The Bullpen Blows Another Lead For Phillies

GAME RECAP: Reds Rally, Beat Phillies 3-2

That's two late-inning comeback wins for the Reds in two games of 2016. Scott Schebler delivered a walk-off double with the bases loaded to give the Reds a 3-2 victory over the Phillies and the first two games of the season-opening series. Once again, the Phillies bullpen did not get the job done. As Cincinnati was trailing, 2-1, in the ninth against reliever Dalier Hinojosa, Eugenio Suarez hit a leadoff single and Devin Mesoraco squibbed a one-out infield hit between the mound and third base. Jay Bruce loaded the bases with an opposite-field single that rolled into left field. Schebler, who was 0-for-3 with three strikeouts on the night entering his last plate appearance, drove Hinojosa's 2-2 fastball to the wall in left field, easily scoring Suarez and pinch-runner Tyler Holt with the go-ahead run. "We really didn't get things going until the eighth inning in the opener and the ninth inning tonight," Reds manager Bryan Price said. "But, I think the guys feel like we have that ability. It's not going to be like this all year. I think we have a really nice offensive ballclub, but in the games like this, I don't think anyone in our lineup feels that we're going to be behind, even with the tough setup guys coming in and closers, that we can't still beat them. It's a good sign. It's a great way to start the season." Phillies starter Aaron Nola gave his team seven innings of one-run baseball with one earned run, four hits no walks and eight strikeouts. Brandon Finnegan also had a strong night with two earned runs on three hits. Finnegan walked one and tied a career-high with nine strikeouts. Caleb Cotham worked two scoreless innings in relief for the Reds and Blake Wood's scoreless top of the ninth earned him the victory.

PHILS PHACTS:

• If the Phillies want to speed up their rebuild they will need pitchers like Nola to take another step forward this season. He opened his 2016 season the right way, pitching well against the Reds. He allowed four hits and one run and struck out a career-high eight in seven innings. "I kept thinking he threw too many strikes, but he just pinpoints that fastball and it is tough to square up," Phillies manager Pete Mackanin said.
• Phillies third baseman Maikel Franco had a fantastic spring, hitting a Major League-best nine home runs in Florida. He hit his first of the regular season in the first inning, when he ripped a two-run home run through the wind to right field to give the Phillies a 2-0 lead. "Franco hit the crap out of that ball," Mackanin said. "[Finnegan] was throwing fastballs up in the zone to the previous hitters and it was like Franco was looking for a high fastball and he got it."
• "These things happen. We're going to have more opportunities to do the right things. We're just getting started here." -- Hinojosa, who blew the Phillies' one-run lead in the ninth.
• "It's unfortunate that we let one get away again. Over the course of the season, it will even out. We definitely have the arms in the bullpen to get guys out. It's just early. We'll bounce back and be all right. If starting pitching keeps going like that, we'll be just fine." -- Phillies right-hander David Hernandez.

NEXT GAME:

Right-hander Charlie Morton makes his Phillies debut in Thursday afternoon's series finale against the Reds. Morton is 4-2 with a 3.83 ERA in nine career starts against the Reds at Great American Ball Park.

PHILS PHACTS:

Nola Lives Up To Expectations – It is easier to trust the process with the way Aaron Nola pitched Wednesday night at Great American Ball Park. The Phillies selected Nola with the seventh overall pick in the first round of the 2014 Draft. He moved quickly to the big leagues and once he arrived he impressed, posting a 3.59 ERA in 13 starts last season. He entered 2016 expected to take another step forward and cement his status as a key piece of the Phillies' rotation. Nola did not disappoint Wednesday night in a 3-2 loss to the Reds at Great American Ball Park. He allowed four hits and one run and struck out a career-high eight in seven innings. "I kept thinking he threw too many strikes, but he just pinpoints that fastball and it is tough to square up," Phillies manager Pete Mackanin said. Nola, who would have been 1-0 if Dalier Hinojosa had not blown a one-run lead in the ninth, allowed a solo home run to Reds third baseman Eugenio Suarez with one out in the first inning, but retired 13 of the next 14 batters he faced. "I felt like I had command of all of my pitches," Nola said. "I was getting ahead of a lot of guys, which really made a difference." Nola's effectiveness against left-handers also made a difference. They were 2-for-13 with six strikeouts against him, which is a nice turnaround for him. Left-handers hit .310 with an .834 OPS against Nola last season, while right-handers hit .212 with a .618 OPS. "I was commanding the ball inside," he said about his success against the lefties. "I feel like that was a big part of having success tonight against lefties." The Phillies hope for more starts like this from Nola and fellow youngsters Jerad Eickhoff and Vince Velasquez. If those three develop as hoped, they could become the core of a rotation they hope one day rivals the Mets' starters.

A Very Weak Link – Pete Mackanin is not ready to pull out his hair, but a few more games like this and maybe he will be. The Phillies have played two games this season and twice they carried 2-1 leads into the eighth inning. David Hernandez blew the lead in the eighth inning Monday in a loss to the Reds at Great American Ball Park. Dalier Hinojosa blew the lead in the ninth inning Wednesday in a 3-2 loss. "Boy, these close ones are killing me already," Mackanin said. "It's a shame because we wasted two good starting pitching performances and couldn't close it out. We need to score more runs, make it a little easier." True, the Phillies have scored just four runs in two games. But a lead is a lead and the Phillies need to hold them. "It's going to take time," Mackanin said. "We knew going in we might lose some games not having that guy to close it out at the end. I'm convinced we're going to find the guy, or a couple of guys on this team that are capable. But as of right now, we don't have that guy." Phillies right-hander Aaron Nola allowed one run in seven innings as Hernandez redeemed himself with a perfect eighth. Hinojosa then tried to convert the first save of his career, but nothing went right for him. He allowed a leadoff single to Eugenio Suarez. Devin Mesoraco then hit a slow roller up the third-base line. Hinojosa fielded the ball, but he had no throw. Jay Bruce singled to left to load the bases with one out and Scott Schebler ripped a 2-2 fastball to left-center field to score Suarez and pinch-runner Tyler Holt to end the game. Hinojosa struggled in two ninth-inning appearances late in Spring Training so this could be considered his third consecutive time struggling in the ninth. "I am very confident in my abilities to close the game," Hinojosa said through the Phillies' translator. "I know I can do the job. These things happen. I just have to make the right adjustments to make sure it doesn't happen again." But Mackanin would not commit to Hinojosa pitching the ninth inning should they find themselves in another save situation Thursday afternoon. "We'll talk about it," Mackanin said. Hernandez could get a look. After his fastball sat in the 91- to 92-mph range Monday, it sat in the 94- to 95-mph range Wednesday. He credited a slight change in his mechanics for the boost in velocity. He probably would have been the closer entering the season except he was slowed earlier this spring because of a sore right elbow. "I wanted to get out there as soon as possible," Hernandez said. "It's unfortunate that we let one get away again. Over the course of the season, it will even out. We definitely have the arms in the bullpen to get guys out. It's just early. We'll bounce back and be all right. If starting pitching keeps going like that, we'll be just fine."

A Very Bright Future – With the 2016 season getting started, here's a look at where the Phillies' Top 30 prospects are projected to start the season: 1. J.P. Crawford -- Reading Fightin Phils (AA); 2. Jake Thompson -- Lehigh Valley IronPigs (AAA); 3. Nick Williams -- Lehigh Valley IronPigs (AAA); 4. Mark Appel -- Lehigh Valley IronPigs (AAA); 5. Cornelius Randolph -- Lakewood BlueClaws (A); 6. Jorge Alfaro -- Reading Fightin Phils (AA); 7. Roman Quinn -- Reading Fightin Phils (AA); 8. Franklyn Kilome -- Lakewood BlueClaws (A); 9. Andrew Knapp -- Lehigh Valley IronPigs (AAA); 10. Ricardo Pinto -- Reading Fightin Phils (AA); 11. Scott Kingery -- Clearwater Threshers (A Adv); 12. Malquin Canelo -- Clearwater Threshers (A Adv); 13. Zach Eflin -- Lehigh Valley IronPigs (AAA); 14. Carlos Tocci -- Clearwater Threshers (A Adv); 15. Thomas Eshelman -- Clearwater Threshers (A Adv); 16. Adonis Medina -- Extended spring camp; 17. Jimmy Cordero -- Lehigh Valley IronPigs (AAA) – DL; 18. Tyler Goeddel -- Philadelphia Phillies (MLB); 19. Nick Pivetta -- Reading Fightin Phils (AA); 20. Rhys Hoskins -- Reading Fightin Phils (AA); 21. Alberto Tirado -- Lakewood BlueClaws (A); 22. Elniery Garcia -- Clearwater Threshers (A Adv); 23. Dylan Cozens -- Reading Fightin Phils (AA); 24. Darnell Sweeney -- Lehigh Valley IronPigs (AAA); 25. Jose Pujols -- Lakewood BlueClaws (A); 26. Jhailyn Ortiz -- Extended spring camp; 27. Alec Asher -- Reading Fightin Phils (AA); 28. Aaron Brown -- Reading Fightin Phils (AA); 29. Edubray Ramos -- Reading Fightin Phils (AA); 30. Deivi Grullon -- Lakewood BlueClaws (A). Team to watch: The Reading Fightin Phils have 10 members of the Phillies' Top 30 on their roster, starting with top prospect, and No. 4 overall, J.P. Crawford. But the shortstop phenom is far from alone. Jorge Alfaro and Roman Quinn are also in the overall Top 100 and No. 10 prospect Ricardo Pinto will also be there. If that doesn't do it for you, head about an hour northeast to Triple-A Lehigh Valley, which will be home to another seven Top 30 prospects. Prospects two through four -- Jake Thompson, Nick Williams and Mark Appel -- will all be there. Teams on MiLB.TV: Lehigh Valley IronPigs; Reading Fightin Phils. New faces: The offseason Ken Giles trade brought in several young players, two of whom are in the Top 30. The big name, of course is former No. 1 pick Mark Appel, also on the overall Top 100at No. 70. Thomas Eshelman, the Astros' 2015 second-rounder, also came in that deal with Houston. Both right-handers will make their organizational debuts the first time they take the mound this season. On the shelf: Right-hander Jimmy Cordero, who came last summer via the Ben Revere trade with the Blue Jays, has closer-type stuff. He'll be delayed in showing it on that stacked Lehigh Valley team as he recovers from right shoulder tendinitis.

Knowing His Place On The Roster – Ryan Howard noshed on a burrito bowl as he stood in front of his locker and discussed his future on Wednesday at Great American Ball Park. He knows this is likely his final season with the Phillies, and he knows he is likely to spend it as a platoon player. He seems at peace with the situation. "You understand that this is the game, this is the business," Howard said before a game against the Reds. "You understand the team has talked about going in a different direction and stuff like that. You understand that." Phillies manager Pete Mackanin started Darin Ruf at first base Wednesday against Reds left-hander Brandon Finnegan, two days after Mackanin had Ruf pinch-hit for Howard in the eighth inning against left-hander Paul Cingrani. Howard as a platoon player has been a topic of conversation for some time, but the Phillies have waffled in the past. Not anymore. "Yeah, without question I'm going to continue to do it," Mackanin said. "Like I told Howie, you know, Darin Ruf did so well against lefties [last season] I think he deserves an opportunity to see if he can make a little bit of money, too. I think if [Howard] keeps his head on straight and settles into it, I think he's going to hit righties better. I'm looking for a big year from him because of it." Howard did not bristle as reporters questioned him about it Wednesday. He coolly discussed his situation. He would have been far less willing to talk about it last year. "I just don't let things bother me anymore," Howard said. "Last year I let things, I let a lot of things kind of surprise me. And now it's like, it is what it is. You just continue to stay positive. The situation is what the situation is. You can get down about it, you can get upset about it or what not. Or you can try to make the best of the situation, when the opportunity comes." Howard is entering the final season of a five-year, $125 million contract. The Phillies have a club option for 2017, but they are expected to exercise a $10 million buyout instead. They have tried to trade him, but have found no takers. So in the meantime, they hope Howard and Ruf can be a productive platoon at first base. There is reason to think they should be. Howard hit .256 with 20 home runs, 67 RBIs and an .802 OPS in 396 plate appearance against righties last season, while Ruf hit .371 with eight homers, 22 RBIs and a 1.107 OPS in 114 plate appearances against lefties. "Could be dangerous," Howard said of the platoon. "That's what they're banking on." Conversely, Howard posted a .418 OPS in 107 plate appearances against lefties, while Ruf posted a .483 OPS in 183 plate appearances against righties. "Obviously it's something that's been talked about for however many years," Howard said. "So it's not really a surprise. You know, I guess Pete had his mind made up that this is what he was going to do. But it's the situation we're in right now. And I want Ruff to be able to go out there and tear it up. And when I get my opportunities, be able to go out there and tear it up. And just see what happens from there." Howard was one of the best power hitters in baseball from 2005-11. He helped the Phillies win one World Series, two NL pennants and five NL East titles. He won the 2006 NL MVP and the 2005 NL Rookie of the Year Award. He is the greatest first baseman in franchise history. But after injuries and a drop in production since 2011, this is probably it. "I wouldn't say this is probably it," Howard said. "I mean, it'll probably be it in Philadelphia. There's always that realization. There is no hiding that. But, like I said, you just try to enjoy it. Just really want to try and enjoy it, whether it's here, whether it's somewhere else, just, for however long it is that you get to play, take time to be able to reflect at times on what I've been able to do, what I've been able to accomplish. But, you know, right now I'm just staying in the here and now. It's game 2. Be ready today when my name is called and go out there any other time it's called."

Arrivals And Debuts - Today is best know for the acquisitions of Dick Sisler in 1948 and Mitch Williams in 1991, both of whom played significant roles on playoff teams. The long list of debuts spans four decades beginning with Larry Bowa beginning his career in 1970 (Tim McCarver also saw his first Phillies action that day), including former Miracle Mets Bud harrelson in 1978 and Jerry Koosman in 1984, free agent signings like Lance parrish in 1987, Mariano Duncan 5 years later (on the same day as future GM Ruben Amaro), Danny Jackson the year after that, Billy Wagner in 2004, and the recently retired Juan Pierre just 4 years ago. This day also marks the end of a tradition with Steve Carlton's final opening day start (14th overall) for the Phillies in 1986 and the beginning of spring training in 1995 which cost fans so much the previous season. 

THE BEGINNING:

The Phillies are currently 0-2 this season putting them on pace to meet 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 11-17-0 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!

Major And Minor Moves Underway For Phillies

GAME RECAP: No Game Yesterday

Phillies got a much needed day off after their final loss to the Brewers this season… hopefully they sent a search party out to find their missing offensive spark.

OTHER NOTES FROM THE DAY:

• Nola picked up a victory in his last outing despite allowing four runs over five innings. He has a 2.45 ERA in two starts at Citizens Bank Park in his young career.
• Dickey is 5-4 with a 2.54 ERA in 11 career starts against the Phillies. He's made one start against them in 2015, throwing eight scoreless innings while allowing two hits in a win on July 29. 

NEXT GAME:

The Blue Jays begin a two-game Interleague series against the Phillies on Tuesday, with R.A. Dickey taking the hill in the opener against Philadelphia rookie Aaron Nola. Dickey is looking to extend his hot streak since the All-Star break, as the veteran right-hander has posted a 4-0 record with a 1.49 ERA in six second-half outings. He's tossed seven straight quality starts. After dropping a three-game series to the American League East-rival Yankees following a 12-game winning streak, the Blue Jays are once again setting their sights on first place.

PHILS PHACTS:

Health Making Big Difference – We're nearly three-quarters of the way through the 2015 season, and the two numbers that jump out about Chase Utley are "36," his age, and ".213," his incredibly disappointing batting average. Along with yet another entry on a lengthy medical report, this time an injured ankle that cost him six weeks from late June to early August, it hasn't exactly been a memorable season for the legendary Phillies second baseman. If your reaction to the trade rumors swirling around him are "how would he be even as good as what we currently have at second base, much less an upgrade," well, your hesitation would be understandable. It would also be underselling a player who has an outside shot at a convincing Hall of Fame case. If Utley isn't quite the superstar he once was, nor does it seem likely he's the catastrophe he's looked like for most of the season, and that's exactly the point. Teams sniffing around Utley don't think they're getting the April-through-July Utley, the one who put up a .179/.257/.275 first-half line that was the worst of the 243 players with at least 200 plate appearances. They think they're getting the Utley we're seeing right now, and there's reasonable evidence to back that up. First, a brief reminder of how we got here, because it's important in understanding why there's still optimism. The surprising thing about Utley, in retrospect, isn't how ineffective he's been this season. It's how good he was over the last half-decade leading up to 2015. After a historic run of dominance between 2005-09, when he averaged nearly eight Wins Above Replacement per season and was baseball's second most-valuable player behind only Albert Pujols, the cumulative effects of age and injuries to his thumb, oblique, and both knees helped create the impression that he was broken-down and just hanging on. It was never true, though. Despite the injuries and decline, he was still one of baseball's five best second basemen between 2010-14, and even at 35 years old last year, he put up a four-WAR season and was the starting second baseman for the National League in the All-Star Game, his first trip since 2010. So when he got off to such a brutal start in 2015, it seemed that there had to be a better reason than "well, he's 36 years old." It's difficult to fall that far, that fast. As it turns out, there was a reason, and the Statcast™ data can show us not only what happened, but why it might no longer be an issue. During workouts in January, Utley badly sprained his ankle doing workouts when he stepped on a baseball. The ankle was still "visibly swollen" by the time he reported to Spring Training weeks later, and he didn't make his spring debut until March 13. Utley tried to play through it once the season started, undergoing an MRI in May to try and evaluate his continued issues, and finally succumbed to the disabled list on June 22. In case you're wondering if sitting out to get healthy made a difference: Yes. Yes it did. “Forget the .213 batting average, this chart shows why teams are still interested in Chase Utley. pic.twitter.com/odK2Qt24L6” — Mike Petriello (@mike_petriello) August 17, 2015. Utley's average exit velocity jumped more than five full mph, and his average batted ball distance increased more than 25 feet. In 28 plate appearances since returning, he's got 13 hits, including six extra-base hits. To put that into context, Utley has just 18 extra base hits all year long; a full one-third of them have come in the last week. It's important to note, of course, that "in the last week" is literally all we're talking about. We're constantly warning about small samples, and this is that. 28 plate appearances are absolutely a small sample. Utley's week off the disabled list has included a line of .500/.500/.808, which of course isn't a sustainable performance in any possible future. Of course, compared to Utley's decade of production, three months of poor performance is kind of a small sample too, particularly since there appears to be a real, tangible health issue to point to. None of this is a guarantee that Utley would help a new team; we don't even know yet that he'll have a new team. But if you're simply evaluating him by a .213 batting average, look deeper. Utley's earned that, and now that he's seemingly healthy, he's proving why.

Sticking Points – Perhaps if Chase Utley felt compelled to pursue what Jim Thome pursued late in his 22-year career, he might be elsewhere by now. But Utley won a World Series with the 2008 Phillies, so while he desires a second championship and wants to play for a winner, thoughts about another one probably do not consume him like they did for Thome and others who finished their careers without a ring. Utley has that and other considerations before he decides to waive his full no-trade rights. Utley certainly has options. Sources have told MLB.com that multiple teams have made offers to the Phils for Utley, who still could be traded before the Aug. 31 waiver Trade Deadline. But nothing has happened so far, which is surprising to some. Sources told MLB.com's Alden Gonzalez that the Angels thought they would have a deal done Friday. Other teams probably thought the same, which is why FOXSports.com reported Sunday that Utley could remain in Philadelphia. Every day that passes, it becomes one fewer day that contenders such as the Angels, Cubs, Giants, Yankees and Dodgers can use Utley, even though he has hit .500 (13-for-26) with five doubles, one home run, five RBIs and a 1.308 OPS in seven games since his return from the disabled list with a sprained right ankle. And the closer those teams move toward the end of the season, the less likely it seems they will part with a prospect that appeases the Phillies, considering Utley is going to become a free agent after the season. Of course, there are money issues, too. A team such as the Angels will want the Phils to eat some of the roughly $4 million owed Utley before the end of the season. Utley also has a $2 million buyout on a 2016 club option, which must be paid. Clearly, the Phillies would like to trade Utley. They want Cesar Hernandez to play as much as possible, because he is set to be their second baseman next season. So if Utley decides he does not want to play for the Angels, Cubs or Giants, he does so almost certainly knowing these will be his final few weeks with Philadelphia. If a trade does not happen, it means Utley is OK with that. ESPN.com first reported last week that Utley wants a playing-time guarantee before he goes anywhere. Utley wants to play regularly, because he plans to play in 2016. Phillies interim manager Pete Mackanin has said he plans to play Utley four times a week, which might be as much or more than other teams are willing to pencil him into the lineup. So maybe the iconic second baseman decides he would rather just spend the final few weeks of his contract in Philadelphia rather than face the unknown for a few weeks in a new organization. Utley has earned that right.

The Optimism Of Prospects – J.P. Crawford didn't really smile. The tone of his voice barely changed. Crawford stood stoic. On demeanor alone, one would be more inclined to think he was trying to gauge the direction of the wind than think he was about to divulge his thoughts on the Phillies' future. But don't let the delivery fool you. Crawford meant what he was about to say. "I think we're going to win a World Series in a couple of years," Crawford said. Hardly Joe Namath, Crawford, Philadelphia's top prospect and the sixth-ranked prospect in baseball, wasn't willing to specify which year he had in mind. But the sentiment still remains, and Crawford isn't alone in this high view of the organization. Though the Phillies aren't atop any farm system rankings and, aside from Crawford, the prevailing consensus seems to believe that the organization isn't breeding any superstars, the view from inside is that the Phils have the pieces necessary to eventually win pennants. "We always all mess around inside, saying, 'What if this team's all up in Philadelphia?'" said pitcher Ben Lively, the team's No. 12 prospect. "I think once this team clicks, when everyone has a game going on, I definitely think we can compete in a couple of years against some big league teams." The team to which Lively was referring was the Phillies' Double-A affiliate in Reading, Pa., which at one point this year housed six of the Phils' top 11 prospects, including Crawford and pitcher Aaron Nola, who has since worked his way up to the big leagues. With so many of the organization's most valuable commodities all in the same place in their progress, Lively's characterization of the team as growing up together makes sense. But that isn't often how what Lively called "the business side of baseball" works. More often than not, players like Nola move up faster while others lag behind. This polarity of life in the Minors becomes even more complicated when factoring in the struggles Philadelphia has been through this season. And it's difficult for actual Minor Leaguers not to take notice of this. But in Lively's opinion, focusing on that can be harmful. "You can't let that get to you, and you've got to play your own games, because the only way you're going to get there is if you perform, too," Lively said. "If you start letting that get to you, you can get a little sidetracked and let that get to you, too, and that can stop you from getting up there." While Phillies fans wait for this group to develop, the prospects are enjoying playing together. Crawford, for example, raved about the opportunity to bat behind outfielder and No. 7 Phils prospect Roman Quinn, because Quinn's speed melds well with Crawford's ability to drive in runs. There is a sense of recognition in Reading that the Phillies' future is both in the clubhouse and elsewhere, something Lively said he believes can make Crawford's assertion come true. "They've got plenty of talent in [Class A] Clearwater now," Lively said. "All of the new guys down there, we saw them in Spring Training. They're coming up, too. There's no doubt between them and us."

Prospects Move To The Outfield – The shortstop position has an aura around it. Something about it draws the best athletes to the game from a young age. At least that's how J.P. Crawford, the Phillies' top prospect, sees it. "I played shortstop all my life," Crawford said. "So that's what I played in high school. I think [in high school the shortstop] is the best athlete." Based off the 2015 MLB Draft, Crawford's hypothesis isn't wrong. Five-hundred eighty-one position players were selected in early June. Of those 581, 107 were listed as shortstops, a staggering 18.4 percent of the group. The Mets were the only team not to select a shortstop. The Nationals and Giants each picked seven. The Diamondbacks, Astros and Rockies led off the Draft by selecting three straight. All this said, a team can only have one shortstop at a time. More accurately, though, a team can only have one player at shortstop at a time. That's where Crawford's assertion comes in: shortstops are athletes. With the 10th pick of the first round this year, the Phillies selected shortstop Cornelius Randolph. Rather, with Crawford as the organization's top prospect in a rebuilding era, the Phils drafted Randolph as a former shortstop. Within days of the selection, Philadelphia made it official that despite Randolph's experience at shortstop, he was going to be moved to the outfield. "I'm open to anything, honestly," Randolph told MLB.com. "I'm just ready to play ball. I've played outfield a little bit with my summer ball team, so I think I'll adapt pretty quickly." But Randolph isn't the first player with whom the Phillies have done this. Roman Quinn, the Phils' third-ranked prospect who hasn't yet played in the Majors after Crawford and Randolph, was a high school shortstop who was drafted by Philadelphia in the second round in 2011. Quinn has since morphed into a speedy center fielder to impressive results. Before landing on the disabled list on June 12, Quinn batted .306 with 16 extra-base hits and 29 stolen bases in 58 games at Double-A Reading in 2015. Perhaps more noteworthy was how he performed in the outfield where, despite his five errors, he recorded eight outfield assists -- the second best on the team -- and proved to be the team's most productive outfielder by range factor, a statistic that tracks how many outs a defender is responsible for per game. Quinn said Phillies outfield coordinator Andy Abad was the person most directly involved in his transition, and he advised Randolph to use Abad as a resource in growing as an outfielder. "Pretty much just keep grinding and listen to the coordinators," Quinn said. "They'll guide [Randolph] through it and lead [him] the right way." This tactic of molding infielders into outfielders hasn't been confined to Phillies prospects and draftees. The Major League club stirred some discussion in May when it sent then-third baseman Cody Asche down to Triple-A Lehigh Valley to learn how to play left field. After spending less than a month with the Triple-A club under Abad's supervision, Asche returned to the Majors and has made 41 starts in left field. In more than 340 innings, Asche has two assists and has yet to make an error. To Asche, players like Quinn, Randolph and himself, who can thrive at multiple positions, add an extra dimension of versatility to a club. "I see it as a luxury for the Phillies," Asche said. "We've got guys who can do more than one thing. And we have younger players who are eager to prove themselves. I think that's a big thing going forward. It's just guys that are eager. And I would put myself in that category."

THE BEGINNING:

The Phillies season has taken an unexpected turn for the better as they have officially climbed out of the bottom of the NL East with a record of 46-72. Given the departures, aging stars, injuries, and bipolar performances this season, this could still end up being the worst team in franchise history! All time, the Phillies are 44-62-0 on this day.

Phillies Make History Against Orioles

GAME RECAP: Orioles Obliterate Phillies 19-3

The Orioles hate to leave home after a night like this. They hit a franchise-record eight home runs on Tuesday night in a 19-3 victory over the Phillies at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Manny Machado (twice), Chris Parmelee (twice), Jimmy Paredes, Chris Davis, David Lough and Ryan Flaherty each homered for Baltimore. They were the most homers the Orioles had hit in a game since moving to Baltimore. "We squared up a lot of mistakes they made and had a lot of good at-bats with the walks," Orioles manager Buck Showalter said. "It just kind of snowballed." The Orioles (33-31) have won 10 of their last 12 games to move two games over .500 for the first time since April 19. The Phillies suffered their first winless road trip of eight or more games (0-8) since the franchise's inaugural season in 1883, when they went 0-9. They snapped a 24-inning scoreless streak with a run in the fourth. Maikel Franco hit a two-run homer in the sixth for the team's first homer since June 7. "Well, it's not going over well with us here," Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg said, when asked how the road trip might have played with Phillies president Pat Gillick and others in the front office. "We've got to do something about it. We've got to come out and put together a game to get it going the other way. That's up to us down here. That's the way I look at that."

OTHER NOTES FROM THE DAY:

• Phillies right-hander Jerome Williams already allowed four runs in the first inning when he uncorked a wild pitch to allow two more runs to score. But Williams strained his left hamstring when he unintentionally did a split while trying to field a throw at the plate from Carlos Ruiz. Williams left the game with a 6.43 ERA, which is the second-highest ERA among qualified pitchers in baseball.
• Things got so bad for the Phillies that right fielder Jeff Francoeur pitched the seventh and eighth innings. He had pitched 7 1/3 innings last season with Triple-A El Paso, but never in the big leagues. No matter. Frenchy pitched a perfect seventh inning, the first scoreless inning of the night for the Orioles, before allowing two runs in the eighth. "It's not that easy, but it was fun -- getting a punch out, doing some [pitchers fielding practice], breaking a bat, giving up a homer, hitting a guy, walking a guy," Francoeur said. "I kind of got everything a pitcher experiences over a year in two innings. For me, the big thing was trying to save [the bullpen] because they had to throw extra innings in Pittsburgh."
• Phillies right-hander Dustin McGowan allowed five home runs in just 3 1/3 innings. He is the first reliever in franchise history to allow five home runs in a game, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. He is the first reliever to allow five homers in an appearance since Milwaukee's Andrew Lorraine in 2002, and the fifth reliever since 1914.
• Phillies right-hander Chad Billingsley (strained right shoulder) made a rehab start with Triple-A Lehigh Valley. He allowed three hits, one unearned run and one walk in three innings. "I felt a lot more comfortable knowing that I'm coming back from a month off as opposed to two years off," said Billingsley, who missed two seasons following a pair of elbow surgeries.
• Correia has started against the Orioles three times in his career and boats a 2-1 record and 3.79 ERA. He beat Baltimore the last time he pitched against them on May 3, 2014, with the Twins. The righty went seven innings, allowing five hits and a run while striking out three.
• Jimenez has never won against the Phillies in three career starts. He carries a 0-2 record and 11.25 ERA in 12 innings against the squad. All three of his starts came at Citizens Bank Park.
• Jimenez has 276 at-bats under his belt in his career. He owns a .112 batting average with 31 hits, nine RBIs, 12 runs scored, 17 walks and 94 strikeouts.

NEXT GAME:

The Orioles and Phillies will start another two-game series on Wednesday night at 7:05 p.m. ET in Philadelphia after playing the first two in Baltimore on Monday and Tuesday. Ubaldo Jimenez (4-3, 3.19 ERA) and Kevin Correia (0-0, 0.00) will matchup at Citizens Bank Park. Jimenez is coming off a win against the Yankees in his last start where he threw five innings, allowing six hits, three runs, one home run and two walks while striking out six. It was the right-hander's first win since May 11. Correia will make his second start of the season after joining the team on June 8 after exercising an opt-out clause in his contract on May 29 to seek a Major League deal. In six starts with the San Francisco Giants' Triple-A affiliate in Sacramento, Correia posted a 0-1 record and 3.58 ERA in six starts. In his one outing with the Phillies, he threw 5 2/3 shutout innings against the Pirates.

PHILS PHACTS:

Williams Headed To DL – Jerome Williams' season got worse Tuesday night at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. He left a 19-3 loss to the Orioles in the first inning when he strained his left hamstring. He left the ballpark on crutches and said he is headed to the disabled list. "I felt a pop," he said. Williams had allowed four runs to score in the first inning when he uncorked a wild pitch to David Lough, which went toward the Phillies' dugout. The ricochet allowed two runners to score on the play, which included Williams unintentionally doing a split while trying to field a throw at the plate from Carlos Ruiz. Williams grimaced in pain as he fell to the ground. "I just rolled over and didn't move," he said. Williams has a 6.43 ERA, which is the second-highest ERA among 107 qualified pitchers in baseball. "I felt like I was going to turn the corner and then something like this happens," Williams said. "Can't dwell on it though. Just have to get better."

De Fratus Ejected – vPhillies right-hander Justin De Fratus wisely said little when asked if he tried to hit Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy with a pitch in the sixth inning Tuesday night at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. "I know what it looked like," he said after the 19-3 loss. De Fratus had just allowed a home run to Chris Parmelee, the Orioles' seventh homer of the game, when the next pitch came inside to Hardy. The pitch missed, but home plate umpire Lance Barksdale immediately ejected De Fratus. "Once he pointed at me, you just walk off the mound," De Fratus said. Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg said that was not the time to throw a purpose pitch. "Nah," he said. "We need him to pitch. We needed as much as we could out of him, preferably through that inning. That would have saved Frenchy [Jeff Francoeur] from going two innings. Not the time to get kicked out." So was it intentional? "Doesn't matter," De Fratus said. "I got tossed. That's all I can say about that."

Frenchie Takes The Mound – Only Phillies outfielder Jeff Francoeur could silence the Orioles' offense for an inning Tuesday night at Camden Yards. He pitched two innings in a 19-3 loss to the Orioles, becoming the first Phillies position player to appear in a game since Casper Wells in 2013. Francoeur pitched a perfect seventh inning, which was the first and only inning Baltimore did not score a run. He then allowed two runs in the eighth as Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg tried to squeeze an extra inning out of his right fielder in the blowout loss, which capped the franchise's first winless road trip (0-8) of eight or more games since 1883 (0-9). "I was able to save the bullpen," Francoeur said. "I wanted to do it." Francoeur, who pitched 7 1/3 innings last season with Triple-A El Paso, retired the side in order in the seventh, striking out Nolan Reimold looking, getting Chris Parmelee to ground out and getting Steve Pearce to line out. But Frenchy allowed a homer to Ryan Flaherty to start the eighth. He then hit Caleb Joseph with a pitch and walked Matt Wieters and Travis Snider to load the bases. Francoeur clearly tired as his pitch count increased, but the Phillies had nobody warming up in the bullpen. There was a reason for that: the bullpen phone was off the hook. Phillies pitching coach Bob McClure started to wave a towel toward the bullpen to get somebody's attention. Bullpen coach Rod Nichols finally put the phone on the hook and the Phillies got Ken Giles to warm up, although Francoeur finished the inning. "It was a fun experience," Francoeur said. "I got tired at the end there, obviously, but I was able to save the bullpen." Phillies first baseman Chase Utley was upset that the Phillies left Francoeur in the game because the last thing the team needed was Francoeur to suffer a serious injury pitching a second inning in a meaningless game. "He knew I was getting tired," Francoeur said. "He didn't want me to blow out or hurt for the rest of the season. But like I said, that was just enough. I don't think I could have done any more."

Phillies Try To Put Ugliness Behind Them – Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg called Tuesday's 19-3 loss to the Orioles an ugly one. That was one way to describe it. "Almost don't know what to say," Sandberg said. "Yeah, it was ugly. It was an ugly game." Could it lead to an organizational shakeup? "Well, it's not going over well with us here," said Sandberg, asked how he thought the road trip played with Phillies president Pat Gillick and others in the Phillies' front office. "We've got to do something about it. We've got to come out and put together a game to get it going the other way. That's up to us down here. That's the way I look at that." CSNPhilly.com reported earlier this week that the Phillies have targeted Andy MacPhail as Gillick's eventual replacement, so changes could be coming anyway. "I'm unaware of that," Sandberg said when asked if he wonders about potential changes in the organization. "I'm here to deal with the job at hand here. We have to come out and play a solid game and turn it around and get it going in the other direction. Get a good outing from our starter tomorrow and do something offensively to put together a game." The Phillies went 0-8 on their road trip through Cincinnati, Pittsburgh and Baltimore. It is their first winless road trip of eight or more games since 1883, when the Phillies had an 0-9 road trip in their inaugural season. The Phillies have lost 18 of their last 21 games to fall to 22-44, which is their worst start through 66 games since they were 22-44 in 1997. "What are you going to shake up?" said Phillies outfielder Jeff Francoeur, who pitched two innings in relief. "We're out there playing hard. "It's a bad road trip, the worst road trip I've ever been on as far as the way we lost games. I think it will be good to get home. We've played pretty good at home. Hopefully, we can get home and play well tomorrow night. We owe these guys a whuppin' to be honest with you. We'll get home tonight, get some sleep and play well tomorrow."

Phillies Sign Randolph – The Phillies have been locking up their Draft picks relatively quickly. They agreed to terms on Tuesday with first-round pick Cornelius Randolph. He will receive a $3,231,300 signing bonus, which was the full value for the 10th overall pick. They also agreed to terms with second-round pick Scott Kingery, a second baseman, on a $1,259,600 bonus, which was full value for the 48th pick. The team has not confirmed any signings, although they have agreed to terms with at least 21. That includes fourth-round pick and first baseman Kyle Martin ($200,000), seventh-round pick and RHP Luke Leftwich ($209,300) and eighth-round pick and outfielder Greg Pickett ($350,000). Pickett's bonus was $176,100 more than the amount slotted for the 234th pick, but they needed to pay more for him to bypass college. They saved some bonus pool money with Martin, who received nearly $300,000 under the amount slotted. The Phillies also agreed to terms with 12th-round pick Skylar Hunter ($100,000) and 20th-round pick Will Stewart ($100,000). Stewart, who is a left-hander, just graduated high school in Alabama.

Analyzing The Draft – MLBPipeline.com's experts will break down how each team fared in the recently concluded Draft, though we'll have to wait until the July 17 signing deadline to know exactly who will and won't turn pro. Here's our look at the National League East: The Phillies clearly had offense on their mind during the early stages of the Draft. Starting with Cornelius Randolph at No. 10 overall, Philadelphia selected four straight bats to kick things off, mixing it up with two college hitters and two prep ones. Toolsy shortstop Lucas Williams certainly fits the profile of the high upside athlete the Phillies have taken in the past, even with new scouting director Johnny Almaraz at the helm. After three straight pitchers, they took a flier on Greg Pickett's raw power from the Colorado high school ranks in the eighth round. The offensive-minded approach continued as the Phillies took hitters with seven of their 10 picks in the top 10 rounds and 13 out of their first 20 selections.

ASG Looks To Be Light On Phillies – If the National League All-Star roster had to be announced Tuesday, it seems the Phillies have only two possibilities: Cole Hamels or Jonathan Papelbon. The latest 2015 Esurance MLB All-Star Game Ballot did not feature any Phillies position players in the top 5. Hamels is 5-5 with a 2.96 ERA. His ERA is 13th out of 51 qualifying pitchers in the National League. His 1.11 WHIP is 14th and his 3.32 strikeout-to-walk ratio is 19th. Papelbon is 1-1 with a 1.05 ERA and 12 saves in 12 opportunities. His ERA is third in the league among 71 qualified relievers. He is tied for 10th in saves, but tied for first in save percentage. His 1.01 WHIP is 22nd, and his 4.29 strikeout-to-walk ratio is 12th. Some position players who have made a case are Ryan Howard, who is tied for 12th in the NL with 11 homers. Also write-in candidate, Maikel Franco has impressed in his rookie season, clubbing six homers and boasting a .830 OPS. Fans can cast their votes for starters at MLB.com and all 30 club sites -- on their computers, tablets and smartphones -- using the 2015 Esurance MLB All-Star Game Ballot until Thursday, July 2, at 11:59 p.m. ET. For the first time, voting is exclusively online, where fans may submit up to 35 ballots. Fans may also receive the ballot by texting VOTE to 89269 (USA) or 101010 (Canada). Or text VOTA for a ballot in Spanish. Message and data rates may apply. Up to five messages. No purchase required. Reply STOP to cancel. Reply HELP for info. Following the announcement of the 2015 All-Stars, be sure to return to MLB.com and cast your 2015 Esurance MLB All-Star Game Final Vote for the final player for each league's All-Star roster. On Tuesday, July 14, watch the 2015 All-Star Game live on FOX, and during the game visit MLB.com to submit your choice for the Ted Williams Most Valuable Player Award presented by Chevrolet via the 2015 MLB All-Star Game MVP Vote. MLB.com will provide extensive online coverage of All-Star Week festivities. The 86th All-Star Game will be televised nationally by FOX, in Canada by Rogers Sportsnet and RDS, and worldwide by partners in more than 200 countries via MLB International's independent feed. ESPN Radio and ESPN Radio Deportes will provide national radio coverage of the All-Star Game. MLB Network and SiriusXM will also provide comprehensive All-Star Week coverage. For more information, please visit allstargame.com.

Minors Report – Player - 3B Mitch Walding, Clearwater...Walding, 22, was named Phillies Minor League Player of the Week after hitting .409 (9-for-22) with a home run, five RBI, four runs scored, a double and a 1.026 OPS in seven games with for Threshers. The left-handed hitting third baseman had multiple hits in four of those games, which helped raise his batting average by more than 20 points. In Clearwater's three game series against Brevard County, he went 5-for-10 with a home run, four runs scored and four RBI. Walding was selected by the Phillies in the 5^th round of the 2011 MLB Draft, and was signed by Joey Davis. Pitcher - RHP Edubray Ramos, Clearwater...The 22-year-old right-hander was dominant in three relief outings, allowing just three hits and striking out 10 batters while walking none and holding opponents scoreless over 7.0 innings of work. All three of his outings were at least 2.0 innings, culminating with a perfect 3.0-inning save on June 14 during which he posted a career-high six strikeouts. He currently leads the league with an average of 0.70 walks per 9.0 innings pitched and would rank fifth with a 1.86 ERA if he had enough innings to qualify. Ramos was signed by the Phillies as a minor league free agent in November, 2012 and was originally signed as an amateur free agent by the St. Louis Cardinals and Carlos Salas. Lehigh Valley IronPigs - International League North Division…23-42, 5^th place…Lehigh Valley struggled on the mound early in the week in a three-game series against Durham as they were swept and allowed seven runs or more in each game. But the pitching rebounded in the next series to hold the Norfolk Tides to just nine total runs in four games-including a pair of shutouts-as the IronPigs capped the week with a series split. Top hitting performers - OF Russ Canzler clubbed two home runs, drove in eight runs, scored another four and batted .344 in seven games for Lehigh Valley. He recorded multiple hits in three of his last five games, including two three-hit games…OF Domonic Brown hit his first two home runs of the season and batted a lofty .364 with a .727 slugging average. In the IronPigs' three game set against Durham, he went 8-for-14 with seven runs, four extra-base hits and three RBI…OF Brian Bogusevic was the third Lehigh Valley outfielder to find his power stroke, as he also hit two home runs in addition to driving in five runs and recording 16 total bases. Top pitching performers - RHP Phillippe Aumont made two starts last week, and combined to allow three earned runs in 11.1 innings (2.38 ERA) while striking out 16 batters. Aumont has made 10 starts this season and has not allowed more than three earned runs in any of them…LHP Adam Morgan tossed 6.0 shutout innings on June 12 against Norfolk, scattering six hits for his first scoreless start of the season…RHP Hector Neris appeared in three games out of the bullpen, and combined to allow just two hits in 6.0 scoreless frames while striking out four…LHP Jake Diekman struck out four in 4.0 innings of work and did not allow a run. He has yet to allow a run in five games so far with Lehigh Valley. Reading Fightin Phils - Eastern League Eastern Division …33-29, 3^rd place… The Fightin Phils took two of three from the Altoona Curve early in the week to win their third straight series, but the series win did not come easily. In the finale on May 11, the two teams played an 18-inning, 5:07 game that eventually was taken by Reading on a walk-off walk. They were unable to build on the victory, however, as they were then swept for the first time since May 11-13, dropping three straight to Akron. Top hitting performers - OF Aaron Altherr reached base 16 times in six games, as he led the team with 10 hits and six walks last week for a .471 on-base percentage. He also homered, hit three doubles and knocked in a pair of runs…1B Brock Stassi brought his RBI total up to 49 for the season after knocking in six more runs in six games last week. He had two games with two RBI, giving him 12 multi-RBI games in just 58 games overall…CF Roman Quinn showed his versatility by hitting .353 with a home run, three runs scored, two stolen bases and a .421 on-base percentage. His 29 stolen bases are most in the league. Top pitching performers - RHP Zach Eflin made one start, striking out a season-high six batters while holding Altoona scoreless over 5.0 innings of work…RHP Colton Murray had three separate 2.0-inning relief appearances over a span of five days and allowed only one run while recording 10 total strikeouts…1B Brock Stassi made his 2015 pitching debut in Reading's 18-inning affair on June 11. He tossed 3.0 innings with three strikeouts and was perfect aside from a walk as he earned the first win of his career (five total games as a pitcher). Clearwater Threshers - Florida State League North Division…32-31, 2^nd place…Clearwater was able to climb above .500 with a strong 5-2 week that included series wins over both Bradenton and Brevard County. The Threshers' pitching set the tone all week, yielding two runs or fewer in four of the team's seven games. Top hitting performers - 3B Mitch Walding built upon a strong start to June, leading all Threshers' players last week with a .409 batting average in seven games. He hit a home run, knocked in five runs and scored four more, earning Phillies Minor League Player of the Week honors…OF Dylan Cozens recorded a team-high 10 hits-six of which went for extra bases (five doubles and a home run). He hit .357 with a .643 slugging percentage…C Andrew Knapp collected seven hits, walked five times and scored five runs while hitting .333 in his six games played. Top pitching performers - RHP Edubray Ramos struck out 10 batters in 7.0 innings in relief last week. He surrendered only three total hits, did not walk a batter and was named Phillies Minor League Pitcher of the Week for his efforts…RHP Colin Kleven let in just one unearned run over 7.0 innings in his start last week, marking the 10^th consecutive start in which he allowed three runs or fewer…RHP David Whitehead went 6.0 scoreless innings on June 8 against Bradenton, and followed that up with a 5.0-inning, two-run performance against Brevard County later in the week. He struck out nine in those 11.0 innings…LHP Matt Imhof made his first start since April 14 and picked up right where he left off, allowing two runs (one earned) on five hits over 5.0 innings on June 11…RHP Mark Leiter Jr. made two starts for Clearwater, combining for four earned runs allowed in 12.0 innings (3.00 ERA) while striking out seven. Lakewood BlueClaws - South Atlantic League North Division…31-28, 3^rd place…The BlueClaws also had a productive week, as they vaulted into third place after taking two of three from Lexington and then their first two games against Harrisburg over the weekend. They finished the week with six wins in the last eight games and three straight victories. Top hitting performers - SS Malquin Canelo went 9-for-22 (.409) with two home runs, a double, a triple, seven RBI and a 1.277 OPS. He has hit safely in 11 of his last 12 games …CF Carlos Tocci also hit .409 for the BlueClaws, adding a home run, four runs scored and two more driven in. He is currently fourth in the league in batting with a .321 average…SS Grenny Cumana had six hits in 18 at bats, scored three runs, drove in three runs and stole a base…1B Rhys Hoskins displayed his power yet again with three home runs, eight RBI and a .727 slugging average in just five games played last week. He has driven in at least one run in 10 of his last 13 games and has 49 RBI this season. Top pitching performers -  LHP Josh Taylor had his best start of the season on June 9, limiting Lexington to a just four hits and no runs over 7.0 innings. It was his second straight game of 7.0 innings or more after having just one such game in his first eight outings…RHP Tyler Viza struck out seven in 7.0 innings during his lone start of the week. He yielded just four hits and one run, giving him a 0.86 ERA over his last three starts (two earned runs in 21.0 innings)…LHP Elniery Garcia scattered eight hits and allowed just one run in 6.0 innings against Hagerstown.

Torres Suspended – Major League Baseball announced Tuesday it has suspended Phillies Minor League pitcher Juan Torres. He tested positive for Stanozolol, a performance-enhancing substance in violation of the league's drug program. Torres, who plays for the Dominican Summer League Phillies, will be suspended 72 games. The Phillies signed Torres as an amateur free agent in December 2011.

THE BEGINNING:

The Phillies are starting the season as expected and are now at the bottom of the NL east at 22-44. 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 48-60-0 on this day.