Phillies Come Back In 9th Against Diamondbacks

GAME RECAP: Phils Stun D-Backs 4-3

The Phillies came from behind to beat the D-backs, 4-3, on Tuesday night at Chase Field, striking for a pair of runs in the ninth inning to win consecutive games for the first time since May 17-18 and clinch their first series victory since then as well. "It's been May since we've done it, I think, and it was good to win, obviously," Phillies manager Pete Mackanin said. "[Starter Jerad] Eickhoff just kept pitching himself in and out of trouble all day and he ended up with a pretty good outing." D-backs closer Brad Ziegler (2-3) blew just his second save opportunity of the year -- both coming in his last three appearances. Pinch-hitter Jimmy Paredes hit a leadoff double, then scored on a single by Andres Blanco. Veteran first baseman Ryan Howard drew a bases-loaded walk with one out for Philadelphia's go-ahead run against Ziegler, his old college teammate from Missouri State University. "I'm sure [Howard] would have preferred to hit a grand slam to win the game, but I'm sure he's happy with getting that run across with a walk," Mackanin said. "He battled." Phillies third baseman Maikel Franco went 2-for-5 with a homer and reliever Hector Neris (2-3) picked up the win. Jeanmar Gomez pitched a scoreless ninth for his 21st save. D-backs third baseman Jake Lamb went 2-for-3, reaching base three times. He gave Arizona a 3-2 lead in the seventh with his team-best 16th homer, after Yasmany Tomas had tied the game the previous inning with a solo blast of his own. Arizona starter Zack Greinke exited with left oblique tightness prior to the third inning. The D-backs' bullpen limited the Phillies to one run over the next six innings until Ziegler's mishaps in the ninth. The D-backs lost their fourth in a row. "It's definitely frustrating, we don't like to lose games at all, period," said Ziegler, whose team fell to 13-27 at home. "We get the idea that we should be better at home than we are and it's tough to explain. Tonight, guys put us in a good position to win, especially with Zack going down early."

PHILS PHACTS:

• Phillies starter Jerad Eickhoff helped his own cause with a single to right field that scored Freddy Galvis in the top of the second inning to give his team a temporary 1-0 lead. The D-backs answered in the bottom of the frame to tie the game at 1. The RBI was the third of the season for Eickhoff.
• Howard's seven-pitch walk with the bases loaded proved to be the difference in the game. The veteran fell behind 1-2 against Ziegler but didn't bite on the reliever's changeups and sinkers out of the zone. "He's been battling and taking better at-bats lately," Blanco said of Howard. "It was not a hit but it counts as a big at-bat."
• "It reminded me of the way we played for the first two months of the season. We stayed in the game and scratched and clawed to just eke out a win. That's the way we did it for two months." - said Mackanin.
• Phillies center fielder Odubel Herrera is among NL leaders in games, four-hit games, singles, infield hits and outfield assists.
• Philadelphia's Peter Bourjos continues to be one of the hottest hitters in baseball, hitting .500 with three doubles, two two triples and six RBIs in his previous 15 games entering play Tuesday.
• Bradley is 3-3 with a 4.50 ERA through eight starts. He was 2-3 with a 5.80 ERA in eight starts last season.

NEXT GAME:

D-backs' starter Archie Bradley will establish a career-high in starts when he takes the mound for the ninth time in the series finale against the Phillies on Wednesday at Chase Field. The Arizona right-hander has been on a roll lately, sporting a 0.82 ERA over his last two outings, including six scoreless innings against the Phillies on June 19. He struck out five in the 85-pitch outing. The Phillies will counter with Zach Eflin, who has a 1.54 ERA in two starts since allowing nine runs in 2 2/3 innings in his big league debut June 14. Eflin allowed two runs on four hits in 5 2/3 innings against Bradley and the D-backs. He struck out three and walked one batter in the 5-1 loss.

PHILS PHACTS:

Potential On Display – There are games when Phillies' third baseman Maikel Franco shows off his potential. There are others when he shows his age. On Tuesday, the 23-year-old did both, picking up a pair of hits -- including a crucial home run -- and striking out twice in his team's 4-3 victory against the D-backs to clinch the series win. Franco, who is hitting .246 with 13 home runs and 41 RBIs, finished 2-for-5. "I'm just trying to get better every day and help my team," Franco said in Spanish. "I'm working on controlling my excitement at home plate and I feel like I'm getting better in that area." It was quite a night for the young infielder. He flied out to center on the first pitch he saw from D-backs starter Zack Greinke in the first inning and later hit a double on the second pitch from reliever Randall Delgado in the third. He also hit a solo home run on the fifth pitch against Delgado in the fifth inning to put the Phillies ahead, 2-1. "He's got a lot of natural ability, obviously," Phillies manager Pete Mackanin said. "He's an aggressive hitter and I love aggressive hitters, but he's a little bit overly aggressive. I think he needs to be a smarter hitter. I'd rather take an aggressive hitter and throttle him back than a guy who is not aggressive and try to get him to be aggressive. That's a great situation to be in." Franco, who leads the team in home runs, RBIs and extra-base hits, struck out swinging on four pitches for the final out of the top of the seventh inning. He worked the count full before striking out with the bases loaded and the game tied at 3 on a ball way outside of the strike zone in the ninth. "He's got a chance to be a real good hitter and hit for power," Mackanin said. "He's got a lot to learn but it's only his first full year in the big leagues. He's going through a learning period." Franco, who made his big league debut in 2014, hit .280 with 14 home runs and 50 RBIs in 2015. He posted a .497 slugging-percentage and an .840 OPS last season. "I feel like I had good game because we won," Franco said. "I helped my team win and winning is the most important thing." 

Representing The Phillies – A pair of teammates at Double-A Reading will represent the Phillies at the 2016 SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game on Sunday, July 10 at Petco Park in San Diego. Outfielder Dylan Cozens will suit up for the U.S. roster and right-handed pitcher Ricardo Pinto will do the same for the World team. Pinto and Cozens are the Phillies' Nos. 10 and 22 rated prospects by MLBPipeline.com. "A friend of mine, Pat Kelly, managed [Cozens] in Puerto Rico this past winter and he sent me a text and told me to pay attention to him," Phillies manager Pete Mackanin said. "He said, 'Pete, I don't know if you know this guy Cozens, but he's going to be a stud.' I kind of paid attention to the point where I knew he was in Minor League camp and I requested him when we needed an extra outfielder for a [Spring Training] game just to see him." Mackanin estimates 6-foot-6, 235-pound Cozens hit about 10 home runs during batting practice in Port Charlotte, Fla, that day. The outfielder's power has been on display all season. Cozens hit his 20th home run of the season Monday and has driven in 60 runs for the Fightin Phils. He's also struck out 99 times. "He's really a physical specimen and I know he's got a high ceiling," Mackanin said. Pinto pitched across two levels of Class A ball in 2015 and won the organization's Minor League pitcher of the year honors. He's 3-3 with a 4.32 ERA in 85 1/3 innings for Reading this season. He's struck out 59 and walked 24. Major League Baseball, in conjunction with MLB.com, Baseball America and the 30 Major League Clubs, selected the 25 players on each team. Each Major League organization is represented and players from all full-season Minor Leagues were eligible to be selected.

Flashes Of Brilliance – The Phillies have displayed flashes of dominance at times on the mound this season. They just haven't shown it enough times. On Monday, Phillies' pitchers combined to throw their Major League leading ninth shutout of the season in the 8-0 victory against the D-backs at Chase Field. They threw seven shutouts during the entire 2015 season. "For the first six or seven weeks of the season, after our 0-4 start, our pitching was just fantastic. Everybody did their job and made their pitches and for whatever reason, our pitching was really outstanding," Phillies manager Pete Mackanin said. "When they are good, they are good. The whole name of the game is consistency. Over 162 games, the best teams end up on top because they have their ups and downs, but over the long haul, the better teams play better, hit better and pitch better." What's more, the nine shutouts are the club's most through their its 78 games since 2011 when the staff had nine shutouts in the first 67 games. That season, Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee, Cole Hamels and Roy Oswalt threw 21 shutouts and the Phillies won a franchise-record 102 games.

Today In Phils History – Fred Fitzsimmons had a lackluster managerial stint with the Phillies going 105-181-2 which is why he was replaced with pitcher/outfielder Ben Chapman on this day in 1945. 11 years later, on the same day that the Phillies signed minor league free agent Art Mahaffey, the Dodgers hit three straight homeruns in the bottom of the 9^th to walk off against the Phillies. 2 years later former Phillie, and St. Louis left fielder, Del Ennis recorded outfield assists on two consecutive plays throwing out 2 advancing baserunners at third base. 2 years later, in 1960, the Phillies tie an MLB record by striking out 24 times in a double header. The following season, Willie Mays hits a walk off homerun in the 10^th for his 3^rd homerun of the game (manager Gene Mauch included several pitchers in the lineup at other positions to hid the identity of Mays’ victim). 10 years later, Tom Seaver records 13 strikeouts while shutting out the Phillies with Willie Montanez being Seaver’s 1000^th career victim. In 1986, Juan Samuel hits his 1^st career grand slam in the top of the 9^th in an 8-7 win over the Cardinals. The following season, Steve Bedrosian (the eventual Cy Young winner for that season) recorded his 12^th consecutive save, surpassing Sparky Lyle’s MLB record. In 2003, Jose Mesa secured his 17^th save of the season and his 105^th for the Phillies setting a new franchise record. And, finally, happy birthday to Sherry Magee who was born on this day in 1904.   

THE BEGINNING:

The Phillies are currently 34-45 this season putting them on pace to beat most preseason predictions. All time, the Phillies are 49-57-2 on this day. I expect the Phillies to finish in the bottom half of the division but not last in the NL East by finishing the season with a 77-85 record.

Utley Stays Hot But Phillies Remain Cold

GAME RECAP: Brewers Edge Phillies 4-2

Jean Segura's go-ahead RBI single in the seventh helped lift the Brewers to a 4-2 win over the Phillies on Saturday night at Miller Park. The victory gave Milwaukee its sixth win in as many games against Philadelphia this season. Segura and his double-play partner, Scooter Gennett, provided the rest of Milwaukee's offense off Jerome Williams in the fifth, as Gennett hit an RBI single and Segura scored on a single by Elian Herrera after some aggressive baserunning. Gennett added on in the eighth with another RBI single, giving him a career-high four hits. Brewers starter Jimmy Nelson worked a strong 6 2/3 innings on his way to a no-decision. The right-hander allowed two runs on five hits and a struck out six. Nelson is 6-1 with a 2.31 ERA over his last 10 starts. "It was a little more of a grind today," Nelson said, "but you're going to go through those games. In reality, you're not going to be locked in every game. You have to compete with what you've got that day." Williams retired 12 of the first 13 batters he faced before the fifth inning, while trade target Chase Utley continued his recent tear at the plate for the Phillies with two hits, including a solo home run off Nelson.

OTHER NOTES FROM THE DAY:

• With trade rumors swirling, Utley is showing potential suitors he can contribute when healthy. The veteran second baseman homered off Nelson in the third inning, and led off the fifth inning with a double down the right-field line. Utley went 2-for-4 with a walk on Saturday and is hitting .500 (13-for-26) with six extra-base hits and five RBIs since being activated from the disabled list on Aug. 7. "He's swinging the bat as well as I've seen him," Phillies interim manager Pete Mackanin said. "He's playing like he's rejuvenated. It is nice to see."
• The Phillies had two runners on with one out against Brewers right-hander Jeremy Jeffress in a 3-2 game in the eighth inning but couldn't score. Ryan Howard led off the inning with a single and moved to second on a groundout. Asche reached on a one-out infield single, but Jeffress recovered to strike out Freddy Galvis and Carlos Ruiz to escape the jam. Philadelphia went 2-for-10 with runners in scoring position Saturday and is 3-for-23 with runners in scoring position over the first two games of the series. "We've been crying about not getting length from the starters," Mackanin said. "We've gotten enough length from [starting pitchers in the series]. We're just not getting big hits to drive in the runs. We had a chance to win the game, but we just couldn't drive in runs. We left nine runners on base."
• Mackanin successfully challenged a pickoff play at second base in the top of the seventh inning. With two outs and two on in a 2-2 game, Brewers left-hander Will Smith appeared to have Utley picked off second base. Utley, who didn't slide, appeared with his foot to knock the ball loose and out of Segura's glove after the tag had been applied. "We just figured we might as well challenge it," Mackanin said. "It looked kind of funny. I didn't quite understand what happened there, because I couldn't see the ball fluttering around in his glove. I said, 'You know what, I'm going to challenge?' He just never had control of the ball." Second-base umpire Fieldin Culbreth called Utley out on the play. The call was overturned after a review. Brewers manager Craig Counsell came out after the ruling was announced and was ejected by Culbreth after a discussion. The Phillies couldn't take advantage of the play, however, as Smith struck Herrera out looking to end the inning. "I questioned whether he called him out because he kicked the ball out of the glove, and did he hold the ball long enough?" Counsell said of the play. "They said he didn't have possession, which I didn't agree with."
• Phillies third baseman Maikel Franco is expected to miss a fourth straight game Sunday with a bruised left wrist injured when he was hit by a pitch Tuesday in Arizona. While the rookie is making progress, interim manager Pete Mackanin said he will likely hold Franco out until Tuesday, when the Phillies return home to face the Blue Jays.
• After recording 10 quality starts over his first 11 outings of the season, Harang hasn't recorded a quality start in a nine-start stretch dating back to June 4. The 37-year-old has bees unable to finish the sixth inning in each of his last four outings.

NEXT GAME:

The Brewers will look to continue their success against Aaron Harang when the veteran right-hander starts for the Phillies opposite Taylor Jungmann in the series finale Sunday at Miller Park. Harang will be looking to get on track after posting a 7.63 ERA in his previous three starts, including allowing eight earned runs in 5 1/3 innings against the D-backs his last time out. The Brewers tagged Harang for eight earned runs in five innings in a 9-5 victory over the Phillies on July 1. Jungmann is coming off the shortest start of his rookie season, as he lasted just 2 2/3 innings in a loss to the Chicago Cubs. The 25-year-old limited the Phillies to two earned runs over six innings on June 30.

PHILS PHACTS:

Tuesday Return – Philadelphia Phillies third baseman Maikel Franco no longer has a wrap covering his bruised left wrist, but it will likely be at least a couple of more days before he returns to the lineup. Phillies interim manager Pete Mackanin expects Franco to sit out the remainder of the weekend series against the Milwaukee Brewers before possibly returning to the lineup Tuesday. The Phillies have an off-day Monday before opening up a two-game set with the Toronto Blue Jays at Citizens Bank Park on Tuesday. "More likely Tuesday [than Sunday]," Mackanin said. "There's no need to push him, although I'd like to have him in the lineup. I'm pretty sure he'll be ready by Tuesday." Franco hasn't played since being hit in the left wrist by a fastball from D-backs right-hander Jeremy Hellickson in the first inning Tuesday in Arizona. Without the restriction of a wrap around his left wrist, Franco went through a workout Saturday and planned to take batting practice in the cage at Miller Park. Even if all goes well Saturday, the Phillies will take a cautious approach with Franco. "I did my program in the training room with [head athletic trainer Scott Sheridan], and I feel much better," Franco said. "I will try to go to the cage and see how I feel when I swing." Cesar Hernandez has shifted over to third base to fill in for Franco, which has allowed Mackanin to keep the red-hot bat of Chase Utley in the lineup at second base.

He Found The Fire – Chase Utley is making it awfully hard for contending teams to not be interested in his services for the remainder of the season. As the ball remains in his court as to whether he accepts a trade out of Philadelphia, Utley continued his torrid stretch at the plate by going 2-for-4 with a double, home run and an RBI in a 4-2 Phillies loss to the Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park on Saturday night. "He looks good," Phillies interim manager Pete Mackanin said. "He's swinging the bat as well as I've seen him. He's playing like he's rejuvenated. It is nice to see." Utley is not speaking with the media in order to avoid talking about trade possibilities. The veteran second baseman led off the third inning Saturday with a solo home run to right field off Brewers right-hander Jimmy Nelson. It was Utley's first home run since June 2, a span of 81 at-bats. In his next at-bat, Utley roped a 1-1 offering from Nelson into the right-field corner to start the fifth inning with a double. Since returning from the disabled list on Aug. 7 after missing 37 games due to right ankle inflammation, Utley is hitting .500 (13-for-26) with five doubles, a home run and five RBIs. "To be honest with you, I think part of the reason that 'Ut' is energized is because of the young guys," Mackanin said. "When he came into this thing, he saw these young guys playing their [butts] off. I think it rubbed off on him more than the other way." As a player with 10-and-5 no-trade rights (10 years in the Majors and five straight with the same club), Utley has the right to reject a trade to any team. The Angels, Cubs, Giants, Astros, Dodgers and Yankees all reportedly have shown interest in adding the 36-year-old to the mix as they pursue a berth in the postseason. To Mackanin, there's value in having a veteran presence like Utley around as the Phillies try to build momentum toward the future over the final 45 games of the season. But the interim manager also faces the dilemma of trying to involve all his young players while finding playing time for Utley, who almost certainly won't be in Philadelphia next season. "Yes and no," Mackanin said when asked if there's value to having Utley around for the rest of this season. "I mean, yeah, we like 'Ut'. It is an issue for me, because I have to try to play everybody, and the guys that deserve to play, like Hernandez and so forth, I want them to play. But I want Utley to play, too. It is not an easy task for me, but we'll do what we can." However, as a former scout, Mackanin knows how he would recommend Utley. "I'd say I have high interest in him for whatever my purposes may be," Mackanin said. "Since he started playing [again], he doesn't look like he's 36 years old. He looks pretty frisky."

THE BEGINNING:

The Phillies season has taken an unexpected turn for the better as they have officially climbed out of the bottom of the NL East with a record of 46-71. Given the departures, aging stars, injuries, and bipolar performances this season, this could still end up being the worst team in franchise history! All time, the Phillies are 46-60-1 on this day.

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.