An Impressive Start With Just Enough Power To Win

GAME RECAP: Phils Filet Fish 4-1

Phillies right-hander Jeremy Hellickson gave contending teams plenty to think about in a 4-1 victory over the Marlins on Wednesday night at Citizens Bank Park. Hellickson (7-7, 3.84 ERA), who is a strong candidate to be traded before the Aug. 1 non-waiver Trade Deadline, allowed one run on five hits with eight strikeouts in eight innings. He has a 2.54 ERA in his last six starts, so he is pitching well at the right time with just two more starts scheduled before the deadline. "If anybody does have interest, I'm sure they were impressed by tonight," Phillies manager Pete Mackanin said afterward. "It felt a lot like the first game, really," Marlins manager Don Mattingly said. "Really just got handcuffed all night. We've been able to win two out of three but really haven't scored that many runs." Marlins left-hander Wei-Yin Chen gave up four runs on 11 hits in 5 1/3 innings to take the loss. Miami can win the four-game series with a victory on Thursday.

PHILS PHACTS: 

• Hellickson did nothing to hurt his trade value with arguably his best effort of the season. It was the first time the righty pitched eight innings since Aug. 11, 2015, when he went eight against the Phillies at Chase Field as a member of the D-backs. "I guess I'm anxious just to get it over with," Hellickson said about the incessant trade questions. "Like I've said before, I want to be here. I want to win here. I really think we can. My focus is here right now."
• Goeddel had not played since July 10, but he hit the second pitch he saw in the first inning to right field for a two-run homer. Goeddel then singled to score a run in the second inning, giving him three RBIs in two at-bats in the game's first two innings. He had just three RBIs in his previous 25 games. "A lot of cage work," said Goeddel, when asked how he stayed sharp since he last played. "I was a little concerned. Thought it would feel like the first day of Spring Training out there again. Luckily, I got some pitches to hit and put some good swings on them and got some good results."
• The Marlins took the first two games of the series, but they did so by finding success in the late innings. Aaron Nola did not allow a run on Monday, and Vince Velasquez surrendered only one on Tuesday. Miami's struggles against the Phils' starters continued on Wednesday, as Hellickson stifled them for eight innings. Through the first three games of the series, the Marlins are just 10-for-64 (.156) with two runs against Phils' starting pitchers. "You don't really think about the past games too much but all of a sudden tonight, you win the first two, but you look back and say you really haven't did much with 'em," Mattingly said. 
• Goeddel's two-run homer to right field went under a crew chief review in the first inning, wanting to see whether a fan reached over the fence to catch the ball. A short review quickly confirmed the ball cleared the fence without fan interference.
• "I feel like we're a contender. Like I said, I'd like to be here, and I'll worry about that when it happens." -- Hellickson, on if the idea of joining a contender is attractive to him.
• Phillies starters have pitched six or more innings in each of their last seven starts, their longest streak since May 2-8, 2014. Hellickson has pitched six or more innings in each of his last eight starts.
• Tommy Joseph left the yard in each of the first two games of the series. Over his last nine contests, Joseph is 14-for-32 with five homers, eight RBIs and 10 runs.
• Ichiro Suzuki hasn't started any of the games in Philadelphia but has had pinch-hit opportunities. Six hits away from 3,000, Ichiro is 0-for-3 with a walk in this series.
• It's only mid-July, but the next save A.J. Ramos records will match his career high of 32, which he set last season.

NEXT GAME:

The Marlins entered their four-game series with the Phillies as one of the hottest teams in the Majors. The club is looking to head back to Miami even hotter. Thursday's 7:05 p.m. ET finale will be the last of a seven-game road trip, leading into a 10-game homestand at Marlins Park. The Marlins have taken two of the first three from the Phils to grasp hold of second place in the National League East and the second NL Wild Card spot. Tuesday's win put them nine over .500 for the first time since 2011. Since getting off to a 5-11 start, Miami is 46-32 for a .590 winning percentage -- only the Cubs and Giants have a higher one. To leave Philadelphia with a series win, the Marlins turn to Tom Koehler (6-8, 4.68 ERA) to counter the Phillies' Jerad Eickhoff (6-10, 3.76). The two are on opposite trajectories. Koehler has made it through five innings just once in his past four starts, while Eickhoff has only one start all season of less than five frames. Remove an eight-run outburst in Colorado and Eickhoff has a 2.34 ERA over his last nine starts.

PHILS PHACTS:

Boosting Value – Jeremy Hellickson is scheduled to make two more starts before the Aug. 1 non-waiver Trade Deadline. But if Hellickson made his final one with the Phillies on Wednesday night in a 4-1 victory over the Marlins at Citizens Bank Park, it was a good one. He allowed one run on five hits with eight strikeouts in eight innings, improving to 3-2 with a 2.54 ERA in his last six starts. "I guess I'm anxious just to get it over with," Hellickson said about the incessant trade questions. "Like I've said before, I want to be here. I want to win here. I really think we can. My focus is here right now." Hellickson is available because he is a free agent following the season and because the Phillies would like to get a look at Triple-A pitching prospect Jake Thompson, who pitched six scoreless innings on Wednesday against Indianapolis. Thompson is 6-0 with a 0.58 ERA in his last nine starts. Trading Hellickson would give Thompson a longer look in the big leagues before the end of the season. "I guess there's a chance we'll see him before the year's over," Phillies manager Pete Mackanin said before the game. There is plenty of interest in Hellickson. The Marlins, who are in the market for a starting pitcher, got a firsthand look at him. The Orioles had a scout in attendance specifically to watch Hellickson. The Blue Jays and Giants also had scouts at the game. A top Giants scout has been in town since Monday. San Francisco is also in the market for bullpen help and a corner outfielder. Closer Jeanmar Gomez and outfielder Peter Bourjos are available. "If anybody does have interest, I'm sure they were impressed by tonight," Mackanin said afterward. Of course, the Phillies feel no pressure to trade anybody like last summer, when they felt compelled to move Cole Hamels, Jonathan Papelbon and Chase Utley. If the Phillies only field offers of marginal prospects for Hellickson, they seem inclined to have him finish out the season and continue to mentor the team's young starters, like Aaron Nola, Jerad Eickhoff, Vince Velasquez and Zach Eflin. "On the other hand, let's say you lost [his leadership] and you had to move a young pitcher up here, I'd like to see that," Mackanin said. "That would be nice to see some of the young pitchers. Eventually, we will. When, I'm not sure. It would be nice to see some more young players." That goes for more than just Thompson. Certainly, there are folks in the organization eager to see Triple-A shortstop J.P. Crawford and outfielder Nick Williams. It would not be a surprise to see one, if not both of them, no later than as September call-ups. As far as Thompson's ETA, that depends on Hellickson's fate. "I mean, it's out of my control, so I can't really control or think about it, so I don't," Hellickson said.

Goeddel Returns With A Bang – Tyler Goeddel should be used to the infrequent playing time. It has been his story this season as a Rule 5 Draft pick. In fact, Goeddel stepped into the batter's box in the first inning on Wednesday night at Citizens Bank Park having not seen a pitch in a game since July 10 in Colorado. But he ripped the second pitch he saw from Marlins left-hander Wei-Yin Chen for a two-run homer to right field in a 4-1 victory. Goeddel singled to score a run in the second inning, giving him a career-high three RBIs. "A lot of cage work," said Goeddel, when asked how he stayed sharp since he last played. "I was a little concerned. Thought it would feel like the first day of Spring Training out there again. Luckily, I got some pitches to hit and put some good swings on them and got some good results." Since Goeddel hit a two-run homer on June 1 against the Nationals, he had hit just .125 (7-for-56) with one double, one triple and three RBIs in his next 25 games. Goeddel acknowledged that he thought about a big night after the second-inning single. He had another RBI opportunity in the sixth, but he struck out looking to strand a runner on second. "It was fun to be back out there and be a part of a win," Goeddel said. Goeddel's playing time dropped once Peter Bourjos and Cody Asche started hitting the ball better. It is likely to remain that way, even if the Phillies move Bourjos before the Aug. 1 non-waiver Trade Deadline. If Bourjos is traded, Aaron Altherr is expected to take Bourjos' place in right field. So Goeddel does what he can, trying to stay sharp and be productive in limited opportunities. "I feel like I have a better understanding of what I need to do to be prepared," Goeddel said. "Do more work before the game and stay focused on the bench because you never know when your name is going to be called. I just try and stay ready."

Today In Phils History – In a game against the Cubs in 1923, the Phillies scored 12 runs in the 6^th inning setting a franchise record for runs scored in an inning which would stand for 80 years. In 1960, Robin Roberts threw the 3^rd 1 hitter of his career in a game that could have been a no hitter had Joe Morgan’s stumble in the field been ruled differently. Hank Aaron hit career homerun number 700 off of Ken Brett in 1973. While the minor league acquisition would pay dividends for a few years, the Phillies signed Ricky Bottalico on this day in 1991. In the midst of a year that would see him successfully transition to LF (and 1B) en route to the comeback player of the year award in his final MLB season, the Phillies traded franchise stalwart Darren Daulton to the Marlins on this day in 1997 where he would get a ring at the end of the season. 10 year later, Jack Russell Stadium in Clearwater, FL was officially relegated to history when the complex was demolished. In 2012, former Phillies catcher Tim McCarver, somehow, received the Ford Frick Award for excellence in baseball broadcasting from Baseball's Hall of Fame. Finally, today we celebrate the birthdays of Johnny Evers (1881) and Goeff Jenkins (1974) who both played for a brief but memorable time with the Phillies.

THE BEGINNING:

The Phillies are currently 44-52 this season putting them on pace to beat most preseason predictions. All time, the Phillies are 57-54-0 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.

Stanton Dominates Derby

GAME RECAP: Stanton Tops Frazier 20-13

Giancarlo Stanton turned the T-Mobile Home Run Derby at Petco Park into a contest of "Can you top this?" For most of the night, the Miami Marlins right fielder found himself trying to outdistance himself, and in the process, he stole the show. In the finals, the fifth-seeded Stanton blasted 20 home runs -- giving him 61 total in three rounds -- as he topped defending champion Todd Frazier of the White Sox, 20-13. Not only did Stanton bring the crowd to its feet with his massive home runs, he also reset Statcast™ home run highs for distance (497 feet) and exit velocity (120.4 mph). In front of an energized crowd and a worldwide audience on ESPN and MLB.com, Stanton showcased his remarkable strength in all three rounds. In the finals, he went first and put the third-seeded Frazier on the defensive. Of Stanton's 20 homers, 11 went 440 feet or more. He became the first Marlins player to win the Home Run Derby. "I grew up watching this," Stanton said. "That's where you built it up, childhood memories; now I will have kids saying the same thing. They watched me do this. I like to return the favor. Can't speak for anyone else." Stanton added a home run with a launch angle of 12.3 degrees, lower than any regular-season home run tracked by Statcast™. The previous lowest also is by Stanton, who hit one at a 13.5-degree angle on April 23, 2015, off Justin DeFratus of the Phillies. "He was hitting moonshots," marveled Frazier afterward. "I thought I was a high school hitter compared to him hitting them that far. I said it was going to be one of the most epic home run battles, and I think it really stepped up to the name." A native of Sherman Oaks, Calif., Stanton relished the opportunity to take part in his second Home Run Derby in his home state. "For sure, being on the West Coast and taking the flight out here just for this, you know," Stanton said. "I figure it's a waste if I don't bring this bad boy home." In the first round, Stanton was matched against the Mariners' Robinson Cano, the fourth seed. It became a mismatch as Stanton racked up 24 homers to Cano's seven. In the semifinals, Stanton toppled Baltimore's Mark Trumbo, the No. 1 overall seed, 17-14. In a meeting of arguably the two strongest in the event, 14 of Stanton's homers traveled 440 feet or farther, matching Trumbo's entire total for the round. As advertised, Stanton was a show stopper whose first round will go down in Home Run Derby lore. His 497-foot drive is the longest home run ever projected by Statcast™. The farthest regular-season homer is by Kris Bryant of the Cubs, who connected on a 495-foot shot on Sept. 6, 2015, off Arizona's Rubby De La Rosa. Also in his first four minutes, Stanton blistered another laser that had an exit velocity of 120.4 mph, the hardest-hit homer Statcast™ has ever tracked. The previous high on a homer by Stanton is 119.2 mph on June 23, 2015, against St. Louis' Carlos Martinez. With four Marlins players in tonight's All-Star Game presented by MasterCard (7:30 p.m. ET on FOX), Stanton also had time in the first round to take a timeout, catch his breath and pose for a selfie with his Miami teammates -- Jose Fernandez, Marcell Ozuna and A.J. Ramos. "That's great. That's what it's about," Stanton said. "Having them, and on the flight over, they were like, 'This is what we're going to do, this and that.' So we had a plan going, and I'm glad it worked out." At the conclusion of Stanton's round, all the All-Stars showed their appreciation, with David Ortiz giving some Big Papi praise by bowing to the Miami slugger. Over the course of the night, Stanton decisively established power readings at a historic rate: Stanton had the 20 hardest-hit home runs of the night; He had the 10 longest home runs; Stanton's average home run distance was 446 feet. The next highest was Trumbo at 432.8 feet. The other seven hitters combined for an average home run distance of 412 feet; His average exit velocity on home runs was 111.9 mph. The next highest was Trumbo at 108.5 mph. The other seven hitters had an average exit velocity of 105.4 mph on their homers; Stanton's home runs traveled a total projected distance of 27,187 feet, which is 5.15 miles and 9,918 feet more than any other competitor. Frazier was second with a total distance of 17,269 feet. "I didn't hit one over 440," said Adam Duvall, who lost out to Frazier in the semifinals. "He hit most of his over 440. That's just unreal, man. The power that he has is unreal." Stanton picked Pat Shine, the Marlins' Major League administrative coach, as his designated pitcher. Many Miami players praise Shine's tosses, because they are right down the middle. "No-brainer," Stanton said of going with Shine. "I don't think I took more than five balls, so he is just as important to this as I was." Stanton, like Frazier, was selected to the Derby without being picked for the All-Star Game. With a single-minded focus on one event, Stanton was locked in to bringing the Derby trophy to South Florida. "I have been around him for three years, so I am just really happy for him," Shine said. "He's one of the most intense competitors that anybody has ever been around. So I knew he wanted to win it." Stanton actually is a three-time All-Star, but he was able to only take part in 2014, missing in '12 and '15 due to injuries. Despite posting a .233/.328/.495 slash line in the first half, Stanton heated up in Miami's last five games, belting five home runs while driving in 10 runs. The slugger entered the break with 20 homers and 50 RBIs. "I'm so proud of him," Ozuna said. "He was struggling a little, and then they invited him to the Home Run Derby, and he wins it. That's beautiful."

PHILS PHACTS:

• Left-hander Daniel Stumpf returned to the Phillies July 10 after serving an 80-game suspension for performance enhancing drugs. Philadelphia acquired Stumpf from Kansas City last December in the Rule 5 Draft. He pitched in three games before being suspended.
• Active members of the Mets have hit a combined .307 against Hellickson, with Jose Reyes having recorded a .381 batting average to go along with one homer and four RBIs.
• Mets manager Terry Collins has expressed hope that Yoenis Cespedes would be ready to play by the end of the All-Star break. Cespedes, who sustained a right quad strain July 8, leads the Mets with 21 homers and 52 RBIs. In 26 at-bats against the Phillies in the first half of the year, Cespedes hit .269 with three homers and six RBIs.

NEXT GAME:

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

PHILS PHACTS:

From Rule 5 To All Star – Tonight, Odubel Herrera will suit up in yet another All-Star Game. This one, however, will be in a league of its own. Just two years ago, Herrera was a little-known player in a prospect-rich Rangers organization, performing well enough to earn Texas League (Double-A) All-Star honors for a second straight season but going unprotected in the 2014 Rule 5 Draft. That allowed the Phillies to add him that December, and since then he's risen at a rapid pace. On Monday he appeared at media day in advance of the Midsummer Classic (7:30 tonight on FOX), and he was joined by his proud parents, Odubel Sr. and Nerida, who flew to San Diego to share in this special day. But for as much as Herrera is a prominent part of the Phillies' future, the 24-year-old leadoff hitter carries great appeal in the way he reminds folks of the last Phillies powerhouse. With a style resembling that of Shane Victorino -- the club's other golden Rule 5 ticket (from 2004) -- the native Venezuelan brings a great deal of passion to the ballpark each day. A bat-flipper following homers and sac flies alike -- and a clapper after taking his walks -- Herrera has made major contributions in multiple categories this year. Entering the Midsummer Classic, he ranks fourth among National League outfielders in on-base percentage (.378), fifth in hits (96) and 10th in batting average (.294). He's also chipped in 12 steals. Much of Herrera's success can be ascribed to his improved plate discipline, as he's walked at an impressive 11.6 percent clip following a meager 5.2 rate as a rookie. "Last year, I was striking out a lot. During the offseason, it was a goal that I put to myself to improve [my plate discipline]. And I think that's what we've seen," he said. "He's a special guy," said Phillies manager Pete Mackanin. "I call him a hit collector. I don't know how he does it sometimes." Odubel Sr. agreed with the skipper's sentiments. "Basically, [when he reached] the age of 12, I started to realize he could be a great player, possibly a professional player," Herrera's father said at MLB's media day on Monday. Both of Herrera's parents are visiting the United States, carefully following Phillies games. Despite a few bumps in the road along the way, the sophomore Major Leaguer has accomplished something rare in earning All-Star accolades just 19 months after his Rule 5 selection. Players picked in the December Draft are essentially viewed as lottery tickets, with only a select few making it big. While the 42-48 Phillies have room to improve during the season's second half, core pieces are already in place in Herrera, slugging third baseman Maikel Franco and several promising starters. "It makes me feel really good to be on a team with so much young talent -- talent that can evolve," Herrera said. But with multiple promising prospects in Philadelphia's pipeline, including several young outfielders, some have speculated that Herrera could one day revive his work as an infielder. "I came up as a second baseman, but now I am playing outfield. I am feeling good in the outfield and will continue to work hard [out there]," he said. Regardless of where he plays, Herrera will almost certainly continue to contribute a keen eye at the plate, enviable athleticism and an unbridled love for the game.

Today In Phils History – Cincinnati’s Noodles Hahn starts this day as he no hit the Phillies in 1900. 6 years later, Sherry Magee set a team record by stealing 4 bases in a single game include three in the 9^th when, after being hit by a pitch, he stole 2^nd, 3^rd, and home in the loss. Unbeknownst to many phans Hall of Famer Johnny Evers briefly played for the Phillies after the team claimed him off waivers from the Braves on this day in 1917. 40 years later, Robin Roberts set a dubious MLB record when he surrendered his record setting 280^th homerun, a record he would hold for more than 50 years until it was surpassed by another Phillie, Jamie Moyer. And, finally, Phillies closer Doug Jones earned the win for the NL in the 1994 All Star Game in Pittsburgh.  

THE BEGINNING:

The Phillies are currently 42-48 this season putting them on pace to beat most preseason predictions. All time, the Phillies are 36-52-0 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.

Buchanan Makes Solid Start Before Demotion

GAME RECAP: Phils Sting Rays 5-3

The Rays' offensive struggles continued Monday night in a 5-3 loss to the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park. "There's not a lot to say about today, it was not pretty," Rays manager Kevin Cash said. "We didn't pitch well. We didn't hit well. Our approach wasn't very good. Good thing we get to come back tomorrow and try to do it again." After the Rays loaded the bases and did not score in the first, Logan Forsythe's two-run double off David Buchanan in the second gave them a 2-0 lead. The Phillies answered with three in the bottom half of the inning, scoring their first run on a wild pitch by Rays starter Matt Moore coupled with Cesar Hernandez's two-run double. Maikel Franco and Darin Ruf had RBI singles off Alex Colome in the fifth to push the Phillies' lead to 5-2. The Rays cut the lead to 5-3 when Kevin Kiermaier tripled to lead off the seventh and scored on Brandon Guyer's single.

OTHER NOTES FROM THE DAY:

• Phillies interim manager Pete Mackanin hasn't hidden how displeased he's been with the inability of his starters to throw deep into games and the team's over-reliance on the bullpen. Monday night, Buchanan picked up the bullpen by tossing 98 pitches and allowing three runs over 6 1/3 innings. His 98 pitches tied a season high, as did his four strikeouts. This was the fifth time in 15 July games that a Phillies starter notched an out in the seventh inning or later. "He really made the adjustment to get the ball down in the zone and hit his spots," Mackanin said. "He was throwing quality pitches. It was nice to see us get into the seventh inning." Buchanan was optioned to Triple-A Lehigh Valley after the game.
• With the Phillies trailing 2-0 in the bottom of the second, outfielder Jeff Francoeur drew a walk to lead off the inning. After another walk and a bunt single moved him to third, Francoeur darted toward home on a Moore wild pitch with two outs, aware that Buchanan was at the plate and wasn't likely to drive him in. Although the ball didn't bounce too far away from the catcher, Francoeur made it home safely, igniting the audience and keeping the inning alive for two more runs to score. "I was a little surprised he went," Mackanin said. "That's huge. He plays all out. In order to score on a play like that, you have to anticipate something like that. He anticipated it, and he scored. It was close, but we were real happy he did."
• Mackanin challenged home-plate umpire Scott Barry's bottom-of-the-fifth-inning ruling that Francoeur was out trying to score from first on a Ruf single on the grounds that it appeared catcher Curt Casali may have blocked the plate. After an official review, the ruling on the field was upheld, and Francoeur was ruled out via a 9-6-3-2 relay putout. The review lasted an estimated time of 54 seconds.
• "At this point, I'm not that concerned. It wasn't good news to hear, but we'll wait and see tomorrow what the trainers say" -- Mackanin, on Franco's elbow injury that made him exit the game early.

NEXT GAME:

Phillies fans will get a sneak peek into the organization's future Tuesday when the Aaron Nola era in Philadelphia begins. The 22-year-old right-hander will make his MLB debut when he starts the game, tasked with living up to the expectations of being the No. 2 prospect in the organization and No. 28 in all of baseball. The Phillies used the seventh pick of the 2014 MLB Draft on Nola. Nathan Karns (4-5, 3.63 ERA) will make his first start since July 9 at Kansas City, when he yielded a career-high seven earned runs. He finished the first half with 99 strikeouts, which lead all Major League rookies before the All-Star break. He is 1-0 with a 5.02 ERA in three career Interleague starts. First pitch is set for Tuesday at 7:05 p.m. ET.

PHILS PHACTS:

Buchanan Sent Down – The process is more important than the product. Based off the moves the Phillies made after Monday's 5-3 win against the Rays, the team's fourth consecutive win coming out of the All-Star break, this is interim manager Pete Mackanin, general manager Ruben Amaro and the rest of the team's outlook on 2015. Starting pitcher David Buchanan had one of his best outings of 2015 Monday night, throwing 6 1/3 innings and allowing three runs. The start was just the fifth time in July that a Phillies starter lasted into the seventh inning, was Buchanan's first win in his past 15 starts and lowered his ERA more than half a point. However, after the game, Mackanin announced that despite the strong showing, Buchanan will be optioned to Triple-A Lehigh Valley. "We want to keep Buchanan on his program pitching every five days," Mackanin said. "With the two days off coming up, we don't need a fifth starter. We want to keep Buchanan on track." Buchanan's demotion wasn't the only roster move the Phillies made Monday night. The move was made to free up a roster spot to activate Jerome Williams from the disabled list. Also, to make space for Aaron Nola to join the roster and start Tuesday, Chad Billingsley was placed on the 15-day disabled list with mild structural tendinitis in his throwing elbow. No structural damage was found. This move, according to Mackanin, alleviates some of the stress on the bullpen and moves the team to a four-man pitching rotation. Mackanin confirmed that Nola, Cole Hamels and Adam Morgan will be three of the four, but he said that there is a chance Williams will begin from the bullpen, as pitching coach Bob McClure has not drawn up the exact plans yet. As Mackanin indicated, Buchanan said he understood the decision. That being said, Buchanan didn't seem to believe work in Triple-A is necessarily what he needs right now. "I know I've shown that I can pitch in the big leagues, and I have to tell myself that," Buchanan said. "Because down in Lehigh and even the coaches here, they've told me, 'You've shown us you can pitch here.' When I first got optioned earlier, they were like, 'We believe in you. You've got to believe in yourself.' So I think, actually I know now, I know I can pitch here, and I have to continue to have that confidence." Buchanan said he preferred to keep the conversation he and Mackanin had about his send-down between the pair. However, he did echo Mackanin's sentiment that at this point in his career, pitching every fifth day is more important than staying in the big leagues. "[Pete] just told me to go down there and keep doing what I'm doing and trust the process," Buchanan said.

Amaro Offers “Insights” – Injuries and the impending July 31 non-waiver Trade Deadline are making it rather difficult for Pete Mackanin to map out the Phillies' immediate future. Nowhere is this more evident than in the Phillies' pitching rotation. With off-days preceding and following the team's weekend series in Chicago, interim manager Mackanin can't decide who will take the ball to begin games because he isn't sure who will be on his active roster. "We're going to make some adjustments," Mackanin said. "Everything is kind of day-to-day because of the Trade Deadline. It could change our whole plan, so it's a constant process of figuring it out, and we'll be making a decision tomorrow, obviously, with what to do." General manager Ruben Amaro Jr. provided a little bit of clarity Monday as to what Mackanin's options may be. Starting pitcher Chad Billingsley, who exited his start Saturday prematurely with elbow stiffness, will be headed to the disabled list for the third time this season. Amaro said the MRI data isn't conclusive yet, but Billingsley will not be able to pitch for at least 15 days, and at the most severe, his season may be over. On the opposite end of the spectrum, Amaro said Jerome Williams is ready to return from the disabled list and that Aaron Harang shouldn't be far behind after he threw 80 pitches in a simulated start Monday. In non-pitching-related injury news, Amaro said that Chase Utley has been resuming baseball activities and should be able to begin a rehab stint within the "next week or so." Injuries, however, haven't been Amaro's primary focus in recent weeks. With Amaro and the Phillies anticipated to be major sellers at the Deadline, he said he has been at work trying to make deals a reality. "Well, we have had a lot of active discussions the last few weeks, actually," Amaro said. "And I think they will continue to pick up. Just like every July 31 , there's activity. There will be more activity as you get closer and closer." Two of the Phillies' most prominent trade pieces, Cole Hamels and Jonathan Papelbon, have been the subject of discussion as to whether their value has decreased recently -- Hamels because of consecutive ineffective starts and Papelbon because of his comments regarding his desire to be traded. However, Amaro said on both fronts that these events have not affected their standing in trade talks. With regards to Papelbon, Amaro said that even though his closer will be unhappy if he isn't traded, he believes he will continue to pitch. "He's a professional," Amaro said. "He'll go about his business. And when he gets on the mound, he'll be competing just as he normally does. I don't think that's going to change the guy who's on the mound. Whatever uniform he puts on, he'll be competing."

Looking Back On Combs’ Debut – The Phillies were playing out the string late in the 1989 season, on their way to 95 losses. The announced crowd for the game against the Pirates on Sept. 5 at Veterans Stadium -- 12,484 -- reflected that reality. Something noteworthy happened, though. Left-hander Pat Combs, who just a year earlier had been the franchise's No. 1 Draft pick out of Baylor, made his Major League debut. "It was just a tremendous night," Combs, now a 48-year-old investment manager at Morgan Stanley in Texas, said by phone Monday. "It was a lot of fun." That long-ago evening came into sharper focus with the announcement that right-hander Aaron Nola will make his first big league start Tuesday night against the Rays at Citizens Bank Park. In doing so, the Phillies' top selection out of LSU from last June will become the organization's first pitcher to graduate to the bigs the following season since Combs did it nearly 26 years ago. Phillies fans have been clamoring to see Nola ever since he got off to a fast start at Double-A Reading this year. He becomes the latest hot Phillies pitching prospect whose arrival was highly anticipated by the paying customers, including Brett Myers in 2002 and Cole Hamels in 2006. Since Myers and Hamels were drafted out of high school, it is Combs' experience most closely approximates what Nola will experience Tuesday night. If anything, his rise was even faster since he tried out for the U.S. Olympic team after signing and didn't make his pro debut until he started for Class A Clearwater the following April. Asked what advice he would give Nola, Combs laughed. "I think I would tell Aaron just to keep doing what he's doing and not try to change anything just because it's a big league start. The same pitches that got Double-A and Triple-A hitters out will get big league hitters out. And he's got great stuff. So I would just tell him to trust his stuff and try to keep his nerves in check and focus on each pitch and each hitter and not worry about the results," he said. "I think that's always the key, but especially when you're making that first big league start, you go in thinking you've got to be better because you're at the Major League level. There's really no difference. The only difference is that the big league hitters will hit the mistakes more often. But great pitches get great hitters out, and that's what I think he has to keep in mind. Just continue to make good pitches and not worry about the results." Obviously, whether Nola pitches well or not, it's just one start that will not determine what happens for the rest of his career. For what it's worth, though, the Phillies' No. 1s have tended to make a great first impression. The first batter Combs faced, Pirates left fielder Albert Hall, reached second on a double error by shortstop Dickie Thon and first baseman Ricky Jordan. The second, shortstop Jay Bell, hit a grounder to the right side that rolled through to drive in the unearned run. That was all the Pirates would get, though. Combs ended up pitching six innings, allowing three hits. He walked three and struck out four. "All I could think about was trying to keep my thoughts right on the game and just do what I had done the previous four or five starts. I had such a great run at Triple-A [3-0, 0.37 in three starts for Scranton/Wilkes-Barre after being promoted from Double-A Reading] that I just wanted to continue pitching the way I had. So I was very confident. But also very nervous, obviously, to get that first big league start." Combs left with a 2-1 lead but settled for a no-decision when the Pirates tied the game against Jeff Parrett. The Phillies scored with two outs in the bottom of the ninth for a 3-2 walk-off win. Myers was still only 21, but in his fourth pro season, when he made his first big league start against the Cubs at Wrigley Field on July 24, 2002. He was dominant that day, allowing just two hits and one earned run in eight innings. Hamels, then 22, was also in his fourth pro season, but, due to injuries, had made a total of just 36 starts before he faced the Reds at Great American Ball Park on May 12, 2006. He pitched five shutout innings and allowed one hit while striking out seven; he also walked five. Myers went on to have a productive 12-year career. Hamels has developed into one of the best starters in baseball. Combs went 4-0, 2.09 in six starts that September, but he soon came down with elbow and shoulder problems. He made his last Major League appearance in July 1992. He was 25 years old. Still, he has nothing but good memories, especially of that first start. "We ended up coming back to win. It was a quality start. It was a blast," he said.

THE BEGINNING:

The Phillies are starting the season as expected and are now at the bottom of the NL east at 33-62. 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 57-54-0 on this day.

Bullpen Can’t Back Up Solid Return By Buchanan

GAME RECAP: Giants Fluster Phillies 8-5

Matt Duffy smacked a two-run triple as part of the Giants' five-run sixth inning Saturday night to help San Francisco come from behind to beat the Philadelphia Phillies, 8-5, at AT&T Park. Ryan Vogelsong, who allowed four runs in 5 2/3 innings, served up home runs to Ryan Howard and Cody Asche in the top of the sixth. But the Giants answered right back in the bottom half with Angel Pagan's two-run double, Duffy's triple, and Buster Posey's RBI single. "These guys have been champions for a reason," Howard said of the Giants. "Champions don't quit. They get down early and these guys just continue to fight." David Buchanan, who made his first appearance in the Majors since April 30, fired five innings of one-run ball, only to watch his successors squander a three-run lead.

OTHER NOTES FROM THE DAY:

• Howard stepped to the plate with no one on and two outs in the sixth and drove a 1-1 curveball to right-center field that barely cleared the "Levi's Landing" sign. Replay officials took a second look at the play and determined the ball hit the green roofing above the brick wall, confirming the call on the field of a home run. Howard's homer, his 15th of the season, gave Philadelphia a 2-1 lead.
• Two batters after Howard's blast, Phillies left fielder Cody Asche chased Vogelsong from the game with a two-run bomb that landed with a splash in McCovey Cove. The homer stretched the Phillies' lead to 4-1, which the Philadelphia bullpen could not hold. "You score five runs and get nine hits, you should win those games," interim Phillies manager Pete Mackanin said. "You have to win those games."
• With Saturday's loss, the Phillies lost their 61st game of the season, the most losses the team has had before the All-Star break since 1997. Philadelphia is the first team to lose that many games before the break since the Houston Astros in 2011 (30-62).

NEXT GAME:

The Phillies send Chad Billingsley (1-2, 6.67) to the mound as they attempt to take the series finale Sunday at 4:05 ET. The right-hander is coming off a 7-2 win over the Dodgers, his former team, in which he threw six innings of two-run ball. Billingsley is 8-6 with a 3.16 ERA against the Giants in his career. Chris Heston (8-5, 3.51) has been a big surprise for the Giants rotation and he'll try to wrap up the first half of the season on a high note against the Phillies in Sunday's series finale at 1:05 p.m. PT. Heston, who has tossed three straight quality starts, has never faced the Phils.

PHILS PHACTS:

Solid Return – Even on a night when Phillies starting pitcher David Buchanan threw well enough to win, his team came out on the losing end. Buchanan, who entered Saturday without a victory in five starts this season, allowed one run on eight hits in five innings of an 8-5 loss to the San Francisco Giants. For the first time this year, the Phillies right-hander gave up fewer than three earned runs and did not walk a batter. Buchanan had issued 5.47 walks per nine innings prior to Saturday's outing, so the command was a sign of improvement for the 26-year-old. "Didn't walk anybody, which was my biggest thing that was kind of hurting me earlier this year," Buchanan said. "Keeping the ball in the strike zone and executing my pitches, that was my goal." The Giants were able to get runners on base with Buchanan on the mound, but the second-year starter consistently worked out of jams to keep them off the board. Buchanan allowed a one-out single to Joe Panik in the first inning before Matt Duffy ripped a line drive off the pitcher's left arm. He stayed in the game, got Buster Posey to line out to right field and then struck out Hunter Pence with a nasty full-count breaking ball. In the second, the Giants managed to push a run across after Brandon Belt led off the inning with a double and Brandon Crawford tripled him home. But Buchanan bounced back, retiring the next three hitters to strand Crawford at third base. Buchanan allowed runners into scoring position in each of the next three frames as well, but did not allow a single one to cross home plate. "When guys start hitting the ball around, you might try to nibble and start leaving balls in the middle of the plate, start walking guys," Buchanan said. "I think that was the biggest thing mentally -- to pound the zone with confidence." After Ryan Howard and Cody Asche went deep in the top of the sixth inning, Buchanan exited the game with a 4-1 lead. Interim manager Pete Mackanin said he pulled his starter after just 72 pitches because the Giants had three lefties coming up in the sixth. "It was a perfect matchup for a left-hander," Mackanin said. "It didn't work as well we [hoped] it would work." But by the end of the inning, the Giants stormed back for five runs off the Phillies' bullpen, and Buchanan was slapped with a no-decision. "When a team goes ahead, you like to see them shut it down," Buchanan said. "You have to win those games."

But Will He Start When He Returns? – Phillies second baseman Chase Utley is making slight progress in his rehab process after being on the 15-day disabled list since June 23 with right-ankle inflammation. Utley said he has been doing some light running this weekend and the six-time All-Star took ground balls before Friday's game at AT&T Park. He said he's noticed some improvement in his ankle since he was placed on the DL. "The ankle is definitely in a better place than it was two weeks ago or three weeks ago," Utley said. The Phillies don't know when Utley will be able to return to the playing field, but he said he will stick to running and fielding grounders until after the break. Utley said he hopes to begin swinging again after the All-Star break. "Probably some point after the break," Utley said of when he'll pick up a bat. "There's no exact date on it, but it's a good sign that I'm able to run and take ground balls and I feel very comfortable doing it." When asked if he's still a few weeks away from being fully healthy, Utley said, "That's fair to say." Utley was hitting .179 with four home runs and 25 RBIs in 65 games before the injury.

Revere Setting Example – The Philadelphia Phillies, who hold Major League Baseball's worst record, have not given their fans much to cheer about this season. The team is in the rebuilding stage, with its main focus on developing its younger crop of players. The Phillies have talented youth already on their roster in Maikel Franco, Cesar Hernandez and Odubel Herrera, among others. But those without experience learn from veterans, and players like outfielder Ben Revere, who is in his sixth MLB season, are tasked with showing the younger guys what it takes to consistently produce at the big league level. While Philadelphia's lineup struggles to score runs, Revere continues to find ways to get on base -- and then swipe the next one. His 21 stolen bases were fifth best in the Majors entering Saturday and he is the only player to steal 20 or more bases in each of the last five seasons. A career .292 hitter, Revere got off to a slow start to the 2015 season, batting .215 in the month of April. The Phillies' leadoff hitter credits the tough start to bad luck, and rightly so: Revere's .250 batting average on balls in play in April was 72 percentage points lower than his career average. "This is the first time I hit the ball as hard as I did in April," Revere said. "Balls [weren't] falling." The 5-foot-9, 170-pound center fielder has seen his batting average rise in every month since. Revere hit .286 in May, .346 in June and is batting .391 in seven games in July. Entering this month, he was one of 18 Major League players (with a minimum of 50 at-bats in each month) to raise his batting average in each month by at least 10 percentage points, according to Sports Features Group. "It's not how you start, it's how you finish," Revere said. Revere went 2-for-2 with a walk against 2014 World Series MVP Madison Bumgarner on Friday night and is now 7-for-14 off the left-hander in his career. "You want to face the best and compete against the best," Revere said. "Facing those guys, I really get excited." Revere said he's pleased with his success, but insists he's more concerned with helping his teammates get better. "As a leader, as a veteran, I try my best to help the team, try to spark the team as much as I can," Revere said. "We're going to help these guys become better professional baseball players."

THE BEGINNING:

The Phillies are starting the season as expected and are now at the bottom of the NL east at 29-61. 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 36-52-0 on this day.