Surging Phillies set sights on struggling southpaw

The Phillies will try for their 12th win in 13 games when they take on Dave Williams and the Cincinnati Reds.

May 12 will be remembered as the day the Phillies unleashed Cole Hamels, but the undercard featured an excellent all-around night by the offense.

Hero du jour Shane Victorino had a career night, going 4-for-4 including a game-breaking home run. Since replacing Aaron Rowand, Victorino has gone 6-for-6 and is now 14-for-34 (.424) with a 1.183 OPS on the season. After the game, Victorino reflected on his team's recent turnaround.

"It all goes back to confidence," he told MLB.com. "Early on, we never doubted ourselves, and look at where we're at right now. We've won 11 out of 12, and we're still going to stay confident and go out and work."

That confidence has translated into a huge surge in the late innings, as it happened again last night. In their last 10 games, they are hitting .347 with 6 home runs from the 7th inning on.

One Phillie looking to get back on track, however, is Bobby Abreu. Abreu is still getting on base via the walk, but has not made much solid contact the past two weeks, resulting in a sinking .257 average. Abreu has not stroked an extra-base hit since May 2 at Florida.

Tonight’s starter Jon Lieber (2-4, 6.60 ERA) is looking for his third-straight win. Lieber has an impressive strikeout-to-walk ratio of 28-to-3, but like many of the Phillies starters, has been giving up lots of hits and unplayable line drives.

He’ll face left-hander Dave Williams (2-2, 7.85 ERA), who was acquired by the Reds this offseason in a deal that sent Sean Casey to Pittsburgh. According to the AP preview, Williams has struggled with his control this season, allowing at least one home run in every start for a total of eight, and has also collected 14 walks compared to just 10 strikeouts.

Team records: Phillies (20-15), 2nd in NL East, 2 back of New York; Reds (23-13), tied for division lead with St. Louis in NL Central.

Reader discussion points
Beerleaguer’s hit count has gone off the charts this week because of all the headlines the Phillies are making. Here’s a quick synopsis of what readers have been talking about in our growing comments section:

--- The New York media has been talking about the Phillies as a possible trade partner with the Yankees. The Yanks could be in pursuit a replacement outfielder with Hideki Matsui and Gary Sheffield on the pine. Bobby Abreu’s name has been mentioned, as has David Dellucci, who played with the Yankees briefly in 2003.

--- Much of the focus after yesterday’s game fell on beleaguered reliever Julio Santana, who managed to turn a blowout game into a save situation for the second time this season. If Santana continued to struggle, the Phillies may be in excellent shape to replace his mop-up role internally. Geoff Geary would be the obvious choice, but not a lock. The Triple-A Red Barons have six relief pitchers with ERAs under 2.84, including Ryan Cameron (14.1 IP, 0.63 ERA, 3 SV), Dan Giese (11 IP, 0.82 ERA), Clay Condrey (19.0 IP, 1.42 ERA), Jim Crowell (11 IP, 1.64 ERA), Brian Sanches (16 IP, 1.69 ERA, 4 SV), Yoel Hernandez (10.1 IP, 1.74 ERA, 6 SV), and Travis Minix (12.2 IP, 2.84 ERA).

Comments

[BlueMan]

A lot of hits from Mets fans and Mets trolls--expect a lot more if both teams stay in the race.

[miso]

Heard on the radio that Santana has been but on the DL and Geary is being recalled. Abreu sitting out with back spasms.

[Carson Book]

What is up with the game tonight? Can't find it on the tv? Rain delay?

Abreu looks old...really old.

[Carson Book]

For some reason I can't get the game tonight. I called Comcast and they told me it wasn't on my UPN...it's always on my UPN, why is it different this time? I hate not being able to watch my team!

[Carson Book]

I do have the Baltimore/KC game on my UPN and Chris Booker just entered the game. Is he as bad as a Santana? Time will tell.

[alexy]

Booker's line after leaving the game is as bad as it gets:

1IP 5H 6R 6ER 3BB OK 3HR

[ae]

good lord, Lieber is sure dealing tonight.

[Carson Book]

Well, at least now we know that Booker wasn't a good fit for Philly. I wanted to see him given the chance here, but looking at that line, I'm glad he never saw above Scranton.
Welcome back Geary, prove the GM wrong for sending you down to begin with.
I can't believe Lieber is pitching a no-hitter and I can't even watch it on tv, and to make things worse, the Phillies haven't scored yet, so Lieber is probably going to have to pitch a no-no to win.

[alexy]

The way is clear now. Not saying anything else.

[Carson Book]

Alright, where the hell is everyone tonight on here? Lieber is in the midst of a perfect game, and I'm posting to myself practically!

[alexy]

Whew. Roberson.

[Carson Book]

I don't believe in the whole "jinx" thing, so if Lieber loses this gem he's got going on right now, I guess you can blame it on me for running my big mouth. Screw Comcast, I can't believe I can't watch this game!

[alexy]

Oh well. Go get the win Lieber. Pitch count still good.

[alexy]

Lieber at 98 pitches through 8. Still 1-0 game. No matter what, they should trot him out there to start the last inning.

[ae]

very nice piece of baseball by Utley, drawing the HBP and getting himself in scoring position.

Lieber should absolutely be finishing this game. he's still looking terrific on the mound.

[Mike]

WHY take Lieber out??! What's the difference between 110 and 115 pitches? And why put Delucci in when Burrell is obviously a better fielder? At least if you're taking Pat out, run for him. I hope that can keep winning in spite of Manuel's robotic and sometimes idiotic managing.

[ae]

pull Burrell because his foot limits him in the OF. pulling Lieber? I might not have done it, but that's a judgment call. and nobody wants to do a Francona.

[ae]

obviously, when I said Francona I meant Little...

[alexy]

Lieber was masterful, like the pitcher he was at the end of last season. Out of 110 pitches, an astonishing 83 were for strikes. That's 27 balls--less than 1 per batter faced.

If he has established a comfort level with Fasano, I think Fasano keeps his job when Lieberthal comes back.

I had no problem with bringing Flash in. 110 pitches, balls getting hit hard for the first time that night--the Phils needed to show the Reds a different look. Gordon is just that, after Lieber. And that's his job.

[RickSchuBlues]

You have to get Lieber out of there when he allowed a baserunner in the ninth, because of his latent propensity to give up homers. It was scary when Dunn came up there with 2 on and 2 outs, but it worked out...what's that now, 13 out of 14? Man.

[Billy Mac]

I was wandering the same thing -- why replace Burrell with Dellucci when Burrell is better defensively and if you were going to replace Burrell why not run for him ?

[Mike]

Yes, Burrell's foot is bad, but he makes that catch. It was a matter of misplaying it, not speed. I still think you give Lieber one more guy. I'm sure he would have wanted it.

[seth.]

Can Cano play 3rd base?
What would you give up to get him playing 3rd here?
I'm acctually in eastern Pennsylvania (as opposed to Texas, where I live) and I still haven't seen a game as my mom doesn't have a television.
I am destined to never see this team.

[kdon]

I certainly wouldn't trade Abreu for Cano, and the Yankess won't trade him for Dellucci.

I imagine there won't be a deal involving an outfielder until Rowand comes back, but the Phillies would be wise to move Dellucci. The problem if they trade Abreu is that Vic loses a lot of his value as a corner outfielder and Dellucci is downright brutal as a fielder. They should hold on to everyone at least through interleague play - I don;t want to see Abraham Nunez as a DH!

[John Salmon]

Abreu for Cano? Hmmm...you get a hitting 3B, you save about $13 mil (Cano's around the minimum), you lose some (well, a lot of) defense at third, you play Victy most of the time in right...it's a gamble, but you know I'd do it. If the Phils are still in it come July that $13 mil could buy a lot of help.

[Billy Mac]

Cano is strictly a 2B.

[ae]

Cano for Abreu is a train wreck. Cano hit .277/.329/.424 in the minors. he's never going to have an OPS higher than .750 or so (and that's an absolute best case scenario), he has no power, no patience at the plate, and no speed. and as much as Bell's defense might give us headaches from time to time, Cano would be an significant downgrade there too.

I know everybody in Philadelphia loves to dump on Abreu, but even right now, during an "off" season, he's posting an OBP higher than Cano's slugging percentage. seriously, this is insane.

[RickSchuBlues]

Abreu's health is suddenly a concern; he's been playing like something isn't right, much like he was toward the end of last year. We can dump on Bobby all we want, but this team needs him in that lineup. Yes, the winning has come without him being a factor, but to tell the truth the offense has suffered somewhat of late; it's the pitching that's been better.

What happens after this year is another thing; I'd agree with Jason that he (and the Phillies) would be perhaps better off with a change of scenery. But I wouldn't necessarily advocate messing with something that's working during the season - assuming that he isn't going to stay hurt or unproductive for very long.

[RickSchuBlues]

Speaking of pitching, it was tremendous to see Lieber finally turn in an ace-like effort today. If he can keep pitching as well as he's capable, it can only help the momentum of this team that much more.

[seth.]

and Myers tomorrow!
it is amazing to have starters you can count on.

[Carson Book]

"That wasn't good," he said. "That was one of my mistakes, the first one I've made in about 50 years. It'll be a while before I use him again."

That is a quote from Manuel about pinch hitting Lieber on Friday night. The thing that strikes me as odd here is the part about the 1st mistake he's made in 50 years...B.S.!!! Manuel, wake up, you make a minimum of 3 mistakes a game! Now, I know he was just joking around, and having a good time after a win, but come on, this comment just struck a nerve!

Awesome game Lieber, really needed that! And all this Abreu to NY is crap. They have nothing to offer the Phillies besides a salary dump and I personally think Abreu helps this team more than people realize.