homered in the fifth, breaking a team streak of 14 innings without a run, and Philadelphia scored two runs the next inning on three consecutive line drives -- two doubles and a single -- to tie the game at 3. Mackanin was happy to see the Phillies show resilience. "Good to see the guys come back," the manager said. "What a way to lose a game. It was just a tough game to lose."
• With one out in the ninth, Harper reached base on an infield single, but the Phillies challenged the call and claimed that Harper was out on a close play. After a review, the play stood and Harper would later score on the single by Werth. Joseph said he thought, after seeing the replay, that the umps got the call right, but Mackanin wasn't so sure. "If the side of his foot was touching the base, [Harper] was definitely out, but [Joseph] went back. It's like when a guy tags a guy but then goes back to tag him even though he tagged him the first time, it looks like he didn't," Mackanin said. "I believe, from what I saw on the replays, if he didn't go back with his foot, I believe they would've called him out."
• Monday's game marks Jimmy Paredes' return to Toronto. Paredes played in seven games for the Blue Jays this season before being traded to Philadelphia for cash considerations.
• Phillies shortstop Freddy Galvis is 4-for-12 with a home run and a 1.083 slugging percentage against Dickey.
• Blue Jays right fielder Jose Bautista (right thigh) missed his third consecutive game on Sunday but is expected to return as the designated hitter for Monday's opener.
• Expect Josh Thole to get the start behind the dish for the second time in three games on Monday. The 29-year-old is Dickey's personal catcher. Thole enters Monday with one hit in 30 at-bats since the end of April.

NEXT GAME:

After completing a four-game set against the American League East-leading Orioles, the Blue Jays welcome the Phillies to town as they begin a home-and-home series on Monday night at Rogers Centre. R.A. Dickey (4-6, 4.15 ERA) will get the ball for the Blue Jays in the opener, as he looks for his third straight victory. The knuckleballer battled his last time out against the Tigers, going 5 1/3 innings while limiting Detroit to two runs in a 7-2 victory. Dickey has plenty of experience pitching against the Phillies thanks to his time with the Mets, and carries a 5-4 record with a 3.03 ERA in 12 starts against Philadelphia. On the opposite end, Jerad Eickhoff takes the mound for the Phillies following a stellar outing in which he held the high-octane Cubs to one run over seven innings. Eickhoff has pitched much better than his record indicates, with eight quality starts in 12 outings this season. On the season, Eickhoff has a 3.68 ERA and an impressive 1.17 WHIP. Ryan Howard, who has lost playing time lately to Joseph, will likely DH. The Evansville, Ind., native will be making his first career appearance against Toronto. The Blue Jays are 27-20 all-time against the Phillies and have gone 9-2 against them since the start of the 2012 season.

PHILS PHACTS:

Pivotal Replay – When Jeanmar Gomez got Bryce Harper to ground weakly to the right side with one out in the ninth, it appeared the Phillies had cleared their biggest hurdle en route to a victory. But Cesar Hernandez's throw was high, Tommy Joseph's foot landed in the wrong place, and Harper beat out a controversial infield hit. The Nationals then scored two runs for a walk-off win, 5-4. Harper's hit drew Hernandez to his left, and though the second baseman gathered the ball without difficulty, his throw sailed slightly high. Joseph jumped for the ball and came down beside first base, then, fearing he wasn't making contact with the bag, stuck his foot backward. He missed the bag with that lunge, and Harper was called safe. The Phillies challenged the call, but a replay review upheld it. Phillies manager Pete Mackanin speculated that Joseph's second effort might have cost the Phillies. "I believe, from what I saw on the replays, if he didn't go back with his foot, I believe they would've called [Harper] out," Mackanin said. "If the side of his foot was touching the base, he was definitely out, but he went back, it's like when a guy tags a guy but then goes back to tag him even though he tagged him the first time, it looks like he didn't." Joseph drew a different conclusion from watching the same replay on the center-field video board. "I think they got the call right," the first baseman said. "I wasn't sure. It was too close. I couldn't feel it. Obviously if I couldn't feel it, that's why I went back." Danny Espinosa followed with a single, and after a Ben Revere lineout, Gomez walked Clint Robinson to load the bases. That brought up Werth, who poked a 2-2 fastball up the middle for a walk-off single. The rally might not have occurred if Hernandez and Joseph could have converted Harper's grounder. Joseph is relatively inexperienced at first base, having begun playing there regularly last season after spending most of his Minor League career behind the plate. Of course, the play would have been difficult for any first baseman, given the high throw. Harper was credited with a hit on the play, but it could have been ruled an E-4. "Cesar, I'm sure, feels worse than anybody here," Mackanin said. "It's a shame, but we can't afford to make mistakes. We've got to make clean plays to win."

Today In Phils History – There are a couple of interesting games that occurred on this day beginning in 1918 when the Phillies and St. Louis, tied at 8, proceeded to enter a pitching duel that would last until the 19^th inning when the game was called a tie. In 1945, the Phillies lost the first game of a double header to Boston seemingly securing their 16^th consecutive loss which was later nullified when they won a suspended game from earlier in the month when it was concluded in July. Lastly, it was 9 year ago today when Kyle Kendrick made his major league debut with the Phillies.

THE BEGINNING:

The Phillies are currently 29-34 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 48-49-2 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!