Herrera Hits And Rupp Drives Them In

GAME RECAP: Phillies Outlast Braves 7-4

Cameron Rupp's three-run double proved to be the decisive blow the Phillies needed to fight off a Braves comeback attempt and claim a 7-4, 10-inning win on Thursday night at Turner Field. "They're better than their record, and I'm glad we kind of got them while they're down right now, because they're going to be better than their record right now," Phillies manager Pete Mackanin said of the 8-25 Braves. Odubel Herrera capped his four-hit night by leading off the 10th inning with a triple against Braves reliever Jason Grilli, who exited with runners at the corners and one out. Ian Krol entered the game and struck out Darin Ruf before walking Freddy Galvis to load the bases ahead of Rupp's three-run double. The Phillies chased Aaron Blair during a three-run fourth inning and seemed to be in prime position with Vince Velasquez entering the seventh with a 4-0 lead. But after surrendering just two hits through the first six innings, Velasquez surrendered three hits and a walk, including a three-run double by Gordon Beckham, before exiting the game with no outs in Atlanta's game-tying four-run inning. Atlanta has now lost 17 of its first 19 home games. The Phillies went 13-6 while playing 16 of their past 19 games on the road. "It would be great if we'd win the game," Braves catcher A.J. Pierzynski said. "Comebacks are great, but if you don't win the game, it doesn't much matter."

PHILS PHACTS:

• Jeff Francoeur resurrected his career last year in Philadelphia, and he took advantage of the chance to damage his former team when he capped the Braves' four-run seventh with a game-tying single off right-hander David Hernandez, who replaced Velasquez. Freddie Freeman and Pierzynski notched singles ahead of Beckham's three-run double, while Kelly Johnson walked in between them.
• With his leadoff triple to start the Phillies' 10th-inning rally, Herrera tied his career high with four hits. He also drew a walk in his first plate appearance. Herrera scored what would be the decisive run on Rupp's bases-clearing double in the 10th, and he scored on Maikel Franco's first-inning sacrifice fly. The center fielder also produced a two-out fourth-inning infield single that enabled Velasquez to score from second base when Johnson made an errant flip over Freeman. "I'm gonna go out on a limb: He's a good hitter," Mackanin said. "This guy, he's a potential batting champion at some point. He just has a knack for it."
• Pierzynski played in his 2,000th game, becoming the eighth active player and 10th catcher to reach this milestone.
• Velasquez did not tally a plate appearance at the Minor League level. With a pair of singles on Thursday night, he is now 4-for-14 at the plate this season.

NEXT GAME:

After playing 16 of their past 19 games on the road, the Phillies return to Citizens Bank Park on Friday to begin a nine-game homestand with a three-game set against the Reds. Jeremy Hellickson is scheduled to throw the first pitch at 7:05 p.m. ET.

PHILS PHACTS:

What Happened During The 7^th Inning Stretch? – For the first six innings of the Phillies' 7-4, 10-inning win over the Braves, Vince Velasquez was in complete control. After pounding the zone with his fastball for six scoreless innings, Velasquez stumbled in the seventh when he shied away from throwing his fastball. "He just changed his whole approach," Phillies manager Pete Mackanin said. "Earlier, he started throwing some soft, off-speed secondary stuff. I would have rather he went right after the hitters in that seventh inning, and he just threw too many off-speed pitches. But he's going through a learning experience. This is pitching in the big leagues, and he's going to make mistakes." The Phillies gave Velasquez a 4-0 cushion heading into the seventh. After Freddie Freeman led off the frame with a single to center, Velasquez walked Kelly Johnson and gave up another single to A.J. Pierzynski to load the bases with no outs for Gordon Beckham. "I just started slipping," Velasquez said. Velasquez decided he wanted to throw a curveball to Beckham, who was 0-for-2 up to that point. The result: a bases-clearing double to left-center to make it a 4-3 contest. "Beckham was pretty much late on all my fastballs, and I don't know why I threw that pitch in the first place," Velasquez said. "... I always challenge guys, and why I was passive and threw that off-speed was my doing, and I take full responsibility for that." The Braves tied the game at 4 after Jeff Francoeur's RBI single off David Hernandez, who relieved Velasquez after the three-run double. But the Phillies rallied back in extra innings as Cameron Rupp put them back on top, 7-4, with a bases-clearing double.

A Little Superstition – Superstitious or not, every Friday the 13th, we're probably all a little wary of any black cat that decides to cross our path. Naturally, though, if you want to know more about the holiday, Vin Scully will break it down for you. And while most people probably look at Friday the 13th as a silly superstition, don't say that to a ballplayer. After all, since the game of baseball began there have been bizarre tricks and routines players have been obsessively following in hopes of gaining an edge. Jack Glasscock, who played from 1879 to 1895, was nicknamed "Pebbly" for his habit of fastidiously inspecting the infield dirt. Jim Leyland famously refused to change his underwear during a Tigers winning streak in 2011. Mike Hargrove became known as the Human Rain Delay for his intricate pre at-bat routine. Richie Ashburn would sleep with his bat during a hot streak, while R.A. Dickey names them things like Orcrist the Goblin Cleaver. But while the utility of each of those beliefs is suspect, they still have nothing on these five truly superstitious Major Leaguers. Kevin Rhomberg: How Rhomberg ever appeared in 41 Major League games is a mystery. Not only would Rhomberg refuse to make right-handed turns because there are no right-handed turns on a baseball field, but should someone ever touch him, he would have to touch them back. It's how he earned the nickname "Touch Me, Touch Me" from teammate Mike Hargrove. It wouldn't end there though. Once others learned of his superstition, they were relentless: Rick Sutcliffe once reached under a bathroom stall to touch Rhomberg on the toe. Not knowing whom the culprit was, Rhomberg went around the clubhouse and touched each player. Brook Jacoby once told of tagging Rhomberg with a ball in the minors, then throwing it out of the stadium. Jacoby said that Rhomberg spent two hours looking for the ball before finding it. An umpire once halted play during a game in New York to tell Yankees players to stop touching Rhomberg. Rohn and Rhomberg were teammates in Venezuela for winter ball, and Rohn touched him one night, then ran off to the clubhouse to hide after his last at-bat. "He looked for me for two hours," Rohn recalled. "I was hiding under desks, in the shower, the bathroom. He couldn't find me." Of course, despite all this, Rhomberg was pretty successful at the plate. In 47 career at-bats, the left fielder hit .383/.423/.447. Mark Fidrych: No one represents superstition to fans quite like Fidrych. Coming up at the age of 21 with a lean, wiry body and long, wild hair that led to his nickname "Bird," Fidrych looked the part of the quirky Major Leaguer. And he lived up to it. While capturing the attention of baseball fans everywhere during a rookie campaign that saw him lead the league in ERA and shutouts (with a shocking 24), collecting the Rookie of the Year Award along the way, Fidrych also fascinated people with his on-field habits. He would smooth over the cleat marks on the mound, talk to the ball and ask the umpire for a new baseball after every hit. The starter explained: "That ball has a hit in it. I want that ball to get back in the ball bag and goof around with the other balls. I want him to talk to the other balls. I want the other balls to beat him up. Maybe that'll smarten him up so when he comes out the next time, he'll pop up." Fidrych would also shake the hands of every teammate and umpire following his start, just as he did after his nationally televised outing against the Yankees on June 28, 1976. Unfortunately, injuries would spell doom for Fidrych. After pitching 250 1/3 innings in 1976, the Bird would throw only 162 more over parts of the next four seasons. Derek Holland: The man who will happily dress like he's in Dumb and Dumber. And grow the wispiest mustache this side of Snoopy's brother Spike. Is also a man with quite a few superstitions. Though he no longer drops $30 on fast food on the night before his starts, he does have a few other rituals. Namely: "Every night before I pitch, I have to play Nintendo hockey. Every night before I pitch, I have to watch the movie 'For The Love Of The Game,' the Kevin Costner movie. I watch the same part every time but never the whole movie. I've never seen the whole movie, and I never will until I retire. People tell me how it ends, but I don't care. I won't watch it until I retire. But I have to watch it every night before I pitch. It's what helps get me ready to pitch." Honestly, out of all the superstitions on this list, these sound like the most fun. Wade Boggs: While plenty of ballplayers have a favorite meal they like to have before a game, with Justin Verlander eating tacos before every start, no one was as fastidious as Wade Boggs. On his way to 3,010 hits and a Hall of Fame career, Boggs became known as the "Chicken Man" by eating up to one-and-a-half birds every day. As for how he got his start: "It started in '77. I had a Minor League budget and a growing family to feed. Chicken was cheap and I really felt better eating lighter food rather than a lot of heavy meat and gravy. Then I noticed my batting average going up. Ever since I've been a `chicketarian.'" It even led to Boggs getting his own chicken recipe book, "Fowl Tips," which is sadly and shockingly out of print. But Boggs' routine didn't end there. He would write the Hebrew symbol for life, "Chai," in the batter's box before every at-bat and made sure to take 117 ground balls during every infield practice. Which, hey, that strict regimen lead to five batting titles, 12 All-Star Games and a Hall of Fame plaque, so perhaps we should all start eating chicken. Turk Wendell: Of course, like Candyland, this list leads only one place: Turk Wendell. With the amount of free time that relievers have to develop new and ever-stranger habits, it's odd that there aren't more pitchers like him. During an 11-year career with the Cubs, Mets, Phillies and Rockies, Wendell was known for: Not just stepping over the foul lines, but leaping them; Wearing a necklace featuring the teeth from animals he had hunted; Never wearing socks. Because they were a waste of money; Chewing licorice on the mound; Brushing his teeth in the dugout between innings. (Which, given all the licorice, was probably a good idea); Signing a contract with the Mets worth a total of $9,999,999.99 in honor of his number: 99. Of course, it turns out that the real secret to Wendell's success wasn't any of this. It was honey.

Today In Phils History – Today is about wins but, unfortunately, more about losses. In 1902, the Phillies gave up a team record of 28 hits losing to Cincinnati by a score of 24-2. But at least they weren’t shut out. For that record we look at this day in 1960 when the Phillies tied the major league record by losing by a score of 1-0 for the third consecutive game. On that same day the Phillies traded away Ed Bouchee to the Cubs for Tony Taylor. Larry Anderson was also released on this day in 1986… he would return to the team later in his career. Despite the losses, today is also known for wins as in 1954 Robin Roberts followed a leadoff homerun by the Reds by shutting down the next 27 batters. Four years later, Roberts would beat Milwaukee 5-2 setting the franchise record for career wins (191).  

THE BEGINNING:

The Phillies are currently 20-15 this season putting them on pace to beat most preseason predictions. The Phillies finished the spring exceeding most expectations compiling a record of 15-11-3 (18-11-3 if you include the exhibition games against Reading and the University of Tampa). All time, the Phillies are 44-53-1 on this day. I expect the Phillies to finish in the bottom half of the division but not last in the NL East by finishing the season with a 77-85 record. Let the rebuild begin!

Offense Disappears As Cardinals Blank Phillies

GAME RECAP: Cardinals Shutout Phillies 4-0

After a string of three subpar starts, Jaime Garcia looked in ideal form on Thursday as he pitched the Cardinals to a 4-0 victory and series win over the Phillies at Busch Stadium. Garcia may well have gone the distance had the Cardinals not opted to replace him with a seventh-inning pinch-hitter in an effort to run up their one-run lead. The move worked, too, as a two-out, two-run single by Stephen Piscotty capped a three-run inning. "We need offense," Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said of pulling Garcia when he did. "We have an opportunity to get more runs on the board. He got us through seven, and he did a great job of doing that." It was support Garcia didn't look like he'd even need while limiting the Phillies to two singles over seven innings. He threw 61 of his 82 pitches for strikes. "He had both sides of the plate, very good command on both sides of the plate," Phillies manager Pete Mackanin said. "He did everything you ask a pitcher to do. Throw strikes with all your pitches, change speeds, work fast. He basically had us eating out of his hand." Supported by Brandon Moss' first-inning homer of Jerad Eickhoff, Garcia retired 11 straight before allowing his first hit. Thursday's performance marked the fifth time in Garcia's career that he has held an opponent to no runs on two or fewer hits in a start of at least seven innings. Two of those outings have come this year. "I think it felt similar to what I've been doing," Garcia said. "Just today, I was able to get good plays made behind me, and I was able to get calls and make pitches when I needed to make pitches. I just have to continue to build on that."

PHILS PHACTS:

• The Phillies mustered one serious scoring opportunity against Garcia, and he snuffed it out with a double play that was started and finished by Moss. Taking over at first base after Matt Adams exited with an injury, Moss snared a line drive by Bourjos and then beat Tyler Goeddel back to the base to strand a runner at third. It was the only at-bat of the day the Phillies took against Garcia with a runner in scoring position. 
• The Phillies' bullpen struggled to pitch Eickhoff out of a jam in the seventh, allowing three runs to score. Elvis Araujo walked two and allowed a run in two-thirds of an inning, and Colton Murray allowed a two-run double to Piscotty. Two of the runs were charged to Eickhoff and the other to Araujo. "I personally see it as, I need to pitch better," Eickhoff said. "There were three runs there, and all the runs there, the home run was missed location, the walk to [Yadier] Molina -- I've got to be a little more aggressive and not get behind to that guy -- and then the balk putting him in scoring position, so I've got to be stronger personally."

NEXT GAME:

Vince Velasquez (4-1, 1.44 ERA) will open a three-game series at Miami on Friday at 7:10 p.m. ET. Velasquez has won his past two decisions, including throwing six scorelss innings of two-hit baseball against Cleveland in his last start, and he will be making his first career start against the Marlins.

PHILS PHACTS:

Offense Is MIA – The Phillies' offense suffered a double whammy on Thursday: It had few chances and did nothing with them. Philly went 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position, continuing an early-season trend in a 4-0 loss to the Cardinals. The Phillies are now hitting just .219 with runners in scoring position. "You look at the batting averages, and they're not the greatest," Phillies manager Pete Mackanin said. "I think these guys, they don't look like they're settled in. I'd like them to be after a month, but they're just not hitting the way they're capable of hitting." The lineup had several noticeable changes. Ryan Howard, who has scorched Cardinals pitching in his career, sat against the lefty Jaime Garcia, as did the slumping Maikel Franco. The pitcher moved back from the eight to the nine-hole. Mackanin was tempted to play Howard after he hit two home runs in the past two games, but he is a career .167 hitter against Garcia. " ... I didn't see the point of that," Mackanin said. Peter Bourjos had the best chance to dent the scoreboard with runners at first and third and just one out in the fifth. He hit a line shot, but it went right to first baseman Brandon Moss, who caught it and tagged out Tyler Goeddel to complete the unassisted double play. "Coulda, shoulda, woulda," Mackanin said. "That ball's over his head or left or right of him, and we get something going." The Phillies have tallied 90 runs scored this season, and they have scored two runs or fewer in 12 of their first 29 games. Freddy Galvis reached base twice, on a hit and an error. He raised his average to .229, still more than 30 points lower than what he hit last season. Although he, Franco and several other Phillies have gotten off to slow starts, Galvis said there is no frustration. "That's baseball right there," Galvis said. "Sometimes you're going to make some hits the whole trip. Sometimes you are going to score. Sometimes you aren't going to score runs. We have to keep working hard." Garcia was dominant through seven innings, giving up just two hits and striking out five. The Phillies are now hitting .156 (28-for-179) against left-handed starters this season. Philadelphia will face two more lefties -- Wei-Yin Chen and Justin Nicolino -- this weekend in Miami. "It's concerning, but I think one of the reasons why is we haven't seen enough lefties," Mackanin said. "I think we've seen six starting left-handers in 29 games. That's the reason a lot of lefties are effective, because they're not seen as much as righties."

An Impressive Beginning – It took a bit, but the real Andrew Bailey finally showed up for the Phillies. "His velocity has increased enough to what I expected, and his command, especially the command of his curveball," Phillies manager Pete Mackanin said of the right-handed reliever. "I didn't see that in Spring Training." Bailey has appeared in four games since returning from Triple-A Lehigh Valley on April 20. He hasn't given up a run in six innings, has surrendered just two hits and has struck out six. In Wednesday's 5-4 loss to the Cardinals, Bailey pitched around a two-out single to hold what was then a 4-3 Phillies lead. "I've played at this level before," Bailey said. "Coming into this spring, a healthy Spring Training, I had to put up some good outings, and they felt like I needed to start down in Triple-A. For whatever it is, we're here playing good baseball now. That's behind us, and we just keep moving forward." On April 30, Bailey earned his first win since June 18, 2013, pitching a scoreless seventh in a 4-3 win over Cleveland. "It's definitely nice to come in and, as a bullpen, do it together," Bailey said. "I was just the lucky one who got the 'W.' For me, it was a long time coming, but nothing comes easy. Hopefully, I stay healthy the rest of the season." Bailey's fastball has dipped a couple of miles per hour since his days with Oakland, when he hit 94 mph on the radar gun. But it is still in the low 90s. "His fastball has got a natural cut action to it, which is a pretty sharp cut action, which is really effective," Mackanin said. Just as important, Bailey provides veteran leadership to a young group. "For us, it's about handing the ball off to the next guy, and there's no egos down there," Bailey said. "It's easy to pitch when the group is like that."

Herrera Stays Hot – Odubel Herrera has found a home away from home at Busch Stadium. After Thursday's 4-0 loss to the Cardinals, the 24-year-old center fielder has hit safely in all eight career games at Busch Stadium, hitting .406 (13-for-32), with a homer and 6 RBIs. In the Phillies' 5-4 loss Wednesday, Herrera notched a pair of hits, including a home run that was scorched into the right-field bullpen. "I guess I hit well in this park, but I don't really know what it is," Herrera said through an interpreter. St. Louis hasn't been Herrera's only victim. He reached base safely in a career-best 21 games, stretching from April 8 to April 30. Herrera became the first Phillie since 1900 to score four runs, hit a homer and get at least two stolen bases in one game, against Milwaukee on April 23. "I'm really doing the same thing that I do every day," Herrera said. "I'm focusing on really swinging the bat well, and it's really working out for me."

Today In Phils History – Good relief pitching is hard to find and unfortunately Turk Farrell was the only man who could fill that void in 1958 when he faced 36 batters in relief and ended up losing the game in the 14^th. Roger Craig fared better in 1966 when he gave up 4 runs in the 11^th inning only to have his team score 5 in the bottom half of the inning to win the game setting a NL record for runs scored in an extra inning since 1900. Of course, some relievers are just odd like Larry Anderson who turns 63 today. This is also the day when the smallest crowd in Veterans Stadium history, 4,149, witnessed the lackluster Phillies lose to the Padres after a brief rain delay. Off the field, today marks 25 years since the infamous accident that cost Darren Daulton and Lenny Dykstra part of the season when Dykstra drove his car into a tree after John Kruk's bachelor party. Speaking of franchise catchers, I can’t believe it has already been a decade since Carlos Ruiz made his major league debut.

THE BEGINNING:

The Phillies are currently 16-13 this season putting them on pace to beat most preseason predictions. The Phillies finished the spring exceeding most expectations compiling a record of 15-11-3 (18-11-3 if you include the exhibition games against Reading and the University of Tampa). All time, the Phillies are 39-47-0 on this day. I expect the Phillies to finish in the bottom half of the division but not last in the NL East by finishing the season with a 77-85 record. Let the rebuild begin!

Phillies Sign Veteran Closers

PHILS PHACTS:

Reclamation Closers – The Phillies entered last season with a mostly inexperienced bullpen, other than closer Jonathan Papelbon. Next season could look a little different. The Phillies on Thursday announced they have signed right-handers Andrew Bailey and Edward Mujica to Minor League contracts with invitations to Spring Training. It continues a trend of the Phils acquiring veteran relievers at a relatively minimal cost. They previously signed David Hernandez to a one-year, $3.9 million contract, but they also signed Ernesto Frieri and James Russell to Minor League contracts and claimed Michael Mariot off waivers from the Royals. Bailey, 31, grew up in southern New Jersey and attended Paul VI High School in Haddonfield. He won the American League Rookie of the Year Award with the A's in 2009, and he made the AL All-Star team in 2009 and '10. But a shoulder injury has limited Bailey to just 59 games in the previous four seasons, including 10 last year with the Yankees. Bailey posted a 1.80 ERA in 28 appearances in the Minor Leagues in 2015 before posting a 5.19 ERA with New York. Before injuries hit, he had a 2.07 ERA with 75 saves in 84 chances from 2009-11. Mujica, 31, went 3-5 with a 4.75 ERA and one save in 49 appearances last season with the Red Sox and A's. He made the National League All-Star team with the Cardinals in 2013 and has a 3.85 ERA in 494 appearances in his career. The recent bullpen additions should create plenty of competition in Spring Training. Besides Hernandez, Bailey, Mujica, Frieri, Russell and Mariot, the Phillies return Elvis Araujo, Luis Garcia, Jeanmar Gomez, Dalier Hinojosa, Mario Hollands, Hector Neris and others. They also selected left-hander Daniel Stumpf last week in the Rule 5 Draft. It is worth nothing that recently acquired Brett Oberholtzer is a candidate for a rotation job, but if he does not start, he seems like a favorite to make the bullpen, because he is out of options. Gomez also is out of options. Phillies general manager Matt Klentak said earlier this week that he has received calls from players looking for an opportunity to close since Ken Giles was traded to the Astros, so the possibility exists that Philadelphia could bring more veterans into camp.

THE BEGINNING:

The Phillies finally put an end to the season finishing in last place in the NL East with a record of 63-99. Given the departures, aging stars, injuries, and bipolar performances, this has ended up being one of the worst seasons in franchise history! However, at least Ryan Madson got another ring this year.

Frenchie Can Only Do So Much

GAME RECAP: Dodgers Disappoint Phillies 4-3

Dodgers right fielder Yasiel Puig is showing some power these past couple of weeks. He hit a three-run home run to left field in the first inning in Wednesday night's 4-3 victory over the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park. It was his fourth home run in his past 13 games. He went 2-for-4 with three RBIs to lead the Dodgers, who have won five of their last six games. "He got us out of the gate," manager Don Mattingly said of Puig's home run. "We had a lot of chances after that and didn't do a lot, and they hung around and got back in the game." The Phillies managed just four hits and one run in six innings against Dodgers left-hander Brett Anderson, but they made things interesting with Jeff Francoeur's two-run home run to left field in the eighth. "They're a very disciplined team," Phillies right-hander Aaron Harang said about the Dodgers. "That's why they're in first place."

OTHER NOTES FROM THE DAY:

• Francoeur remains an intriguing trade candidate in August. He showed his value offensively and defensively Wednesday. He threw out Joc Pederson at third base in the fourth inning. Then, he hit the two-run homer in the eighth against Jim Johnson to cut the Dodgers' lead to 4-3. "There's got to be somebody that's interested in him, I would think," Phillies interim manager Pete Mackanin said. "He's come up big all year. We love him."
• There is a small chance the Phillies can trade Harang before the Aug. 31 waiver Trade Deadline, but he did not help his cause against the Dodgers. He allowed seven hits, four runs, five walks, one home run and struck out just one in five innings. "I can't worry about that," Harang said about the August waiver Trade Deadline. "I've got to worry about just executing out there right now. That's what I've got to focus on. I can't worry about the potential to go here or there. I've got to pitch like I know I can pitch and get myself back in a groove."
• The Phillies challenged a play at second base in the second inning. Second-base umpire Jeff Kellogg ruled A.J. Ellis safe at second on a sacrifice bunt, but replay showed Phillies shortstop Freddy Galvis tagged Ellis before he reached second. The call was overturned.
• Francoeur is hitting .322 (48-for-149) with a .340 on-base percentage and a .557 slugging percentage since May 4. His .897 OPS is seventh-best among National League outfielders with 150 or more plate appearances in that span.
• Phillies third baseman Maikel Franco is making a case for National League Rookie of the Year. Despite making his season debut May 15, Franco entered Wednesday ranked second among NL rookies in doubles; third in home runs, RBIs and multi-hit games; fourth in runs and extra-base hits; and fifth in total bases. He is 33 plate appearances short of qualifying, but he otherwise would rank first among NL rookies with an .830 OPS.
• Kiké Hernandez homered off Buchanan last year, so he could get a start at third base, or spell Jimmy Rollins at shortstop in the day game.
• In his only start against the Phillies this year, Greinke allowed one hit over eight scoreless innings on July 9 at Dodger Stadium.

NEXT GAME:

With Zack Greinke starting for the Dodgers on Thursday, expect Yasmani Grandal to be catching. Manager Don Mattingly said he started A.J. Ellis behind the plate Wednesday night in part because he and Brett Anderson have developed a winning rapport, and in part to keep Grandal teamed with Greinke. Mattingly said he did not want Grandal to catch a day game following a night game. Greinke is 5-1 with a 2.03 career ERA against the Phils. The Phillies will counter Greinke with starting pitcher David Buchanan, whose lone start against the Dodgers was a winning one last year, allowing one run in five innings. Buchanan needs to bring his best to have a shot to beat Greinke. He is 2-6 with a 6.44 ERA in eight starts this season, but 2-0 with a 3.38 ERA in his last three. He allowed three runs in 7 1/3 innings Friday against the Braves.

PHILS PHACTS:

Recent Surge Brings Hope – When the All-Star break arrived this season, not a moment too soon for the Phillies, they had the worst record in baseball. And it wasn't even close. At the rate they were going they would have ended up with 110 losses. Since play resumed, virtually the same roster has MLB's best record. Despite a 4-3 loss to the Dodgers at Citizens Bank Park on Wednesday night, they're 13-4. What in the name of Andy MacPhail is going on here? How can a team that looked suspiciously like the '62 Mets for much of the first half now more resemble the '27 Yankees? Glad you asked ... Part is covered by the universal, one-size-fits-all answer: "That's baseball." Consider 1997. As late as July 27, the Phillies were 42 games under .500. They closed out the year with a 38-22 record. Consider 1991. They were in last place with a 40-58 record on July 28, then inexplicably ran off 13 straight wins. Besides, as impressive as the record has been for the last two-and-a-half-weeks, that's a small sample in baseball terms. Still, there are several factors which, with the benefit of hindsight, have helped trigger the turnaround. The one getting the most attention is the change in managers. After Ryne Sandberg stepped down on June 26, Pete Mackanin was given the job on an interim basis. Sandberg was a self-described old-school baseball man. Mackanin runs a looser ship. Veteran Jeff Francoeur on Wednesday became the latest to suggest that the players are performing better because they're more relaxed under Mackanin. In fairness to Sandberg, a managerial change often provides a temporary bounce, whether it's going from a disciplinarian to a player's manager or vice-versa. When hard-nosed Larry Bowa took over from more easygoing Terry Francona in 2001, a team that lost 97 games the year before jumped out to a 35-18 start. Still, this abrupt U-turn must put into play the possibility that Mackanin could be considered to stay on next season. He spoke at length Wednesday about his evolution as a manager who started out under domineering types like Gene Mauch, Billy Martin and Dick Williams. "I have a certain style. And I've changed over the years. I realize the players are the ones who win and lose. And if I can keep the players positive and happy, while at the same time keeping that little bit of friction between us, and letting them know that we're trying to win and it's a bottom-line business, that's what I want to do," he said. "My first few years I was a yeller and a screamer. I found out over time that's not the way it should be. That doesn't work today." His epiphany came while he was managing winter ball in Maracaibo, Venezuela. He came home after a loss and was ranting and raving. "And my wife [Nancy] said, 'Are you going to have a heart attack over this? What are you doing?' And it stuck with me. And I started changing," he said. It also doesn't hurt that, after managing in the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico as well as Venezuela, he can speak passable Spanish. The Phillies currently have 11 Latin American players on their 25-man roster. There are other reasons players might be more relaxed, too. Starting the second half with the worst record in baseball lowers expectations and takes a lot of the pressure off, for example. Mackanin has further benefited from the organizational decisions to bring Aaron Nola and Adam Morgan to the big leagues, plus David Buchanan's return from a trip to Triple-A Lehigh Valley and the disabled list. For the most part, they've been more effective at giving the Phillies a chance to win than stopgap veterans like, for example, Sean O'Sullivan and Kevin Correia were able to do. An offense that ranked at or near the bottom of baseball in most major offensive categories has perked up, as well. Part of that could be attributed to not having to come back from early deficits on a regular basis. Before the break, Phillies starters had a first-inning earned run average of 6.65. Going into Wednesday night: 2.25. That Aaron Harang took the loss Wednesday after giving up three in the first underscores the point. The Phillies were unable to overcome the early deficit and also had a streak of six straight home games with 10 or more hits snapped. Besides, it's logical that younger players like third baseman Maikel Franco, center fielder Odubel Herrera, shortstop Freddy Galvis and second baseman Cesar Hernandez should be more confident now, as they gain experience and come to the park every day knowing there's a good chance they'll be in the lineup. Hernandez presents an interesting illustration. He was hitting .232 when Chase Utley went on the disabled list, three days before Sandberg resigned. He's batted .324 with a .381 on base percentage, 22 runs scored and 12 stolen bases in 35 games since. Utley, who could be activated as early as Thursday, was batting .179 when he was sidelined with right ankle inflammation. Finally, it's possible that the Phillies were able to ambush some teams who subconsciously let down knowing they were playing the team with baseball's worst record. It's a long season. Players are only human. It could have helped the Phils take two out of three from the Rays at home and sweep the Cubs at Wrigley Field. Look, nobody is suggesting that the Phillies will play at this pace for the rest of the season. Nobody is pretending that their rebuilding project doesn't still have a ways to go. But, just as they aren't as good as they've looked since the break, maybe they weren't as bad as they looked earlier. "I think we're much better than what we showed in the last month or two of the first half," Francoeur said. There isn't a single, simple explanation why the Phillies have played so much better lately. There are several reasons, as it turns out.

Returning Tomorrow? – Chase Utley told reporters Tuesday he expected to see Jimmy Rollins before the Dodgers rolled out of town Thursday. So, plan to see Utley back with the Phillies for Thursday afternoon's series finale against Los Angeles at Citizens Bank Park, although it remains to be seen if he will be activated from the 15-day disabled list. Utley, who has been on the DL since June 23 with a sprained right ankle, went 3-for-4 with one double, one RBI and one walk in the third game of his rehab assignment Wednesday night with Double-A Reading. But what happens to Utley upon his return with second baseman Cesar Hernandez playing so well? "I'm going to try and mix Chase in at second base," Phillies interim manager Pete Mackanin said this week. Hernandez will give Freddy Galvis a break at shortstop and Maikel Franco a break at third base to keep him in the lineup. Utley also will play occasionally at first base. "I already had a conversation with Cesar to let him know that he is not a utility player, but it's important to get Chase at-bats," Mackanin said. "[Utley] may play some first base, so hopefully three or four days a week I can get him in. We'll see." It is important for Utley to play because he is receiving interest from a few teams, most notably the Angels and Cubs. While Utley has hit just .179 with seven doubles, one triple, four home runs and 25 RBIs in 65 games this season, there is a real chance the Phillies could find a trade partner before the Aug. 31 waiver Trade Deadline. Utley has 10-and-5 rights and has indicated numerous times in the past he does not wish to waive those rights. But he hinted in Spring Training he could change his mind if the team does not compete and his fellow veterans are traded. The Phillies just traded Cole Hamels, Jonathan Papelbon, Ben Revere and Jake Diekman before the July 31 non-waiver Trade Deadline.

Immediate Impact – Nick Williams scored five runs in five plate appearances Wednesday, finishing 4-for-4 with a walk, double, two homers and three RBIs as Double-A Reading walloped Trenton, 11-1. The Phillies' No. 4 prospect (No. 64 overall) had a career night in just his second game for Reading. Texas traded Williams to Philadelphia last week as part of a trade Deadline deal for Cole Hamels, and the outfielder has now gone 6-for-9 in two contests since the switch. Reading's offense also got a boost from No. 17 prospect Andrew Knapp, who went 2-for-5 with two homers and three RBIs of his own. The catcher now has five multi-hit games in a row, over which time his average has ballooned from .323 to .373. Knapp's two taters matched his Double-A total coming into Wednesday night's game, and he now has 33 RBIs over 30 games in Reading. But Williams -- Reading's leadoff hitter -- stole the show. Still just 21 years old, he's coming off a strong 97-game campaign with Double-A Frisco in which he hit .299/.357/.479 with 21 doubles, four triples, 13 homers and 45 RBIs.

Looking Ahead To The Waiver Wire – The Phillies sure have made things interesting since the All-Star break. Cole Hamels, Jonathan Papelbon, Ben Revere and Jake Diekman have been traded. Maikel Franco, Cesar Hernandez, Odubel Herrera and Freddy Galvis are playing like they could be pieces of the future. Ken Giles is throwing 100-mph fastballs as the closer. And the few remaining veterans on the 25-man roster still have a chance to be traded before the Aug. 31 waiver Trade Deadline. Phillies right fielder Jeff Francoeur helped his cause, while Phillies right-hander Aaron Harang did not, in Wednesday night's 4-3 loss to the Dodgers at Citizens Bank Park. Francoeur threw out Joc Pederson at third base in the fourth inning and hit a two-run home run to left field in the eighth, while Harang allowed seven hits, four runs, five walks and struck out one in five innings. Francoeur is hitting .276 (59-for-214) with 12 doubles, one triple, 10 home runs, 35 RBIs and a .787 OPS in 78 games. Francoeur has the second-best OPS on the team among players with more than 100 at-bats. Only Franco (.829) is better. Francoeur also is averaging a home run every 21.4 at-bats, which is the second-best mark on the team. Only Ryan Howard (one homer every 19.8 at-bats) has been better. "We commented about it," Phillies interim manager Pete Mackanin said. "There's got to be somebody that's interested in him, I would think. He's come up big all year. We love him." Harang allowed a three-run home run to Yasiel Puig in the first inning to hand the Dodgers a 3-0 lead. He had a 2.02 ERA in his first 11 starts this season. He has a 7.46 ERA in his last eight. "I can't worry about that," Harang said about the Aug. 31 waiver Trade Deadline. "I've got to worry about just executing out there right now. That's what I've got to focus on. I can't worry about the potential to go here or there. I've got to pitch like I know I can pitch and get myself back in a groove." It was Harang's second start since returning from the disabled list with left-foot plantar fasciitis. "I was off," Harang said. "I wasn't sharp."

Supporting The Phillies Family – All things considered, Chad Billingsley and his wife, Tiffany, are feeling incredibly blessed these days. Wednesday night at Citizens Bank Park, they will show appreciation for everything good that has happened to them since March. While Chad has worked to return to the mound following a pair of right elbow surgeries, Tiffany has been quietly going through rounds of chemotherapy to beat a rare but aggressive form of cancer called gestational choriocarcinoma. The couple happily reported that Tiffany has been clear of cancer since last month. She will finish her final treatments in a few weeks. "There were so many things that went right in this process," Chad said Tuesday. "It's like the Lord knew we had to be home," said Tiffany, who is from Reading, Pa. The Billingsleys, who will celebrate their ninth wedding anniversary in November, are hosting 100 members of the oncology staff at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, where Tiffany has been receiving her care. The group includes two of her doctors -- Russell Schilder and Norm Rosenblum -- and her nurse practitioner, Amanda Jackson. The Billingsleys' lives turned upside down in late March. Following a miscarriage, Tiffany, 31, was diagnosed on April 1 with gestational choriocarcinoma, which is the malignant form of gestational trophoblastic disease. According to cancer.org, GTD is a group of rare tumors that involve abnormal growth of cells inside a woman's uterus. The cancer affects about two to seven of every 100,000 pregnancies in the United States. It is aggressive, but treatable, if detected early. Tiffany had no luck finding a doctor who could see her immediately. Two weeks, one hospital said. Three weeks, said another. "I had to pitch that next day," Chad said. "I was a mess. I ended up talking to Ruben [Amaro Jr.]. He was on the ball right there. By the time I finished my start, we already had an appointment set up at Jefferson for the following Tuesday [April 7]. It was a big relief." "I may not even be alive today if it wasn't for the Phillies," Tiffany said. "They've been unbelievable. We've never felt so part of a family, and we're new." Tiffany started first-level chemotherapy April 8, but her hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) numbers continued to increase. Her cancer tripled in one week, reaching her lungs. "Is she even going to be alive?" Chad recalled thinking back then. "Are we past the point where chemo can help?" Tiffany eventually started five-drug chemotherapy. She responded well. Chad said he contemplated putting his baseball career on hold because the treatments were so harsh on Tiffany, but she said she needed him to pitch. "We need normalcy," she said. "It was good for me to pitch," Chad said. "If it distracted me for a half hour, it helped. It was a good escape." "Imagine what it would have been like if he hadn't had that, and this was the only thing we thought about," Tiffany added. Fortunately, by mid-July, doctors detected no cancer. "I would never share any of this with anyone, but the Phillies and Jeff have been so fantastic," Tiffany said. "We wanted to say thanks." "It's about thanking them publicly for having my wife here today," Chad said. "What they've done is unbelievable."

Recognizing Vendors – There are 750 players on the current MLB rosters, dozens and dozens of coaches, scores of broadcasters, and millions of fans who help make each and every MLB season special. But even with all those people doing their best to contribute, there'd still be no dugout ice cream, no peanuts for Anthony Rizzo to bogart and no gluttonous hot dog monstrosities without the hard work of the food and beverage vendors at MLB stadiums throughout the country.

THE BEGINNING:

The Phillies are starting the season as expected and are now at the bottom of the NL east at 42-66. 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 48-61-0 on this day.

Phillies Flustered By Former Teammate

GAME RECAP: Pirates Pound Phillies 7-2

It looks like the Pirates are getting their groove back. Andrew McCutchen and Josh Harrison homered and A.J. Burnett was strong in Tuesday night's 7-2 victory over the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park. The Pirates (17-16) have won four consecutive games and five of their last six to push past the .500 mark for the first time since May 1. "We stayed focused on offense after some early hard-hit balls didn't find grass, and A.J. got us off on the mark, throwing zeros up," Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said. "A big three-run homer [by Harrison] a big two-run homer [McCutchen] with a big two-run single, [Gregory Polanco] sandwiched in-between." It has been a much different run recently for the Phillies, who have lost 11 of their last 14 games. The Phillies (11-23) are off to their worst start since 1971. They need to win Wednesday's game to avoid their worst start since 1961, when they were 11-24. "It's definitely frustrating," Phillies catcher Carlos Ruiz said. "We have to keep going."

OTHER NOTES FROM THE DAY:

• O'Sullivan had not earned a win in a big league game since May 12, 2011, exactly four years ago Tuesday. But it was not meant to be. He allowed three runs in five innings to take the loss. O'Sullivan is 0-9 in 18 appearances since he earned that win, which is the longest active losing streak in the big leagues.
• The Phillies' bullpen entered the night with 59 walks, 11 more than any other bullpen in baseball. Right-hander Luis Garcia walked the first two batters he faced in the seventh inning, which led to the first two runs in a four-run inning and turned a one-run deficit into a five-run deficit.
• "I didn't really see what happened until I looked down and the ball was in my hand." -- O'Sullivan, on his unlikely bare-handed catch off a Burnett comebacker.
• Phillies second baseman Chase Utley singled to right field in the fourth inning to give him a very modest four-game hitting streak. He has four hits in his last 10 at-bats, which is progress considering his average dropped Friday to .099.
• The Phillies are a season-high 12 games under .500. They have not been this far under .500 this early in the season since May 15, 1971, when they opened at 9-22.
• Facing Hamels will be a rare occasion for the Pirates as he will be just the fourth left-handed starter the Bucs have faced in 2015. The Pirates are batting just .204 versus left-handed pitching this season.
• Cesar Hernandez is expected to continue playing third base for the Phillies after regular starter Cody Asche was sent down to Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Monday night. If Hernandez isn't the starter, it will likely be Andres Blanco.

NEXT GAME:

The Phillies and Pirates will play the third game of their four-game series Wednesday, notable because of the marquee pitching matchup and the opposite directions the teams are trending. Cole Hamels will take the mound for the home team after making one of his best starts of the season in his previous outing. Hamels threw seven innings of one-run baseball Friday versus the Mets, improving his record to 2-3 and his ERA to 3.68. Starting against Hamels for the Pirates will be Francisco Liriano, who enters the game in the top 10 in the National League in strikeouts with 44. Liriano is 1-2 with a 2.79 ERA. After a slow start to the month, the Pirates have slowly been gaining ground back in the NL Central and a series win versus the Phillies would be their second straight after a rough stretch in early May when the team lost five in a row. Meanwhile, the Phillies haven't improved after their slow start and are looking to avoid their worst start since the turn of the century with their ace on the mound.

PHILS PHACTS:

O’Sullivan Looked Spectacular For A Single Play – Sean O'Sullivan picked up pretty much where he left off. After missing nearly a month due to injury, O'Sullivan came off the disabled list Tuesday and lost his ninth straight decision dating back to 2011 as the Phillies lost 7-2. He threw 88 pitches in five innings of work, allowing three runs, striking out two, walking one and hitting one batter. All three of the runs he allowed came on a home run by Josh Harrison in the fourth inning. Despite the runs he allowed and his relatively advanced pitch count, O'Sullivan said he didn't just feel well, but he felt well enough to go back in for another inning. "I was lobbying for them to send me back out there in the sixth, but they didn't want to stretch me too thin on my first game back," O'Sullivan said. "I only went 72 pitches or so in the rehab start. Hopefully next one they let me go full board." The right-hander's performance Tuesday night didn't deviate too far from what he had done in his starts prior to the injury. He threw the fewest number of pitches he had all season, but was just three pitches away from tying his season high. His three runs allowed sat nicely between the two he allowed in his first start and the four he allowed in his second start. He even hit a batter, something he did in both of his April starts as well. But while O'Sullivan's numbers matched up well with his past outputs, his demeanor did not. When reflecting on his day, O'Sullivan mentioned that he succumbed to a few jitters early. "I think a little bit [of jitters] in the first inning," O'Sullivan said. "But that may have been a little bit of over-anxiousness, you know first game back. I was fine the rest of the game." O'Sullivan traded his first-inning anxiety for quick reactions in the second, as his most favorable highlight of the night came on a comebacker off the bat of opposing starter and former teammate A.J. Burnett. Burnett half-swung at a pitch and sent it right back at O'Sullivan, who, having to react quickly, stuck his throwing hand in front of the ball and recorded the out. The funny thing was, catching the ball wasn't even O'Sullivan's intention. "I didn't really see what happened until I looked down and the ball was in my hand," he said. "It was just one of those things where I wasn't going to be able to get the glove to it, so I just stuck my hand out trying to just knock it down and I held on to it." O'Sullivan said his hand felt fine after the catch, as did the knee he had injured. But despite how well O'Sullivan said he felt, Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg said he wouldn't be surprised if it took his starter a few more games to look 100 percent. "Well, this was his first time pitching in a few weeks so I would imagine there was a little bit of rust there," Sandberg said. "We'll see how he does next time."

Robbing A Former Teammate – Life as a pitcher in the National League is hard enough as it is. You've got a super-prospect coming up seemingly every other week, and then someone's actually cruel enough to make you turn around and have to swing a piece of wood at a tiny white ball moving all over the place at high speed. The results: oy. So you'd expect that adversity to foster some kind of pitcher-to-pitcher brotherhood, a mutual understanding that -- hey, man, we know you've got it rough, and we're here for you. Well, Phillies starter Sean O'Sullivan apparently never got that memo. When fellow pitcher-in-arms A.J. Burnett managed to defy the odds and hit a little line drive during Tuesday's Pirates-Phillies game, O'Sullivan responded not with kindness and support, but the cold, bare hand of the law. Look at that swing, Sean. Does that look like the swing of a man who deserves to be robbed of even the slightest chance at a hit? Pitchers fly together, man!

The Makings Of A Historic Year – Ken Giles had not appeared in a game since Friday and had thrown just 11 pitches since May 4, which is why Phillies fans watched him pitch the eighth inning in Tuesday's 7-2 loss to the Pirates at Citizens Bank Park. He needed work. Phillies closer Jonathan Papelbon pitched the ninth. He also had not pitched since Friday, and had thrown just 22 pitches since May 4. The appearances of the team's two best relievers in a five-run loss summed up the past couple weeks for the Phillies, who have lost 11 of their last 14 games to drop to 11-23. It is the Phillies' worst start since 1971, when they also started 11-23. The Phillies need to win Wednesday to avoid their worst start since 1961, when they opened at 11-24. "It's definitely frustrating," Phillies catcher Carlos Ruiz said. Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg made a point not to use Giles in the eighth inning Sunday when the Phillies trailed the Mets, 5-4. He instead chose right-hander Jeanmar Gomez, who allowed two runs in the eighth inning, which halted any momentum the Phillies had after scoring two runs the previous inning to cut the deficit to one. Sandberg said Sunday he did not want to use Giles in a "negative" situation, meaning the Phillies trailing by a run or more. But while Sandberg did not want to use Giles in a one-run deficit Sunday he had no choice but to use Giles and Papelbon in a five-run deficit Tuesday. After all, they cannot pitch only in tied or "plus" situations. This team is not in enough of them. "That's frustrating. It is," Sandberg said. "That situation [Sunday] as with one day off. And now [Giles] has to pitch on his fourth day off because we can't have a lead and pitch him in that situation. That is frustrating." The Phillies turned a 3-0 deficit into a 3-2 deficit with a couple runs in the sixth inning but Phillies right-hander Luis Garcia walked the first two batters he faced to spark the Pirates to a four-run inning to take the five-run lead. The Phillies' bullpen entered the night with 59 walks, 11 more than any other team in baseball. The Phillies had no chance to come back. They are averaging just 2.82 runs per game, which is the lowest scoring average in baseball. No other team is averaging fewer than 3.16 runs per game. The Phillies actually are on pace to have the second-lowest scoring team in baseball since 1909. Only the 1942 Phillies averaged fewer runs per game (2.61). "That has been the story of late," Sandberg said. "Fall behind, chip away, get close and then not be able to take the lead. Tonight having to use Giles and Papelbon in a situation like that just to get their work in that's the effect of the last four games. That's a frustrating part of it. "We get close and aren't able to get over the hump and get a lead and then let a couple guys like that pitch in a win-type of a situation."

Phillies Lend Support Off The Field – Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg and representatives from Citizens Bank joined up with Philabundance on Monday to combat hunger in the Delaware Valley. Philabundance is a non-profit organization that provides relief for the hungry in the metro Philadelphia area by receiving food donations from farms, manufacturers, importers, retailers, wholesalers and through food drives and distributing that food through various methods. President of Citizens Bank Dan Fitzpatrick was in attendance along Sandberg to kick off the "Phans Feeding Families" initiative. Additionally, Fitzpatrick donated a $40,000 grant to another Philabundance initiative, KidsBites, which gives healthier food options to the youth of Philadelphia who otherwise wouldn't have access or be able to afford it. Several other members of the Phillies' organization and Citizens Bank were on hand, including the Phillie Phanatic, who was there to ceremonially turn on the conveyer belt that officially started the Phans Feeding Families initiative.

THE BEGINNING

The Phillies are starting the season as expected and are now at the bottom of the NL east at 11-23. Given the departures, aging stars, injuries, and performance this spring, don’t expect their competitive place in the standings to last. All time, the Phillies are 44-53-1 on this day.