And Now Back To Our Regularly Scheduled Season…

GAME RECAP: Yanks Spank Phils 10-2

In his first big league start of 2015, Ivan Nova led the Yankees to a win in the series finale with a standout performance Wednesday afternoon at Yankee Stadium. He helped the Yankees beat the Phillies, 10-2, to avoid being swept by the team with the worst record in baseball. Nova made his season debut following more than a year of rehab after Tommy John surgery in April 2014. It looked like he never left. He allowed three hits, two walks and struck out one in 6 2/3 scoreless innings. Phillies ace Cole Hamels did not fare nearly as well. He allowed eight hits, five runs, three walks and hit a batter in just five innings. He has been a focus of trade speculation for more than a year, but Hamels said he isn't thinking about it. "I could think of something really funny to say to that, but I'd rather just be truthful with you," Hamels said. "No, I really don't [think about it]. I've got to pitch every five days. I'm just trying to stay healthy and just try to put up good results for this team. Trying to be accountable. Ultimately when I've been here from the moment I came up here in '06 and throughout my career, just trying to do everything I possibly can and know if I had a good game or bad game I know I could do more and try to figure out the best way to get better. I think that's all I really focus on." After sitting the first two games of the series due to a stiff neck, Mark Teixeira went 3-for-5 with two RBIs for the Yanks.

OTHER NOTES FROM THE DAY:

• Hamels has had better days. He was not sharp in five innings, but he got no help from the defense or offense as he dropped to 5-6 with a 3.26 ERA. It was the seventh time in 15 starts this season the Phillies had not scored a run for him while he was in the game. Hamels' performance should not deter contending teams from trying to acquire him before the July 31 non-waiver Trade Deadline.
• The Phillies could not field a bunt in front of the plate and catcher Carlos Ruiz could not handle a one-hopper from third baseman Andres Blanco, which led to the Yankees scoring two runs in the second inning. Shortstop Freddy Galvis then lost a ball in the sun and a ball tipped third base and over Blanco's glove in the fourth, with the Yanks scoring three runs in the frame. "There was some miscommunication there as soon as the ball hit the ground," Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg said about the bunt in the second. "It looked like one of them could've caught that in the air. I thought Blanco made a good play on trying to go home on the throw, just a heads-up play, threw it wild. Just things didn't go [Hamels'] way."
• Right-hander Phillippe Aumont had been the only remaining player from the Cliff Lee trade with the Mariners in December 2009, but he elected free agency Wednesday. The Phillies designated him for assignment following Friday's start against the Cardinals. Aumont, 26, is 1-6 with a 6.80 ERA in 46 appearances over four seasons with the Phillies. The Phillies previously let right-hander J.C. Ramirez and outfielder Tyson Gillies walk away.
• Phillies starting pitchers have thrown fewer than six innings 35 times in 74 games (47.3 percent) this season. That ties Colorado for the most in the National League. Only the Rays have had more starts like that with 37.
• June has not been Harang's month. In just four starts, he's seen his ERA rise from 2.02 to 3.41 after allowing 20 earned runs in 23 2/3 innings. He has yet to make a quality start this month after doing so in 10 of his first 11 starts this season.
• In 22 at-bats, Bryce Harper has hit .455 against Harang, including a home run on April 18.
• Scherzer has been dominant against the Phillies in his career, holding a 2.25 ERA in five starts against the club. Of the Phillies with at least 10 career at-bats against Scherzer, only Ben Revere has an average over .300 against him.

NEXT GAME:

On the heels of consecutive shutouts, including a no-hitter in his last outing, Max Scherzer will hope for more of the same as the Nationals start a three-game series with the Phillies on Friday. Aaron Harang will take the mound for Philadelphia. Scherzer threw a one-hit shutout against Milwaukee on June 14, and he followed that with a no-hitter against the Pirates on Saturday, when the only baserunner he allowed came on a hit-by-pitch with two outs in the ninth inning. He struck out 26 batters and walked just one in those starts. On the season, Scherzer is 8-5 with a 1.76 ERA. No Major League pitcher has thrown back-to-back no-hitters besides Cincinnati's Johnny Vander Meer, who accomplished the feat in 1938. Harang holds a 4-9 record with a 3.41 ERA this season. He's tied for the Major League lead in losses, a tally that hasn't been helped by the Phillies' struggling offense. He'll hope to get some run support to avoid ending a seventh consecutive start with a loss.

PHILS PHACTS:

Rupp Finally Goes Deep – OK, now that that is finished. Phillies catcher Cameron Rupp hit a home run to left-center field in the fourth inning of Tuesday night's 11-6 victory over the Yankees at Yankee Stadium. Rupp savored the moment because it was the first homer of his big league career. "It took a little longer than expected," Rupp said. It took him 173 plate appearances, but he is hopeful for more in the future. Rupp had started six of the last 10 games behind the plate, and 10 of the last 19. He is hitting .261 (23-for-88) with four doubles, one triple, one home run, six RBIs and a .690 OPS this season. Carlos Ruiz, who started Wednesday's series finale against the Yankees, entered the game hitting .227 (37-for-163) with six doubles, 11 RBIs and a .560 OPS. "I'm confident at the plate and behind the plate," Rupp said. Rupp's home run ball landed in the visitors' bullpen, but he still has not received the memento from his teammates. "They're probably hiding it," Rupp said.

Putting In The Effort – Cole Hamels' time with the Phillies might be short, but he still cares. He threw up his arms in frustration and barked a few words in the direction of the Phillies' dugout in the fifth inning Wednesday afternoon during a 10-2 loss to the Yankees at Yankee Stadium. Hamels thought he had a groundout, but with Phillies second baseman Cesar Hernandez positioned almost directly behind second base, the ball hit by John Ryan Murphy rolled through the infield for a base hit. "I think there was just some miscommunication from what we talked about before the game and kind of [what] my pitching style is," Hamels said. Could Hamels be pitching elsewhere in the near future? If the Phillies get what they want, yes. They are reportedly trying to deal him before the July 31 non-waiver Trade Deadline, but so far have not found a team willing to meet their price. Hamels is used to the incessant questions and speculation by now. "It's just kind of normal, going on 12 months," Hamels said. "It's kind of not even the focus right now. I think I'm trying to do everything I can for this team, especially some of the young guys that we have, trying to be somebody with a lot of information and a lot of experience. If they have questions, and to show them the type of work ethic it takes to be successful up here. I think that's kind of the only thought I've really had. That's what I take day in and day out." Hamels returned to the mound Wednesday after missing Friday night's start against the Cardinals because of tightness in his right hamstring. He had a chance to help the Phillies sweep the Yankees after the Phillies scored 11 runs each of the previous two nights, but he was not sharp. He allowed eight hits, five runs, three walks and hit one batter in five innings. He also got no help from the offense or defense. It was the seventh time in 15 starts this season the Phillies did not score a run for Hamels while he was in the game. The offense has been held scoreless in 32 of his last 33 innings on the mound. The defense also let him down multiple times. Carlos Ruiz could not field Didi Gregorius' bunt in front of the plate in the second inning which loaded the bases. Jose Pirela then hit a chopper to Phillies third baseman Andres Blanco, who barehanded the ball and threw home. The ball bounced in front of Ruiz, but it deflected off his glove to allow two runs to score. Freddy Galvis then lost a ball in the sun in the fourth inning, which fell for a double by Gregorius, who scored on a single by Brett Gardner. Chase Headley followed with a run-scoring double, with the ball grazing third base and getting past Blanco. "I felt pretty good," Hamels said. "I think maybe things were a little too sharp than what I was expecting, pitches were breaking too much. You kind of have to find that middle ground."

Have The Phillies Found Gillick’s Replacement? – The Phillies are expected to announce in the next week that longtime baseball executive Andy MacPhail has accepted a prominent role with the organization. CBSSports.com reported Wednesday afternoon that MacPhail will be hired "to lead their operations soon." Phillies president Pat Gillick declined comment twice this week about MacPhail, including Wednesday, but multiple sources told MLB.com that MacPhail will be joining the Phillies shortly. The club has not confirmed the move. Gillick, 77, replaced David Montgomery as team president in August 2014, but he had not been expected to remain in the role for long. MacPhail's name emerged more than a week ago in a CSNPhilly.com report. MacPhail, 62, has a long history as a baseball executive. He served as Minnesota's general manager when the Twins won the 1987 and '91 World Series. He helped the Cubs to two postseason appearances from 1994-2006. He then served five seasons as Baltimore's president of baseball operations, making some of the trades that helped the Orioles return to the postseason. The timing of MacPhail's arrival is critical with the Phillies rebuilding and reportedly trying to trade veterans Cole Hamels, Jonathan Papelbon, Aaron Harang and others before the July 31 non-waiver Trade Deadline. The Phillies also need to determine the fate of Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr., whose contract expires at the end of the season, and the rest of the front office. They also must decide if they want Ryne Sandberg moving forward as their manager. Sandberg's contract expires after the 2016 season. MacPhail likely will replace Gillick as president and use the foreseeable future to evaluate the baseball-operations staff. It remains to be seen if MacPhail will bring anybody with him, either immediately or down the road. One source mentioned Angels assistant general manager Matt Klentak, 34, as a possibility to join the organization in the future. MacPhail hired Klentak as Orioles director of baseball operations in 2008, making him one of the youngest executives in baseball.

THE BEGINNING:

The Phillies are starting the season as expected and are now at the bottom of the NL east at 26-48. Given the departures, aging stars, injuries, and performance so far this season, this could end up being the worst team in franchise history! All time, the Phillies are 55-61-0 on this day.

Phillies Prove To Be Bird Food

GAME RECAP: Cards Clobber Phils 10-1

The Cardinals and Phillies have held true to form in the first two games of their three-game series this weekend at Citizens Bank Park. The Cardinals, who have the best record in baseball, beat the Phillies on Saturday night, 10-1, to take the first two games of the series. Randal Grichuk led the offense with two home runs, including a three-run, tie-breaking shot in the sixth and a solo homer in the ninth. "I'm seeing good at-bats," Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said. "That's characteristic of our club of the past, just grinding when we need at-bats and not giving anything away. That's something that we take a lot of pride in and the competition of each and every pitch." John Lackey made easy work of a Phillies offense that is last in Major League Baseball in scoring. The Phillies, who have the worst record in baseball, managed their only run in the second inning when Cody Asche homered. They have lost 11 of their last 12 games and 23 of their last 28. "We've got to do what we can do and not worry about what's going on around us," said Phillies right-hander Aaron Harang, asked if the frequent losing could result in changes. "We've just got to stick together. We don't want to start pointing fingers because then you get a clubhouse that just separates and you don't want that. Because that's when it gets really bad."

OTHER NOTES FROM THE DAY:

• Harang carried a 1-1 tie into the sixth inning when he allowed back-to-back singles to Jason Heyward and Yadier Molina. But that 2-1 fastball over the heart of the plate to Grichuk sunk him. Harang has a 7.61 ERA in his last four starts.\
• Asche hit his third home run of the season and his first since April 22, while Utley went 1-for-4, including fly outs in the fourth and sixth innings. Since Utley's batting average reached a season-high .207 on June 2, he has hit just .100 (5-for-50) with one double and three RBIs. "I would say so," Asche said, asked if the team feels beat up after being outscored 48-14 in their last five games. "A couple of our last losses, those hit you hard. They're not fun games to be a part of."
• "That's why they're in first place. That's why they have the best record in the league. They do the little things. They do the hit-and-runs. They move runners over. The defense is there. The pitchers make pitches when they need to. They're going on all cylinders and they're all working at the same time." -- Harang, on the Cardinals outscoring the Phillies 22-5 in two games.

NEXT GAME:

Left-hander Adam Morgan will make his big league debut in Sunday's series finale at 1:35 p.m. ET. The Phillies picked Morgan in the third round of the 2011 Draft, and he had been on a fast track to the big leagues before he suffered a left shoulder injury in May 2013. Morgan did not have great numbers in Triple-A Lehigh Valley (0-6, 4.74 ERA in 13 starts), but he had a 2.51 ERA in his last three outings. Michael Wacha will take the mound for the Cardinals on Sunday, putting his 9-2 record on the line in a 12:35 p.m. CT start. It will be the second time the right-hander faces the Phillies this year after a win he earned on April 28. Wacha has been stellar on the road this year as his ERA away from St. Louis is 2.02 and he is 6-1 in eight starts.

PHILS PHACTS:

One Pitch – Aaron Harang still figures to be an intriguing trade chip come the July 31 Trade Deadline. He is 4-9 in 15 starts this season, but he has a solid 3.41 ERA following Saturday's 10-1 loss to the Cardinals at Citizens Bank Park. He also has a little more than half of a one-year, $5 million contract on the books, which is a bargain for contending teams not looking to invest big money (and big risk) into a pitcher for a postseason push. Can't afford Cole Hamels? Harang could be the guy. Of course, Harang has a 7.61 ERA (20 earned runs in 23 2/3 innings) in his last four starts, which might alarm some teams. But Harang chalked up the struggles in the first two starts of this four-start stretch to facing a hot Reds lineup twice. The last two? Two pitches in two games that amounted to a pair of three-run home runs: a three-run homer to Baltimore's Matt Wieters on Monday and a three-run home run to St. Louis' Randal Grichuk on Saturday night. Before those homers, in his last two games Harang had allowed two runs in 10 innings. "I'm trying to make too perfect a pitch in that situation," Harang said about the at-bat against Grichuk. "Literally, it's two pitches. You have two pitches back or you have no runners on in that situation and it's totally different. It's frustrating, but it's part of the game." But teams will remain interested in Harang. There were plenty of scouts at the ballpark Saturday, many of them keeping their eyes on Harang. In fact, there is almost no reason to think Harang will not be traded before the Trade Deadline. Why wouldn't he? He has value and he can help the Phillies' rebuilding effort. He won't get a haul like Hamels, but he could net the Phillies something.

Up And Down Seasons Continue – The Phillies purposely put Cody Asche's locker next to Chase Utley's upon his big league arrival in 2013. They wanted Asche to soak up Utley's experience and knowledge like a sponge. But while they are kindred spirits in many ways, they both have had their share of struggles this season. Asche homered in the second inning in Saturday night's 10-1 loss to the Cardinals at Citizens Bank Park. It was his third home run of the season and first since April 22. Asche is hitting .227 with seven doubles, one triple, three home runs, seven RBIs and a .593 OPS in 186 plate appearances. His season included a trip to Triple-A Lehigh Valley, where he learned to play left field. "It's not what I expect out of myself, not what I know that I have in me," Asche said. "That gets frustrating at times. I'm not a .230 hitter, I know that. I'm not going to be. It's just a thing you've got to keep working through. Hopefully they keep trusting me and trusting in my ability. Hopefully tonight is a step in the right direction." Utley went 1-for-4, flying out twice and singling to left field in the eighth inning. Since Utley's batting average reached a season-high .207 on June 2, he has hit .100 (5-for-50) with one double, three RBIs and a .306 OPS. Utley finished the night hitting .182. According to Stats Pass, only two hitters in baseball history have hit less than .182 with 500 or more plate appearances in a season: Rob Deer, who hit .179 with the 1991 Tigers; and Dan Uggla, who hit .179 with the 2013 Braves. More important, Utley finished the night with 244 plate appearances, meaning he needs only 256 more plate appearances in the season's final 92 games to automatically vest a $15 million club option for next season. "Just out in front of pitches, hitting fly balls," Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg said about Utley's night at the plate. "It wasn't the best night for a lot of our offensive guys. But for Chase, he was just in the air a lot tonight."

“Oh No” Sent Back Down – Phillippe Aumont is not sure if he has a future with the Phillies, but he sounded hopeful Saturday he will. He got designated for assignment Saturday, after he allowed five hits, six runs, seven walks, two home runs, one wild pitch and threw behind one batter in four innings in Friday's 12-4 loss to the Cardinals. He threw 104 pitches, but just 56 for strikes. The Phillies selected the contract of Triple-A right-hander Seth Rosin to take his place on the roster. "I have no objection to going back to [Triple-A] Lehigh Valley and staying with this organization," Aumont said. "If they feel they want to keep me and want to keep working with me, I don't see any [reason] to go anywhere else. A change of scenery can be an excuse, I think." Aumont, 26, is 1-6 with a 6.80 ERA in 46 appearances over four seasons with the Phillies. His inability to consistently throw strikes has been an issue, but Aumont said his struggles are a mental block more than anything else. "Am I ever going to figure it out?" he said. "Maybe. Sometimes it's there. Sometimes it's not there. It's more so figuring out why are there days when I can just dominate the world and the next day a Little Leaguer would absolutely beat my [butt.] It's between the ears, just making sure the confidence is still there and being able to work it out." If Aumont clears waivers, the Phillies could outright him to Triple-A. Lehigh Valley's game notes had Aumont listed as Thursday's starter. In the meantime, Aumont planned to drive seven hours to his home in Ottawa, Canada, to decompress, spend time with family and friends and await his fate. Aumont is the only remaining piece from the Phillies' Cliff Lee trade with Seattle in Dec. 2009, but he does not think a fresh start elsewhere would help him flip a switch and fulfill his potential. "It doesn't matter where you are or what team you're on," Aumont said. "You've just got to do it. These guys do it. I know the season isn't going so well, but they still go out there and battle. I think it's more so myself. The bottom line is you have to be mentally strong and physically strong."

Fatherly Intuition – Glenn Giles never played baseball, but he might make a pretty good scout. The father of Phillies relief pitcher Ken Giles, Glenn was the person who recognized his son's talent for baseball and encouraged him to pursue it. But here's the kicker: Glenn saw this talent before his son was even in preschool. "He never played baseball, so it was just one of those things like a freak of nature," Ken Giles said. "He saw talent and he was like 'This is what he's going to do.' I was probably like an infant and I was throwing a ball and stuff at almost like two years old." The elder Giles was correct in thinking baseball is what his son would end up doing, and Sunday he will get the chance to see this firsthand. The Phillies are flying Glenn into Philadelphia for the series finale against the Cardinals to represent all of the Phillies' fathers on Father's Day. Ken said this has been in the works for a few weeks. The Phillies asked him if he thought his father would be willing to be the liaison, and Ken said knowing his father that wouldn't even be a question. "My dad jumps all over those kind of opportunities, so of course he was going to say yes," Ken said. Ken went on to say that his father watches every Phillies game he can on television and even traveled to Denver to see him pitch in May. Despite this, he said his father doesn't brag about him so much as people brag to him about how proud he should be to have a son in the Major Leagues. Glenn will be staying with Ken this weekend and will be introduced before Sunday's game around the time of the first pitch. And though he has time to spend with his dad on Father's Day, Giles said the one thing he wants to do for his dad will come on the field. "Just pitch well in front of him," Giles said. "That's all I can ask for."

While The Phils Are Away… - For all eight of Saturday's Philadelphia-based MLB Pitch, Hit and Run presented by Scotts winners, getting to play on and being honored on the field at Citizens Bank Park is an achievement hard to quantify with words. But for one of the eight winners, 11-12-year-old boys' champion, Josh Nielsen, being able to be on the field was a culmination of the reason he fell in love with baseball. When Nielsen was 6 years old, his uncle took him to a game at Citizens Bank Park where the Phillies were hosting the Cardinals. He had no interest in the game at that time, but after that he decided baseball was the sport he wanted to play. So, just hours after beating out his competition in the 11-12-year-old age group, Nielsen was honored on the field. His uncle was in attendance again. And the Phillies are playing the Cardinals again. "Words can't describe this," he said. In addition to Nielsen, seven other children were honored before the game. They were, from youngest to oldest, Amelia Atkins, Ty Kaunas, Maysen Fisher, Bronson Kilmer, Abby Tobelmann, Anastasia Rodites and Mike Gorman. A majority of the winners picked the running portion of the event as their favorite part with two of the girls boasting their times. Atkins, the youngest of the female competitors, was able to complete the run in 9.82 seconds, while Rodites, the oldest, posted a time of 8.23 seconds. Two of the eight, however, listed hitting as their favorite part and just one picked pitching as their passion. Though neither of the offensively-inclined winners boasted they were able to hit a ball over the Citizens Bank Park fence, they both were secure in the fact that they can hit home runs in parks engineered with dimensions more fitting of their age. Tobelmann was one of the kids who favored hitting and one of the few who claimed she wasn't nervous to be out on the field where the big leaguers play since she had competed in this event a year ago. "I'm used to it," she said. The eight winners now await the scores from the other competitions to see whether or not they advance to the national finals in Cincinnati in advance of the All-Star Game in July. And though no individual kid was quick to predict themselves as the national favorite, they all used one word to describe their outlooks: confident. As for Nielsen, the ability to play on the field where his childhood idols Chase Utley and Jimmy Rollins made their home for so long was even cooler than winning. As happy as he was to win, just stepping on the field was the real prize.

THE BEGINNING:

The Phillies are starting the season as expected and are now at the bottom of the NL east at 23-47. Given the departures, aging stars, injuries, and performance this spring, don’t expect their competitive place in the standings to last. All time, the Phillies are 44-51-0 on this day.

Things Got A Little Squirrelly (Again) Last Night

GAME RECAP: Cards Crush Phils 12-4

The best team in baseball played the worst team in baseball Friday night at Citizens Bank Park, and the final score reflected as much. The Cardinals (44-23) hit three home runs on their way to a 12-4 victory over the Phillies (23-46). Yadier Molina and Kolten Wong each hit two-run home runs in the second inning against Phillies right-hander Phillippe Aumont, who walked seven and lasted just four innings in his season debut and first Major League start. The scoring continued from there for St. Louis. "We catch some heat sometimes when we can't put up the big offensive numbers," Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said. "But you know with a lineup like this it's going to happen. Are you going to be able to throw up 12 every night? No. But it's in there." The Phillies have lost 10 of their last 11 games and 22 of their last 27. "Tough," Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg said. "Tough game. You know, not much going right out there tonight. Fell behind early, and with not swinging the bats, it's a tough combination. Yeah, right from the get-go it was a tough game."

OTHER NOTES FROM THE DAY:

• Aumont simply could not find the strike zone, which has been an issue most of his career. He threw 104 pitches, and only 56 were strikes. He not only walked seven, but he also threw a wild pitch and threw behind Jon Jay in the second inning. "It was just a constant battle a little bit with myself," Aumont said. "That's what it's been my whole career. Just me, myself and I out there battling. Nobody else. Because when I execute my pitches, I get these guys out down there and up here. Just keep your chest high and keep working at it. The mental part is a big part of the game, and you've got to be strong at it."
• Howard always hits Cardinals pitching well, and his good fortune continued in the fifth inning with his three-run home run to right field. Howard has more home runs (21) and RBIs (64) against the Cardinals than against any other non-NL East team.
• Remember the squirrel that appeared at home plate in Game 4 of the 2011 National League Division Series between the Cardinals and Phillies at Busch Stadium? Cards fans turned it into their good-luck charm in their team's run to the World Series title. Another squirrel appeared in the top of the second inning Friday, crawling up the backstop behind home plate before trying to run across the wire down the right-field line. Except the squirrel slipped and fell a long way onto the Phillies' dugout and then jumped into the dugout, prompting players to scatter.
• Phillies starting pitchers have not earned a win in 24 consecutive games, which is a new franchise record. They set the previous record at 23 games from July 29-Aug. 20, 1961. The Phillies are 4-20 in their current stretch. The '61 Phillies went 0-23 in theirs.
• "Going forward, we're going to need some starting pitching to help us out so our bullpen guys who are quality bullpen pieces don't get abused out there." -- Sandberg, when asked about the organization's plan to bring No.2 prospect Aaron Nola along slowly. Sandberg then said he understood the strategy about being careful with young pitchers.

NEXT GAME:

Right-hander Aaron Harang starts Saturday night's 7:05 ET game. Harang has pitched much better than his 4-8 record indicates, but he has struggled recently with a pair of losses to Cincinnati and a loss earlier this week to Baltimore. John Lackey makes his 14th start of the season Saturday at 6:05 p.m. CT vs. the Phillies, trying to improve upon his 0-3 record with a 6.27 ERA as the visiting pitcher in 2015. He has been one of the most efficient pitchers in the NL this year, averaging 14.3 pitches per inning, the second fewest in the league.

PHILS PHACTS:

Battle On The Mound – It would have been a heck of a story if Phillippe Aumont had dominated the Cardinals in his 2015 debut. But this season has been anything but storybook for the Phillies. Making his first Major League start, Aumont buried the Phillies quickly in Friday's 12-4 loss at Citizens Bank Park. He allowed five hits, six runs, two home runs, walked seven, threw one wild pitch and threw behind one batter in four innings. He struck out three. He threw 104 pitches, just 56 for strikes. "I don't give up," Aumont said. "I'll keep working. I know I can do it. I've done it plenty of times." Aumont joined the Phillies in December 2009 as part of the Cliff Lee trade with Seattle. The Phillies moved him from the bullpen to the rotation the following spring, but after struggling as a starter in the Minors, he returned to the bullpen. He remained there, pitching sparingly in relief for the Phillies from 2012-14, but constant struggles with his command put him on thin ice entering Spring Training this year. He cleared waivers in March, and the Phillies outrighted him to Triple-A Lehigh Valley. A short time later, Aumont returned to the rotation. He enjoyed some success early, but his struggles throwing strikes returned. He walked 25 batters in 26 innings in his last five starts before the Phillies called him up to replace Cole Hamels, who missed Friday's start because of tightness in his right hamstring. Hamels said Friday he will make his next scheduled start Wednesday against the Yankees in New York. Yadier Molina and Kolten Wong each hit two-run home runs against Aumont in the second, when he walked two batters. He walked two more in a scoreless third and two more in the fourth, when he allowed two more runs. "It's more so mentally," Aumont said about his struggles. "It's just mentally, blockage. You start getting in those situations, and you start nitpicking a little bit. Not doubting, but ... it has to be between the ears. I've done it plenty of times physically. It's frustrating to just be in that position, fighting it. "It was just a constant battle a little bit with myself. That's what it's been my whole career. Just me, myself and I out there battling. Nobody else. Because when I execute my pitches I get these guys out down there and up here. Just keep your chest high and keep working at it. The mental part is a big part of the game, and you've got to be strong at it." Right-hander Justin De Fratus replaced Aumont in the fifth. He allowed eight hits and six runs in two innings. He threw 58 pitches. The Phillies' bullpen has pitched 20 1/3 innings in the last four games. "That's a challenge, keeping the bullpen intact," Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg said.

Balance In The Middle Infield – Over the past 14 games, Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg has started catchers Carlos Ruiz and Cameron Rupp evenly. It makes sense. Ruiz's .573 OPS is 21st among 23 qualified catchers in baseball. Rupp's is .636. Could the same thing finally happen at second base with Chase Utley and Cesar Hernandez? Hernandez started at second base in Friday night's series opener against the Cardinals at Citizens Bank Park. He has started four of the last 13 games at second base, leading the team with a .328 on-base percentage over that span, and has a .631 OPS overall. Utley's .539 OPS is the lowest of 166 qualified hitters in baseball. The Phillies would like to see Hernandez play more, so they can determine if he is an option at second base going forward. Utley, meanwhile, has a $15 million option for 2016 that automatically vests if he reaches 500 plate appearances. He has 240. There is no question the Phillies prefer not to pay it, if Utley continues at his current pace. "I'm just taking that day to day," Sandberg said about second base. "I keep kind of waiting for Chase to hit a streak and really get it going in the other direction. To do that, you need a good series, a good week of at-bats. I'm kind of caught in between there. Cesar can also get in some games, possibly at shortstop, but I'm trying to do my best to get him in there. "I know Chase is working on some things. To give him the opportunity to get hot would be a plus for him, and to get playing time for Cesar would be a plus for Cesar."

Not Again – On a chilly night in October 2011, the Phillies and Cardinals squared off in a classic NLDS game. Roy Oswalt was on the hill for the visiting Phils and was handed a two-run lead before he ever had to take the mound. But in the later innings ... things took a turn. A squirrel ran across home plate as Oswalt was set to deliver a pitch to Skip Schumaker. The umpire called it a ball, despite pleas from Oswalt and then-manager Charlie Manuel for a "no-pitch." The Cardinals went on to win Game 4 ... and Game 5 ... and then the NLCS ... and eventually the World Series. This Rally Squirrel thing had legs. Fast forward to Friday night. Yadier Molina and the Cardinals have the best record and baseball and are visiting the Phillies (who don't). But, it would seem that the Cards didn't want to take any chances because they brought the Rally Squirrel with them. The Cards were already up 4-0 in the top of the second inning when the squirrel began to scale the net behind home plate. Eventually, it fell onto the top of the home dugout before throwing itself into a host of players. "When I saw it in my face I just brushed it away," said Phillies outfielder Odubel Herrera, who was near where the squirrel jumped into the dugout. Suddenly it was 11-0. Just like that. Things eventually calmed down and the Cardinals never looked back, but Phillies fans will probably be seeing that squirrel in their nightmares for the next few days.

THE BEGINNING:

The Phillies are starting the season as expected and are now at the bottom of the NL east at 23-46. Given the departures, aging stars, injuries, and performance this spring, don’t expect their competitive place in the standings to last. All time, the Phillies are 61-51-0 on this day.

Howard’s Blast Snaps Streak

GAME RECAP: Phillies Shock Orioles 2-1

The Phillies snapped a nine-game losing streak Thursday afternoon with a 2-1 victory over the Orioles at Citizens Bank Park. They can thank Ryan Howard, who hit a two-run home run in the sixth inning off Bud Norris, and a strong performance from the pitching staff for snapping the team's longest skid since an 11-game losing streak in September 1999. "I mean, nobody comes to the field every day to lose," Howard said. "Everybody comes with a positive attitude. We're trying to go out there and do what we need to do to win and we haven't been able to come through. Today, take it, savor it and try to bring it back and do it again tomorrow." The Orioles took three of four from the Phillies in this week's home-and-home series, but could not complete the sweep. They scored 29 runs in the first three games, which included a 19-3 victory Tuesday, but they managed just six hits in the finale.

OTHER NOTES FROM THE DAY:

• The Phillies have been desperate for offense lately, and Howard provided just enough when he ripped a two-run home run to right field to give the Phillies a one-run lead and hand Norris the loss. It was Howard's 12th home run and just his second since May 23.
• Chase Utley could've started a potential inning-ending double play, but he threw a ball into left field with one out in the seventh. It put runners at the corners with one out, but Garcia struck out Machado and Snider swinging on sliders to get out of the inning.
• Teams regularly employ the defensive shift against Howard, but so far, he has not tried to drop a bunt down the third-base line to keep defenses honest. "That's an individual player thing and it takes some practice and maybe in Ryan's case. a little bit of nerve to try something like that," Sandberg said. "I think the fact that he has not tried it is the biggest thing holding him back from trying. ... I haven't seen him work on that, no. I was glad that he did hit the ball out of the ballpark, though."
• "It's been tough. Every time I get a chance to come in there and get back on the right foot, I'm pretty happy with that." -- Phillies closer Jonathan Papelbon, who picked up his 13th save in just his second save opportunity since May 20.
• The Phillies avoided being swept in four consecutive series of two or more games for the first time since Sept. 20-29, 1985.
• Philadelphia edged Baltimore, 2-1, on Thursday, halting its losing streak at nine. The Phillies had been swept in four straight series and hadn't won since June 7.
• The Phils will need to make a corresponding roster move before Friday's game to add Aumont. The righty pitched in five games for Philadelphia last season and had a 19.06 ERA in 5 2/3 innings. This year, he's 3-4 with a 2.35 ERA at Triple-A.
• The Cards won three of four games against the Phillies in late April. St. Louis scored 26 runs in the series at Busch Stadium.

NEXT GAME:

Two teams heading in opposite directions clash this weekend in Philadelphia as the National League Central-leading Cardinals continue their eight-game road trip against the Phillies, who are fifth in the NL East. St. Louis manager Mike Matheny said righty Lance Lynn, who has a right forearm strain, has been playing catch and is expected to join the team in Philadelphia. Lynn was placed on the 15-day disabled list June 8. In Lynn's place, lefty Tyler Lyons will start Friday. Lyons picked up a win in his last start, giving up two earned runs in five innings. He had started three games earlier this season. Phillies ace lefty Cole Hamels was supposed to start Friday, but he was scratched with a mild right hamstring strain. In his place, righty Phillippe Aumont will be called up from Triple-A and get the nod.

PHILS PHACTS:

Howard Showing Power – The Orioles had bashed 12 home runs in 31 innings against the Phillies when Ryan Howard stepped into the batter's box in the bottom of the sixth inning Thursday afternoon at Citizens Bank Park. He returned the favor when he hit a two-out, two-run home run to right field to give the Phillies the lead in a 2-1 victory. It snapped the Phils' nine-game losing streak, which was their longest since an 11-game skid in September 1999. "I mean, nobody comes to the field every day to lose," Howard said. "Everybody comes with a positive attitude. We're trying to go out there and do what we need to do to win and we haven't been able to come through. Today, take it, savor it and try to bring it back and do it again tomorrow." Howard had hit .303 (33-for-109) with seven doubles, one triple, 10 home runs, 21 RBIs and a 1.011 OPS in 30 games from April 21 through May 23, but he had hit just .151 (11-for-73) with five doubles, one homer, five RBIs and a .442 OPS in 20 games since. So this home run felt good, especially considering the circumstances. "[Orioles pitcher Bud Norris] left a fastball kind of middle in and was able to catch up to it," Howard said. "Threw me one early in the count and then came back with it again. Was able to just catch up to it." Overall, Howard is hitting .236 with 15 doubles, one triple, 12 home runs, 30 RBIs with a .747 OPS. He could be traded before the July 31 non-waiver Trade Deadline, although it will be difficult because of one significant stumbling block: money. The Phillies would have to fork over the vast majority of the remaining money on Howard's deal to move him. That includes a little more than half of the $25 million remaining on his contract this season, $25 million next season, plus a $10 million buyout on a club option for 2017. "I mean, it's what the situation is," Howard said about the organization trying to rebuild for contention no earlier than 2017. "You've got to understand, I guess, what it is they're trying to do. You understand the situation you're in. But like I said, you've got to come with the mindset of being positive and just try to continue to go out and compete every single day."

Pulling Things Together – Chase Utley airmailed a ball into left field in the seventh inning Thursday at Citizens Bank Park, which looked like the opening the Orioles needed to send the Phillies to their 10th consecutive loss. Utley's error put runners at the corners with one out. Seven pitches, six sliders, all strikes. Game over. "That was game saving, the moment of the game," Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg said. "I was just throwing whatever Chooch [Carlos Ruiz] was calling," Garcia said. "He was calling slider, so I was throwing it. It was working, so why change it?" Garcia pitched in the middle of some fine pitching performances against the Orioles, who scored 29 runs in the three previous days against the Phillies. Sean O'Sullivan got things started, allowing four hits, one run, two walks and struck out a career-high seven in five innings. He threw just 80 pitches, but Sandberg decided O'Sullivan had done enough. "His most was 95 to 98 [pitches], third time through the lineup," Sandberg said, explaining his decision. "And also with the offense, we're a double and a single away from a run, so we took a chance." "I was lobbying to try and go back out, but that decision is not mine to make," O'Sullivan said. Jake Diekman and Ken Giles sandwiched Garcia's effort with scoreless innings and Jonathan Papelbon picked up his 13th save with a perfect ninth. It was just his second save opportunity since May 20. Papelbon is a candidate to be traded before the July 31 non-waiver Trade Deadline, although he said it is not on his mind. "When is it?" he said. "I don't know when it is. I don't really worry about none of that."

Hamels Scratched From Start – This isn't the news the Phillies needed. They announced Thursday afternoon that Cole Hamels has been scratched from Friday night's start against the Cardinals because of a mild right hamstring strain. Triple-A right-hander Phillippe Aumont will start in his place. Hamels is 5-5 with a 2.96 ERA in 14 starts this season, but his health is critical as the July 31 non-waiver Trade Deadline approaches. Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said Wednesday he is hopeful the Phillies can make some trades to speed up the team's rebuilding process. Hamels is the team's most valuable piece, so they must hope the injury does not linger and Hamels returns to the rotation shortly. A roster move will be made before Friday's game to accommodate Aumont on the 25-man and 40-man rosters.

Hamels Has Some Fun – Cole Hamels' locker at Citizens Bank Park has been completely cleaned out. A trade? No. A prank? Yes. The Phillies announced Thursday afternoon that Hamels has been scratched from Friday night's start against the Cardinals because of a mild right hamstring strain. Triple-A right-hander Phillippe Aumont will start in his place. Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg had few answers about the injury, other than Hamels told him that he does not believe it is serious and he might miss just one start. "He did not feel like it was a long term thing," said Sandberg, who left open the possibility about a stint on the disabled list. "The fact that it showed up 24 hours later [following a bullpen session Tuesday]. He said somewhat minimal." But knowing that he is a strong candidate to be traded before the July 31 Trade Deadline, the pitcher himself used his late scratch to empty his locker, removing his name plate and everything else. Typically, that would signify a trade, but Hamels obviously has not been traded. Not yet. Hamels is 5-5 with a 2.96 ERA in 14 starts, but his health is critical as the Deadline approaches. Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said Wednesday he is hopeful the Phillies can make some trades to speed up the team's rebuilding process. Hamels is the team's most valuable piece, so they must hope the injury does not linger and Hamels returns to the rotation shortly. A roster move will be made before Friday's game to accommodate Aumont on the 25-man and 40-man rosters.

Bullpen Swap – The Phillies are hoping to get much more from Jake Diekman this time around. The team announced Thursday morning it had recalled Diekman from Triple-A Lehigh Valley. To make room for him on the 25-man roster, the Phillies designated right-hander Dustin McGowan for assignment. The Phillies optioned Diekman on June 4 because he had struggled in 25 appearances, posting a 6.75 ERA, which remains the third-highest ERA among 142 qualified relief pitchers in baseball. However, Diekman threw seven scoreless innings in six appearances in Lehigh Valley. He allowed five hits, one walk and struck out seven. He also picked up three saves. McGowan became the first Phillies relief pitcher in baseball history to allow five home runs in an appearance, which happened Tuesday in a 19-3 loss in Baltimore. He posted a 6.94 ERA in 14 appearances.

Great Start – Aaron Nola has come a long way since a shaky season-opening start for the Double-A Reading Fightin Phils. On April 11, the Phillies' No. 2 prospect (No. 31 overall) gave up four earned runs in 4 2/3 innings and started his season with a 7.71 ERA. Afterwards, he buckled down and allowed only 12 earned runs in his next 72 innings. Nola went 7-2 over that span, posting a K/BB ratio of 57-to-9. Earlier this week, he was rewarded with a promotion to Triple-A Lehigh Valley and he quickly dispelled any thoughts of a rough start on Thursday night. The 22-year-old righty dominated Buffalo, giving up four hits while striking out seven in five shutout innings. Nola hurled 98 pitches on the night -- 66 for strikes -- and outpitched Blue Jays No. 1 prospect Daniel Norris, who allowed two runs in 5 1/3 innings. Darin Ruf, Cord Phelps and Jayson Nix all contributed one RBI in the IronPigs' 3-0 win.

THE BEGINNING:

The Phillies are starting the season as expected and are now at the bottom of the NL east at 23-45. Given the departures, aging stars, injuries, and performance this spring, don’t expect their competitive place in the standings to last. All time, the Phillies are 47-55-0 on this day.

Frenchy Turns Pirates Into Cannon Fodder

GAME RECAP: Phillies Edge Pirates 3-2

Teams should know not to run on Jeff Francoeur. With pinch-runner Steve Lombardozzi on third and one out in the ninth inning on Wednesday night at Citizens Bank Park, Pirates shortstop Jordy Mercer lifted a fly ball into foul territory down the right-field line. Francoeur caught the ball and came up throwing. Lombardozzi barrelled down the line, but the strong-armed Francoeur's throw beat the pinch-runner to the plate, ending the game and winning it for the Phillies, 3-2. "We're aware of the player. We're aware of the arm," Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said of Francoeur. "It's an aggressive play, a play we have a chance to score a run on. He's going to the wall, has to come off the wall to make the throw … he made an excellent throw." Phillies starting pitcher Cole Hamels went seven innings, allowing just two runs and five hits while striking out nine. Jonathan Papelbon recorded his seventh save of the season after throwing a scoreless ninth inning. The save was his 113th with the Phillies, which set the franchise record for career saves. "As an outfielder who likes to throw, you live for that kind of moment," Francoeur said. "Especially for Paps, it was a big one if we got it." The loss ended the Pirates' four-game winning streak, knocking the team back down to .500 at 17-17. The losing pitcher for the Pirates was Francisco Liriano, who allowed three runs and struck out six in seven innings of seven-hit baseball.

OTHER NOTES FROM THE DAY:

·         The Phillies held a moment of silence prior to the game in honor of the at least seven passengers who were killed in the Amtrak train that crashed in Philadelphia Tuesday night. The accident happened during Tuesday's game about 10 miles north of Citizens Bank Park. Both the Pennsylvania state flag and the flag of the city of Philadelphia were flown at half-mast Wednesday.

·         After seeing leads evaporate half an inning after earning them multiple times in the last week, the Phillies managed to build a response of their own in the fifth inning Wednesday night. Hamels allowed two runs in the fifth inning, only to see his offense pick him up in the bottom half to the tune of three runs. Liriano had retired the previous 10 Phillies he had faced prior to the inning, but allowed two singles and a double to start the home half of the inning. Carlos Ruiz, Ben Revere and Freddy Galvis provided the RBIs. "That was big coming right back," Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg said. "We strung four hits together. The guys came up big getting the hits together and put the three spot up there. Once again I think that played big for the rest of Cole's outing."

·         The Pirates had a run taken off the board in the fifth inning after what appeared to be an infield single for Starling Marte was overturned by instant replay. The replay showed that third baseman Cesar Hernandez's throw made it into Ryan Howard's glove barely before Marte's foot landed on the bag. The replay took about 34 seconds and ended a two-run fifth for the Pirates.

·         Hamels had thrown 108 pitches through six innings, but Sandberg chose to keep stand by his starter and throw him one more inning. Hamels proved his manager's thinking correct, setting down the Pirates on seven pitches in the seventh, all either ending in the strike zone or in play.

·         Hamels is 10-0 with a 2.30 ERA in 16 starts when the Phillies have scored three or more runs for him the past two seasons.

·         "Yeah, you know if there's one way to do it, that's the way to do it. Go out in an exciting way." -- Papelbon, on Francoeur's catch and throw to end game, giving Papelbon the franchise's saves record.

·         The Phillies will be looking to end a 10-month streak of not winning a Thursday game, as the Phillies are winless in their last seven Thursday outings and haven't won since a 6-5 victory over the Houston Astros last Aug. 7. Before this streak, the Phillies had won their last eight Thursday contests.

·         Philadelphia's afternoon air will be a welcoming experience for Pedro Alvarez, the Major League's leader in day-game home runs dating back to 2012 with 38. Alvarez has hit five home runs in 2015, four of which have come in the daytime.

·         The Pirates have won 14 of their last 18 series finales, including seven of 10 this season, while the Phillies are just 2-8 this season in the last game of a series.

NEXT GAME:

For the second time in three days, a former Phillies pitcher will return to Citizens Bank Park as the Pirates and Phillies round out their four-game set. Vance Worley will take the mound for the Pirates in just his second start back in Philadelphia after pitching 29 games at the ballpark in three years. Worley is 2-2 in 2015 with a 4.63 ERA in six starts for the Pirates and can attribute a lot of his struggles to his high batting average against, as he has allowed 41 hits in 35 innings. Going against Worley for the Phillies will be Aaron Harang, looking to continue his strong start to his Phillies career. Harang is just 3-3 on the season, but has been a hard-luck loser twice, having allowed one and two earned runs in two of those losses. Harang's 2.38 ERA and 1.015 WHIP are both best among Phillies starters.

PHILS PHACTS:

Papelbon Sets Record In Dramatic Fashion – Jonathan Papelbon sure loves drama. The only thing that might have topped the way he finished Wednesday night's 3-2 victory over the Pirates at Citizens Bank Park would have been if he entered the game wearing the pink Ric Flair robe that normally hangs in his locker. "Aw, man," Papelbon said afterward. "I don't even know what just happened." Papelbon earned a Phillies record 113th save in dramatic fashion. The Pirates had the tying run on third base with one out -- Papelbon's errant throw on a pickoff attempt sent Steve Lombardozzi from first to third -- when Jordy Mercer hit a fly ball down the right-field line. Phillies right fielder Jeff Francoeur caught the ball in foul territory and threw out Lombardozzi at the plate to end the game. "Yeah, you know if there's one way to do it, that's the way to do it," said Papelbon, who bumped Jose Mesa to second place on the franchise's all-time saves list. "Go out in an exciting way." Francoeur is known for his strong arm, but the Pirates essentially forced him to make a perfect throw. He did. "The only thing that made that a little tougher is that the wind kind of kept blowing it toward the railing over there," Franceour said. "So, I was trying to make sure I was there, but when I caught it I felt pretty good about my chances. "It felt real good. A long time ago here I let one go and threw it in the stands. I'm usually good for one of those a year, and I'm glad it wasn't tonight." Papelbon stashed a bottle of Johnnie Walker Blue Label in Francoeur's locker as a pretty fantastic thank you. "That's Blue Label," Francoeur said. "That's even better than a porterhouse." Francoeur earned it because Papelbon's accomplishment is pretty significant. He already is Boston's all-time saves leader (219), which makes him one of two pitchers in baseball history to lead two franchises in saves. Robb Nen is the other. He recorded 108 saves for the Marlins and 206 saves for the Giants. Papelbon is 12-10 with a 2.37 ERA and 113 saves in his Phillies career. He has performed as well as expected, but he also has had a rough go in Philadelphia. The Phillies have disappointed, and he has upset fans with some of his words off the field and some of his actions on it. But lately, Papelbon said he has been humbled by his pursuit of the saves record. "It means a lot to me, honestly it does," he said. "Like I've said before, I came here to try to win championships and you know, this organization, we're not in that realm of thinking, we're trying to do some other things. For me, it's an opportunity to keep on getting for work every day and trying to do the best I can in helping out these guys in the bullpen as much as I can. Just come in and have fun and despite the circumstances we're in, come here ready to work every day."

Replay Saves Lead – It took five innings Wednesday night for the Pirates to get on the scoreboard against Cole Hamels -- and only 34 seconds for their third run to be taken off the board. And that replay review decision will live forever in the National League standings, so to speak, because it presented the Phillies with their margin of victory in the 3-2 win over the Bucs. Philadelphia manager Ryne Sandberg's successful appeal of a fifth-inning play at first base resulted in a replay review reverting the Bucs' lead from 3-0 to 2-0. Seconds after Andrew McCutchen had given the Bucs a 2-0 lead with a bases-loaded single with two outs in the fifth inning, Starling Marte appeared to add to it with an infield hit. With Josh Harrison on third, Marte sent a dribbler to third baseman Cesar Hernandez, whose throw to first was ruled tardy by first-base umpire Dale Scott as Harrison scored. Pirates manager Clint Hurdle immediately braced for Sandberg's challenge. "He's going to challenge a call when a run is involved like that," Hurdle reasoned. "No, I didn't have a bad feeling. I just know they're going to get the call right," Hurdle added. "That's the nature of the game we're playing now. One way or another, they will get the call right." The review immediately was significant: The Phillies rallied in the bottom of the fifth for three runs against lefty Francisco Liriano, taking a 3-2 lead that held up.

Offense Comes Alive In Fifth – There was no doubt in Carlos Ruiz's mind. He was making it to second base. "I kind of hit it to the right side," Ruiz said. "The outfielder had to turn around to get to it and throw to second and I was like, 'I feel like I can make it.'" With Cesar Hernandez and Jeff Francoeur on first and second base, respectively, with no outs and the Phillies trailing by two in the fifth inning, Ruiz yanked a ball into left field, scoring Francoeur. From the way the ball was hit, it looked like a simple RBI single. But Ruiz put his head down and rounded first, making it to second after left fielder Starling Marte hesitated getting the ball in. The double was the last of three consecutive hits to start the fifth inning. The hits came at a particularly vital time as in the previous half-inning Phillies starter Cole Hamels had surrendered the first two runs of the game to put his team at a deficit. But the Phillies rallied behind their starter, scoring one run on those three hits and adding two more later in the inning off a Ben Revere groundout and a Freddy Galvis single. Those three runs turned out to be the difference in the Phillies' 3-2 win. "That was a big situation," Ruiz said. "I'm real happy that I made it to second and we came back and made that game." For the Phillies, Wednesday's win did more than snap a four-game losing streak. It ended a streak of four games where the Phillies scored runs in one inning to either seize or trim the lead, only to allow the other team to regain or expand its lead in the next half-inning. Not only did the Phillies not let this happen, they turned things around and did this to the Pirates, something of which Francoeur was cognizant. "Winning that game was big," Francoeur said. "The way we've been in games and been in games, to turn it around and do it to someone else was nice." Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg said he thought the runs had another effect: spurring Hamels to rebound from his bad inning. In Sandberg's view, the run support helped Hamels "turn things up a notch." With that lead, Sandberg said Hamels was afforded the opportunity to be more aggressive with the strike zone. This led to Hamels attacking hitters inside more, which Sandberg said was one of the main reasons his starting pitcher was successful. But just as Sandberg thought his hitters made that win possible for Hamels, so too did the hitters believe the opposite to be true. "It was an outstanding game, to come back and get the W for Cole, who was pitching real well," Ruiz said. "He gave us the opportunity to keep the game close."

Rebounding From A Slow Start – Anybody that wondered about Cole Hamels' slow start in April can relax. Hamels is just fine. Contending teams with starting pitching problems are most certainly noticing. Hamels allowed five hits, two runs, one walk and struck out nine in seven innings Wednesday night in a 3-2 victory over the Pirates at Citizens Bank Park, which snapped the Phillies' four-game losing streak. "He was sharp all the way through," Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg said. Hamels went 0-2 with a 5.00 ERA in his first three starts this season. He allowed an eye-popping seven home runs in 18 innings. But in his last five starts, Hamels is 3-1 with a 2.72 ERA. He has allowed just one home run in 33 innings. "It's just going out there and feeling confident with every pitch that I have," Hamels said. "I'm trying to establish strikes to both sides of the plate with whatever pitch. When you're able to do that you're able to command each inning." Hamels allowed two runs in the fifth inning to hand the Pirates a 2-0 lead, but the Phillies scored three runs for him in the bottom of the fifth to make it 3-2. Hamels had thrown 108 pitches through six innings, six fewer than his season high. But Sandberg figured he would keep his ace in the game with the way Hamels had been going. He said it did not matter that the Pirates' eighth and ninth hitters were starting the inning. Even if it were the heart of the order, Hamels was going to pitch. Hamels responded with a perfect, seven-pitch inning. "It's kind of what we train for, go deep in a ballgame," Hamels said. Hamels is 10-0 with a 2.30 ERA in 16 starts when the Phillies have scored three or more runs for him the past two seasons. It is remarkable what just a little bit of run support will do for an ace. "Once we got the three runs it looked like he turned it up a notch," Sandberg said. "Nice for him to have run support."

Working On A Comeback – If Triple-A Lehigh Valley right-hander Phillippe Aumont returns to the big leagues as an effective starter, it would be one heck of a story. Aumont's career as a Phillies relief pitcher had stalled because he could not throw strikes on a consistent basis. In fact, his Phillies career could have ended, but he cleared waivers in March and the Phillies sent him to Minor League camp. There, he slowly started to reinvented himself as a starter. The Phillies actually made him a starter when they acquired him in the December 2009 Cliff Lee trade. It lasted one season before they returned him to the bullpen. But Aumont threw seven scoreless innings Wednesday in a start against Columbus. He is 1-1 with a 1.29 ERA in four starts with the IronPigs, allowing 16 hits, three earned runs, five walks and striking out 16 in 21 innings. It is a remarkable turnaround. "Phillippe told me he's extremely happy to be back in the rotation," Phillies director of player development Joe Jordan said. "He looks like it. There's a tempo to what he's doing. He used to take forever between pitches. He's crisp. He has some big misses, but he gets right back in the zone. Seven strong innings today, really. He had an above-average, maybe well above-average fastball. Above-average breaking ball. Two Major League pitches. "He's just in a great frame of mind. Right-handed hitters had no chance on his breaking ball today. He locked up about five or six. He was 94-96 mph with his fastball. They just couldn't pull the trigger on the breaking ball." Could this really happen? Could Aumont, who is the only remaining piece from the Lee trade, really return and contribute in the future as a starter? "He didn't look out of place today at all," Jordan said. "We're staying with it. We're committed to it. We're going to try to find out. He looks the part."

Crowded Outfield – A baseball team can only play three players in the outfield at once. Soon, this number might be too small for Ryne Sandberg and the Phillies. When Cody Asche was sent down to Triple-A Lehigh Valley Monday night, a statement was made in the Phillies organization that he is a left fielder moving forward, no longer a third baseman. And if Asche is to move to the outfield upon his return to the Majors, there would seem to be a few odd men out between Minor League options Asche and Domonic Brown and Major Leaguers Ben Revere, Grady Sizemore, Darin Ruf and Jeff Francoeur. According to Sandberg, no decisions have been made yet as to who will occupy these positions if and when Asche and Brown are called back up. "I would say when all of the players are here, who will be here, that's when the wheels will turn," Sandberg said. "Until that point, it's all a little bit hypothetical of who will be here and who will be on the roster. So once that day comes, then I'll get the mind there on how to use guys and get them into games and lineups." The Phillies have one more outfielder on their active roster, center fielder Odubel Herrera. Herrera seems to be set in his position, as Sandberg said Monday that Herrera is his center fielder and Revere may be able to fill in when Herrera needs an off-day, but rarely more often than that. That leaves six men to fill two positions, and with Asche going down to learn left field, it would be safe to say that position will be his eventually. The corner-outfielder situation gets slightly more complicated considering that of those four options, only Francoeur and Ruf bat right-handed. With Chase Utley and Ryan Howard already plugged in as every day left-handed bats in the lineup and the switch-hitting Freddy Galvis swinging lefty against right-handed pitching, inserting two more left-handers into the lineup every day shifts away from the balance Sandberg prefers. Regardless of this fact, Sandberg still remains tight-lipped on what his decision will be once this positional saturation is actualized. "It is a lot of guys, a lot of left-handed hitters," Sandberg said. "We'll see. We'll see as moves are made down the road. We'll see who's actually on the roster and we'll go from there."

THE BEGINNING

The Phillies are starting the season as expected and are now at the bottom of the NL east at 12-23. Given the departures, aging stars, injuries, and performance this spring, don’t expect their competitive place in the standings to last. All time, the Phillies are 44-48-0 on this day.