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Game chat: Moyer hoping sixth time is a charm

Jamie Moyer (3-5, 7.42) goes in search of elusive career win No. 250 when the Phillies try for the sweep today at 1:35.

I have a hunch the cagey vet, who's lugging the league's worst ERA on his 46-year-old shoulders, will finally get his win today and halt a five-game drought, going 0-4 with a 9.64 ERA during that span. The reason: Washington sucks. It's the worst team I've seen in ages. Use this thread to discuss the game, the Antonio Bastardo decision, how the Phils wil integrate J.C. Romero back into the roster, and whatever else you'd like to discuss on this beautiful final day of May. Enjoy the rest of your weekend.

Bastardo brings electric stuff to Phillies' rotation

The Phillies selected the hottest hand in the system when they named 23-year-old Antonio Bastardo to the starting rotation. It's the latest surprising chapter in a curious 2009 for the native Dominican.

Physical comparisons and left-handedness aren't the only things Bastardo has in common with Johan Santana. Early in Santana's career, teams couldn't decide whether he was a starter or reliever. The Twins only turned him loose once he refined his change-up into the weapon it is today. That took years. The Phils are hoping Bastardo's newly minted slider has been fine tuned into a Major League pitch after only two months. The Santana comparisons come from the fact that they're both little lefties with good fastballs and plus off-speed stuff.

Bastardo has had a curious season to say the least. The Phils invited him to Spring Training as a non-roster player and used him in five innings of relief before assigning him to minor league camp. Once camp broke, they sent him to Reading's bullpen, which appeared to be a double-whammy of a demotion for a pitcher whose star appeared to be on the rise. Most people assumed Bastardo, rated as the club's 11th best prospect according to Baseball America, was ticketed for Lehigh Valley's rotation after a breakout 2008. It marked the second time in as many seasons that a highly regarded left-hander was converted to a reliever at Double-A; Josh Outman, who has been a bright spot in Oakland's rotation this season, was sent to the bullpen before the club traded him to A's as part of the Joe Blanton deal.

Recognizing vast improvement to his slider, complimented with a late-life fastball and change, Bastardo was returned to Reading's rotation a month ago and would soon earn a promotion to Triple-A. All told, he went 2-2 with a 1.82 ERA in nine appearances, including five starts, at Reading, and 1-0 with a 2.08 ERA for the IronPigs.

Beerleaguer: I'll be honest: I was pulling for Bastardo. Carlos Carrasco seemed to be everyone's first choice. From what I gather from writers close to the team, he isn't ready. He doesn't have the toughness. When things don't go well for Carrasco, it snowballs. I think it's best to treat a high-ceiling 22-year-old with care. So from the list of choices, I'm on board with trying to catch lightning in a bottle with the hot hand of Bastardo. Of course, I'd rather see the Phils trade for proven help, but it's not going to happen May 31.

Additional notes: Last season in Reading, he had a 1.66 ERA in the first and second innings, then a 7.07 ERA after the fourth, according to Mike Drago of the Reading Eagle. He also missed two months with shoulder inflammation. During one of the spring broadcasts, it was mentioned that Bastardo, along with fellow prospect Andrew Carpenter, spent time with trainers addressing their physical fitness.

Postgame: Howard powers Phils, Bastardo Tuesday

A pair of Ryan Howard homers, including a mammoth third-deck grand slam, guided the Phils to a 9-6 victory over the Nationals at Citizens Bank Park, clinching just their second home series win of the season. Cole Hamels picked up the win with six shaky innings of six-run ball. Brad Lidge earned his 11th save. Meanwhile, the Phillies have selected Triple-A lefthander Antonio Bastardo to replace Brett Myers in San Diego Tuesday. We'll offer a full breakdown tomorrow.

Game chat: Phillies, Nationals play the second

Cole Hamels gets the ball when the Phillies look to go 9-2 against Shairon Martis and the Washington Nationals. First pitch is 7:05. Tonight's focus: fielding. Is it any suprise that Washington, which has the worst record in baseball, is also the worst fielding team in the league? Defense counts.

Saturday thread: Myers' career largely indefinable

Starter. Closer. Fat. Thin. Majors. Minors. Pitcher. Hitter. Winner. Loser. Hero. Zero. Just a few words that come to mind when describing the career of Brett Myers.

This morning on WIP radio, host Brian Startare asked listeners to summarize Myers' career in Philadelphia. No disrespect to the average WIP listener, but even Bill Lyon would struggle to extract meaning from Myers' career. In my five years of blogging about the Phillies, Myers has been the toughest player to write about. Eight seasons have simultaneously felt like too much and not enough. For a pitcher who constantly looked uncomfortable in his own body, he's still regarded as a 28-year-old work in progress, just two shocking years older than J.A. Happ. Still considered a front line starter by some, mounting evidence suggests otherwise. He never won more than 14 games, setting his career high six years ago.

But before his career is painted in a broad brush of disappointment, recall the spotlight moments, including two of the loudest Citizens Bank Park moments in history: the 2007 division clincher against Washington, and his amazing at bat against C.C. Sabathia in the NLDS. Ironically, neither had anything to do with starting pitching, yet he earned his World Series ring - baseball's crowning achievement - based on the two postseason wins and a stretch-run surge that guided the Phils to October.

And before we completely eulogize his tenure, know that he genuinely loves playing in Philadelphia, a town that shunned him after the incident in Boston, and know that the Phils have extended his stay once before. Today, the decision to keep him fittingly amounts to a coin flip, just like every other part of his career.

Postgame: Phillies hang on to nip Nationals 5-4

Brad Lidge made sure 16 hits would not be wasted when he mowed down the Nats in a 1-2-3 ninth.

If there was ever a case of a team playing down to its competition, it's the Phillies against the Nationals. Although they improved to 8-2 against the division's junior varsity, they made it harder than it needed to be once again, stranding 13 base-runners, among other lapses. With the Phils up 5-1 in the sixth, the Nationals were invited back into it when Chad Durbin, on in relief of eventual game winner J.A. Happ, allowed two inherited runners to score, plus an unearned run on a Jayson Werth bobble in right.

All of it was wiped away in the ninth when Lidge preserved the win in a vintage inning of work, using a hard slider and mid-90s cheddar to strike out the final two batters. Happ's final line read three runs, 5 1-3, which didn't do justice to a rather nice night for the young lefty, who improved to 3-0.

Offensively, the Phils capitalized on a string of deep flies that arrived just out of reach of the Nationals' outfielders. Shane Victorino had four hits, while Pedro Feliz raised his average to .312 on a two-for-four night, including an RBI triple. Credit also goes to Carlos Ruiz, who had another great night with the stick and called an excellent game.

Programming note: I'll be a guest of Brian Startare Saturday morning at 8:40 a.m. on 610-WIP.

Game chat: Happ goes; Myers will go under knife

Left-handers J.A. Happ (2-0, 2.60) and Ross Detwiler (0-0, 2.45) are set to pitch when the Phillies and Nationals begin a weekend set at 7:05.

Meanwhile, after seeking a second opinion, Brett Myers tells the Phiadelphia Inquirer that he will have surgery to repair a torn labrum in his hip, likely costing him the rest of the season. That means more pressure on one of the league's worst rotations to pick up the slack. It also places more emphasis on Happ to embrace his starting duties quickly. Happ pitched very well Saturday against the Yankees, but was under a pitch count after spending seven weeks as the Phillies longman. Longer outings will become even more crucial to preserving the bullpen now that the Phils have lost the season's steadiest arm. For Washington, Detwiler, Washington's first-round pick in 2007, makes his first career road start for the 13-33 Nationals. The Phillies enter play a half game off the pace of the Mets in the East.

Lineups are posted: Rollins, Victorino, Utley, Howard, Ibanez, Werth, Feliz, Ruiz.

Beer nuts: Sizing up the internal pitching options

Until the Phillies make a trade, it's likely they'll look to the farm system to fill Brett Myers' spot temporarily. These are the candidates, in no particular order.

Antonio Bastardo: (3-2, 1.89 ERA, 51/10 K/BB, 47.2 innings, 11 games, 7 starts). Last pitched yesterday, a 7-inning shutout over Buffalo. The 23-year-old lefty started out in Reading’s bullpen, then slid back into the rotation. He was recently promoted to Triple-A Lehigh Valley. Bastardo represents the hottest hand in the highest levels of the Minors and is drawing comparisons to Johan Santana, according to Jayson Stark's sources. His turn falls right in line with Brett Myers’ vacated slot. He would need to be added to one of four openings on the 40-man roster.

Kyle Kendrick: (4-3, 4.25 ERA, 34/20 K/BB ratio, 10 starts). Mediocre season for 24-year-old, running deep counts, walking batters, not lasting deep into games. His last outing came Wednesday, a solid six-inning, three-run win over Buffalo, so he’s another option who could easily shift into Philadelphia’s rotation on schedule. Inclusion on the 40-man roster, and a 21-13 Major League record, are on Kendrick’s side. Minimal minor league improvement is not.

Andrew Carpenter: (2-0, 3.61 ERA, 29/19 K/BB ratio, 8 starts). The 24-year-old has become the right-handed version of Eude Brito, called up from the minors whenever the Phils need an emergency starter. Based on the fact that the Phils chose Carpenter over Kendrick to pitch the second game of the May 16 double-header, despite it falling on Kendrick’s turn, suggests Carpenter has leapfrogged Kendrick on the depth chart. His numbers support the notion; he’s been a step better than Kendrick all season. He last pitched Tuesday, a strong seven-inning, one-run win over Buffalo. He’s on the 40-man, but his performance two Saturdays ago was not encouraging.

Carlos Carrasco: (0-6, 5.81 ERA, 52/13 K/BB ratio, 9 starts). The Phillies say he’s pitched better than his record indicates, but it seems unlikely they’d throw a winless 22-year-old into the fire. Carrasco, considered the top prospect in the Phillies’ system two seasons ago by Baseball America, last pitched Monday, a 6 2-3 inning, two-run, eight-strikeout performance against Durham. He’s pitched better lately, and he’s on the 40-man, but hasn’t demonstrated much consistency in his first full season at Triple-A. Carrasco would seem better served spending the entire season in the minor leagues.

Rodrigo Lopez: (2-2, 4.84 ERA, 26/6 K/BB ratio, 7 starts). On the road back from multiple arm and elbow setbacks, the former Baltimore 15-game winner followed an encouraging 7-inning, one-run outing May 19 with a 3 1-3 inning shelling May 25. Lopez qualifies as an extreme longshot to help the Phillies as he continues to work his way back from injury. Ruben Amaro Jr. didn't list Lopez among the candidates last night.

Vance Worley: (4-2, 2.83 ERA, 42/10 K/BB ratio, 9 starts). Ruben Amaro Jr. and the Phillies’ brass have scouted the 21-year-old 2008 draftee several times this season, and with good reason. Making the jump from Low-A Lakewood, the right-hander is holding Double-A hitters to a .204 average. Still, the Phillies may be more inclined wait on Worley rather than rush him to the Show based on a smallsliver of the season. Nevertheless, Mike Drago, R-Phils beat writer for the Reading Eagle, touts his poise and sees the Majors in Worley’s future. He’s gone seven innings his last two starts, including a shutout of Akron on Tuesday. Amaro didn't list Worley among the candidates last night.

Beerleaguer for breakfast: Buy, baby, buy

Brett Myers was the closest thing the Phillies had to a No. 2 starter and he’s likely out for the season, leaving no choice but to shop for an impact pitcher, and possibly more.

There's only one way to see it: the Phillies can either plug the dyke with Chan Ho Park, Kyle Kendrick or a hot-handed prospect, or build another dam. Myers may have been the closest thing they had to a front-line compliment to Cole Hamels, but he was more like No. 3 or 4 masquerading as a No. 2 in one of baseball's worst rotations of 2009. Reports listed the Phillies as the most aggressive shoppers in the starting pitching market, even before Myers’ injury. Their pursuit reportedly started months ago at a time when conventional wisdom said the Phils had more than enough depth. As was the case in 2007, the Phillies have become living proof that you can never have enough.

The fact is the defending world champions just lost their most consistent starter of the 2009 season. So what are they going to do about it? Andrew Carpenter? Antonio Bastardo?

If that’s the answer, the Phillies will be cheating their fans out of a golden opportunity to strike while the window remains wide open and almost the entire nucleus is locked in place.

With Hamels installed at the top, and the Myers era likely over, Ruben Amaro Jr. should be looking to fill in the rotation from the top down. Joe Blanton and Jamie Moyer are not the future, and they’re just getting to know J.A. Happ. There may be no better time than today’s buyer’s market to rebuild this rotation externally. The kind of pitching reportedly available - Brandon Webb, Roy Oswalt, Chris Young, Roy Halladay - is the kind that materializes internally once in a blue moon. It will take promising young prospects to acquire them, sacrifices the Phils should be prepared to make to fortify the best collection of talent in club history.

You never know what prospects will become, but we know exactly what these Phillies can do.

Report: Hip surgery likely for Brett Myers

The righthander will seek a second opinion, but signs point to a lost season for the 28-year-old. (mulitiple sources).

Execs say Phillies 'looking everywhere for starters'

With nearly two months in the books, it's time to fire up that hot stove.The latest installment of Jayson Stark's 'Rumbings and Grumblings' provides a list of pitchers, 11 deep, the Phillies have circled from the catalogue (including the person pictured right). Also, be sure to read Stark's header on the complexity of the Jamie Moyer issue, plus a Pharmhand who's drawing comparisons to Johan Santana.  [Link]

Thursday notes: Home is where the hangover is

Evidence of the Phillies’ title sashay surfaced once again when the Phillies dropped two-of-three in a winnable set against the Marlins.

The higher the coddle quotient, the worse the Phillies seem to play. That seems to be the case for several Phillies, including Shane Victorino (.235), Ryan Howard (.227) Jayson Werth (.195) and Jimmy Rollins (.194). Charlie Manuel suggested a certain level of Citizens Bank Park pampering as transcribed in Todd Zolecki’s recent blog: "Charlie Manuel mentioned how before games, standing behind the batting cage during batting practice, he often hears fans thank his players for last season. He said that is great, but he also does not want to live in the past."

The challenge, then, is getting a group of constantly reassured players to tap into something extra at home, the way they seem to do on the road. For all the undo criticism leveled at J-Roll, it isn’t a great surprise to see a a one-hit series in a low-profile series to the Marlins at home, where his star has shined as bright as it can possibly shine. I continue to wonder where the motivation comes from in the case of someone like J-Roll, who won MVP, the World Series and is locked inside a long-term deal.

Werth another look? Is Jayson Werth an everyday player? Less than a year from being entrenched in a platoon with Geoff Jenkins, who was signed just so Werth could be shielded from right-handed pitching, it's still a valid question. We may be starting to see signs of overexposure. Pitchers are getting him out using many of the same techniques they used against Pat Burrell: inside fastball, inside fastball, get him to chase away. His left/right splits have also fallen off dramatically since the first few weeks of the season: .250/.336/.455 against righties; .265/.368/.510 against lefties.

Minor transaction: The Phillies recently signed right-hander Angel Castro, who had been pitching with the independent Lincoln Saltdogs of the America Association. Castro, a 26-year-old Dominican reliever, pitched in 47 games with Detroit’s Low-A and Double-A affiliates last season. He was assigned to extended spring training while awaiting his next assignment.

Donald nursing sore hammy: Jason Donald is out of the Lehigh Valley lineup for the second consecutive day with a sore hamstring.  Today, Lehigh Valley is without their normal top five hitters : (Rich Thompson, back; Donald, hamstring; Mike Cervenak, wrist; Andy Tracy, on leave for childbirth; John Mayberry, Phils). - courtesy of Gregg Shore

Marlins makes it 2-out-of-3; MRI for Myers scheduled

The Phillies suffered another Citizens Bank Park misfire in a 6-2 loss to the Marlins, dropping the best of three series. But the big news involves a potentially serious injury to starter Brett Myers.

Myers was taken out of the game late in the sixth grimacing from a hip injury he's reportedly been coping with for "a couple of years." Myers, who has pitched well for most of the season but was hit hard tonight, expressed concern over the situation, according to reports after the game. The righthander, who is set to become a free agent after the season, will undergo an MRI tomorrow for what has officially been called "right hip inflammation." We'll have more on Myers, and the Marlins series, tomorrow. For an in-depth report on the injured starter, including post-game quotes, check out Scott Lauber's take at Philled In.

Game chat: Steady Myers seeks series win tonight

Brett Myers (4-2, 4.34) takes to the hill as the Phillies search for their second home series win tonight at 7:05. Righty Burke Badenhop (2-2, 5.75) moves from the bullpen to make his first start for Florida.

Myers has anchored a resurgent starting rotation that's been, at worst, serviceable, at best, outstanding, ever since Chan Ho Park's embarrassing afternoon Sunday, May 17. Myers, who's posted a 2.57 ERA in his last three starts, including an eight-inning win Friday night in New York that helped set the tone for a series win, has avoided big innings, but has been torched by the long-ball, allowing a league-leading 15. Fortunately, many of them have been solo shots. Besides that, few complaints about the 28-year-old future free agent, who will be asked to shore up a series win tonight against the struggling Marlins. Myers hasn't had much success against the Fish; he's a lifetime 6-10 with a 5.53 ERA in 23 starts and six relief appearances against them.

Lineups are posted: Rollins, Victorino, Utley, Howard, Ibanez, Werth, Feliz, and Ruiz against the right-hander Badenhop, who makes the transition from long relief following a recent call-up from Triple-A. The Phils have the clear edge tonight and need to put it in the books.

Phillies beat Marlins behind Blanton's brilliant night

Joe Blanton set a career high with 11 strikeouts in a 114-pitch, seven-inning shutout. The Marlins rallied in the ninth, but fell short, as the Phillies went on to win 5-3.

The Phillies finally got the start they've been waiting for from Kentucky Joe. After the Phillies supplied a three-run lead in the first, Blanton, who reportedly pinpointed a flaw in his delivery since his last start, did what he was supposed to, burying strike after strike after strike into Carlos Ruiz's glove and avoiding the big mistakes that cost him in previous outings. Blanton's fastball came in heavy and on the black, setting up a knee-buckling slider for outs. The Marlins had no counterpunch for Blanton's jabs and looked dizzy until the ninth. One would be hard pressed to find a better start by a Phillies hurler this season.

The Phillies pulled to within two outs from having their first shutout of the season, but the Marlins rallied off Chad Durbin and plated two on Ryan Howard's errant throw to second. With one out and Brad Lidge pitching in a save situation, the Phils traded an out for a run before Lidge got Wes Helms to swing and miss on a vintage slider for the third out and his ninth save of the season.

The Phils got most of their runs in the first, benefiting from an error and some Andrew Miller wildness. Big nights were had by Shane Victorino and Pedro Feliz. Raul Ibanez, currently 6th in All-Star votes amont NL outfielders, notched his league-leading 44th RBI on a sac fly. The Phils stayed a half game up on the Mets, who also won.

Game chat: Phillies seek reversal of fortunes at home

Joe Blanton (7.11) tries to make progress, while the Phillies hope for better results in South Philadelphia, when they host Andrew Miller (4.94) and the Marlins in the second of three.

In my never-ending search for great ledes, I found this daisy, courtesy of the Philadelphia-based SportsNetwork: "Home is where you hang your hat, supposedly. The only thing hanging right now at Citizens Bank Park in South Philadelphia are heads and curve balls." That's kinda been the case with Joe Blanton, who goes in search of his first home win. He and pitching coach Rich Dubee reportedly pinpointed a mechanical flaw that could explain some of the good reads hitters seem to be getting. Opponents are hitting .309 off the right-hander, who's currently in command of four very flat pitches. To his credit, he pitched well his last start until one bad pitch to Cincinnati's Brandon Phillips opened up a five-run inning.

For Florida, Miller, 24, is coming off his best start of the season, a seven-inning gem against the Diamondbacks. He has had success against the Phillies, including individual dominance against Jimmy Rollins and Ryan Howard.

Lineups are posted: Charlie Manuel mixes it up with Rollins, Victorino, Utley, Howard, Ibanez, Werth, Feliz and Ruiz.

Beer nuts: Mayberry, Moyer and Mother Nature

Discussing the Phillies’ newest addition and oldest veteran.

Mayberry: Is there a greater myth in the development of players than the idea that a call-up must receive immediate playing time or else they’ll forget how to play? Bench duty didn’t hurt Chase Utley, who was a year younger than John Mayberry Jr. when he received his first promotions to the majors in 2003. Utley didn’t become a regular until midway through the 2005 season at age 26. Before that, he bounced between the Phils and Red Barons for two seasons at a time when his bat and glove still needed seasoning.

Even if Mayberry doesn’t become a daily fixture of Charlie Manuel’s lineup, he's not going to collect dust. Batting practice and drills consume hours and hours of a player’s schedule, and in Philadelphia, he’ll receive the best instruction possible. With the meat of the interleague schedule approaching, he’ll get his hacks in addition to pinch hitting, running and fielding. His tools give Manuel some late-game options. He’ll get his chances to start, too, possibly as early as tonight against the left-hander in the wake of Shane Victorino’s screw up and Jayson Werth’s recent slump. He’ll stay as long as he can keep up.

In Mayberry’s case, it’s also important to know what the future holds on a team as deep as the Phils. With Raul Ibanez, Victorino and Werth somewhat cemented in place, he may need to embrace a part-time role.

Moyer: Earlier, we discussed the club’s interest in Jason Marquis and the continued struggles of Jamie Moyer and Joe Blanton. In the case of the defending champs, it’s never too early to think about October, where the Phils will be lined up against better competition. Moyer hasn’t performed well nearly the entire season, and against clubs like the Mets and Dodgers, he’s been hit especially hard. When eyeing the postseason, which is four cruel months away, there must be some trepidation over what the 46-year-old hurler will have left in the tank, remembering that two of his three postseason starts in 2008 were not so hot. 

Forecast: If the game isn’t called tonight, it’s going to be a raw night at the park. A steady rain is expected to fall this evening with a 70 percent chance of precipitation. Lows of 55 with winds from the east at 10 to 15 mph.

Minor update: Reading blanks Altoona behind Savery

Here are a couple mobile notes from the minors while we wait for our servers to get back on line.

Righthander Joe Savery and two relievers combined to shutout Altoona 6-0 yesterday. Brad Harman, as if sensing his career had hit a crossroad, continued his hot hitting, adding an RBI single. The Australian second baseman is hitting .295. Outfielder Michael Taylor homered (8), raising his totals to .319/.372/.600. ... In Buffalo, the IronPigs fell to the Bisons 8-7. Steven Register took the loss in relief of Rodrigo Lopez, who couldn't make it out of the fourth. By way of an update, Lou Marson is hitting .207/.324/.310 in 68 PAs. ... One transaction to report. The Phils released control-challenged reliever Scott Nestor, who had been with Reading. Nestor had been on the 40-man roster, so his release clears space.

Rosenthal: Colorado starter Marquis in Phils' sights

Jason Marquis, 30, is 6-3 with a 4.55 ERA (105 ERA+) in nine starts. The Rockies (18-26) are 12 games behind the Dodgers in the NL West. [Link]

Beerleaguer: This is the second time Marquis' name has surfaced in connection with the Phillies, the other during the Winter Meetings when the Cubs and Padres were discussing Jake Peavy. Marquis has settled comfortably into being your basic league average starter, and as far as the Phillies are concerned, there's something to be said for that. Statistically, at the end of the day, aside from K/BB ratio, there isn't a whole lot separating Marquis from Brett Myers. The question is whether he's enough of a difference maker for a team planning on making another run at the World Series. In this case, yes, but it's stretching it. He's good enough to be the Phillies' third starter in a playoff series, bumping either Joe Blanton or Jamie Moyer out. He's having a surprisingly good season for Colorado, lasting seven or more innings in six of his nine starts. The Rockies are on the hook for $5 million of his salary. He's a free agent after the season.

Postgame: Castoffs carry Marlins past Phillies 5-3

Jamie Moyer's 250th victory will have to wait thanks to a couple of big hits by former Phillies Wes Helms and Ronny Paulino.

Helms' three-run homer in the fourth and RBI single in the seventh, along with Paulino's RBI knock in the sixth, accounted for Florida's scoring and gave Chris Volstad (4-3) all the runs he needed in a strong 6 2-3 inning effort. For the Phils, Jamie Moyer, who hasn't won since April 26, pitched a passable six innings and gave the Phillies a chance to win, getting squeezed on a 2-2 pitch before Helms hit it into the seats. Moyer finished with four earned runs, seven hits, two walks and five strikeouts, pitching a clean game until fourth.

Moyer deserves less blame than an offense that couldn't get it started. A pair of Ryan Howard homers, including a two-run shot in the first, was all the scoring they could muster. Jayson Werth, in particular, suddenly finds himself in a 2-for-25 slump and hitless in his last three games.

The game included some questionable choices by the home team, including Shane Victorino's attempted steal in the ninth with the tying run at the plate in the form of fastball mutilator Matt Stairs. Afterward, Charlie Manuel called Vic's decision "a mistake." He also had no good answer as to why Paulino received a pitch to hit with the pitcher on deck.

Beerleaguer: After an airtight road trip, tonight was right in line with the low standards the Phils have set at home this season. With the loss, they fell to 8-13 in Philadelphia.

Game chat: Phillies try to bring winning ways home

Owners of baseball's best road record (16-6), the Phillies return to Citizens Bank Park hoping to supply winning baseball to the home crowd.

It took a 10-game retreat away from Philadelphia for the Phillies to find their championship mojo, and for observers to get a sense of who they are and where they're going. Although they've played crisp ball of late, including a well-played series win in the Bronx, they've been a tight team at home, starting the year 8-12 with only one series win to date, coming at the expense of the 13-30 Nationals. Charlie Manuel recently suggested that distractions and commitments at home have taken the team's focus off baseball, something they're better able to achieve on the road.

While away, the offense went on a tear and the pitching showed signs of stabilizing. However, to this humble observer, they're still a starting pitcher short unless one of their struggling arms turns it around. One of those pitchers is Jamie Moyer (3-4, 7.64), who finally delivered an encouraging start his last time out. Once again, Moyer will be seeking career win 250. Twelve of his wins have come against the Marlins, against whom he owns a lifetime 12-1 record and 2.84 ERA. For Florida, Chris Volstad (3-3, 3.64) has the ball hoping to build on yesterday's 5-4 win over the Rays. The Marlins have really struggled since starting the year 11-1. They've gone 9-23 ever since.

Lineups are posted: Standard set, with Ruiz catching. Elsewhere in the division, the Mets host Washington. San Francisco leads Atlanta 3-1 in the sixth. The Mets and Braves enter play 1 1-2 games behind the Phils in the East. Enjoy the rest of your holiday weekend.

Ruiz stars in finale; Phillies edge Yankees 4-3 in 11

Carlos Ruiz's two-out double down the left-field line scored Chase Utley from second, capping a series win the Phillies had rightfully earned twice in 24 hours before a pair of Brad Lidge blown saves.

Today's blown save actually did fans a favor: it extended the most entertaining series of the year and set the stage for an encore by the game's biggest hero. The Phillies' pint-sized backstop towered over the pinstriped giants at the plate and behind it. Ruiz, who's gone from a .161 hitter on May 12 to a .302 hitter after today, went 3-for-4 with a walk and the game's big hit, complimenting a textbook game behind the plate, including a run-saving block of home and gunning down two runners attempting to steal. Ruiz was also there to receive the final pitch from the game's second late-inning hero. After using a double play to work out of a jam in the 10th, "Everyday" Clay Condrey pitched a clean 11th to save it, sending the Phillies home with a spectacular 8-2 mark on the road trip.

Advertised as a barn-burner between two offensive giants, it turned into a well-balanced, well-pitched series, all except the ninth. Although doubt has clearly crept into the Phillies' final frame, to Lidge's defense, the Yankees used a pair of seeing-eye hits to tie it up today. Nevertheless, questions remain about the Phillies' struggling closer, whose confidence must be shattered.

But these are questions for another day. Looking at the big picture - from Happ to Myers, to Ruiz and Ibanez - this was an excellent weekend by the fire-hot Phightins.

Notes: Afterward, Charlie Manuel told reporters that John Mayberry will be kept.

Sunday chat: Series decided by heavyweight bout

Knotted up at one a piece, ace lefties Cole Hamels (2-2, 4.95) and C.C. Sabathia (4-3, 3.43) take the mound in the rubber match between the Phillies and Yankees. First pitch is 1:05.

Regardless of how it ended, the Phils should be pleased to arrive at today's deciding game at an even split, knowing they've played a very good series so far, Saturday's ninth inning notwithstanding. The Phillies hope to put yesterday's heartbreaking loss behind them against Sabathia, the giant lefty Shane Victorino and the Phillies toppled in Game 2 of the NLDS. One minor transaction to pass along: the Phillies traded minor league right-hander Justin Lehr to the Cincinnati Reds for cash considerations. Lehr is a non-prospect.

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Postgame: Yanks spoil Phils' great day in the ninth

It should have been one of the best wins of the year. Alex Rodriguez and the Yankees made it the season's worst heartbreaker.

A-Rod's two-run homer to tie it and Melky Cabrera's single to win it added up to Brad Lidge's third blown save of the season, ruining a brilliant afternoon by J.A. Happ and a stunning Major League debut for John Mayberry, who ripped a three-run homer off Andy Pettitte. Chad Durbin and Ryan Madson did the job to make Mayberry's lead stick until Lidge's ninth, further evidence that the best-equipped reliever to finish games may have been the pitcher who worked the eighth.

Beerleaguer: Actually, here's no dancing around it. Lidge and his north of nine ERA needs a break from the ninth, even if it means a trip to the DL. Maybe it's emotions getting the best of me after watching Happ paint the outside edges for two hours, and seeing Mayberry pump the Phils with some fresh blood with a 2-for-3, 3 RBI debut. Maybe it wasn't as bad as it looks. A-Rod is A-Rod after all, and this is the way the Yankees win their games. But how much longer can the Phillies afford to watch their closer get his brains beat in at the expense of great efforts like these? Three-run leads against the Nationals only come along so often for Lidge to tinker with his fastball. Perhaps those outings should come against Toledo in a rehab assignment.

Game chat: Surging Phillies send Happ to the hill

After a successful seven weeks in the bullpen, J.A. Happ (2-0, 2.49) makes his 2009 starting debut against Andy Pettitte (4-1, 4.18) and the Yankees. First pitch is 4:10 in a game broadcast nationally on Fox.

This is the kind of game our readers should really enjoy. Alone in front of the East by 1 1-2 games thanks to this 7-1 road trip, to improve to 15-5 away from Citizens Bank Park overall, the Phillies haven't looked this crisp all season. The bats are clicking, while the pitching staff finally appears to be settling in. Add to it the first start for Happ, and the possible Major League debut of John Mayberry Jr., who was summoned from Lehigh Valley last night, Beerleaguers have many reasons to smile this afternoon. Hopefully by seven, they'll still be smiling. No word on whether Mayberry will be in today's lineup. Check Twitter for updates from the Phillies' beat writers before the first pitch.

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Saturday: Offensive wrecking crew, by the numbers

Anyone who predicted an insane amount of hitting by the Phillies this season (e.g. Beerleaguer) is looking pretty sharp right now.

Here's the tale of the tape, listing all the National League categories the Phillies lead. Remember they've played fewer games than any team besides the Cubs: Home runs (60); RBIs (221); SLG (.457); OPS (.812); AB/HR (22.9); XBH (149). Individually, Raul Ibanez leads the league in RBIs (41), SLG (.737), OPS (1.153), ISOP (.385) and XBH (27), and is tied for the league lead in home runs (16). Chase Utley also ranks in the top 10 in several categories, including all the important ones like OPS (1.018).

Postgame: Phillies make a statement in series opener

It started with a Jimmy Rollins home run on the first pitch. By the time it ended, Carlos Ruiz, Jayson Werth and Raul Ibanez had also homered, and Brett Myers set a season high with eight vintage innings. Phillies sailed 7-3.

"That's one of those games that ought to get the attention of people around baseball. Phillies stop a nine-game winning streak, outslug the Yankees, go to 15-5 on the road. That's a big deal. They win one of the next two, it's an even bigger deal. ... Myers has been tremendous. Still giving up his longballs but minimizing the damage because his command has been consistent and he's not walking people. Simply put, the Phillies are a force when they get decent pitching." - RSB

Mayberry recalled: Ending a week of speculation, the Phillies recalled outfielder and spring training star John Mayberry from Triple-A Lehigh Valley and sent lefty Sergio Escalona to Lehigh Valley. Mayberry, 25, was hitting .277/.346/.540 with eight home runs. With lefties on the bump for the Yankees the rest of the weekend, it's likely he'll find his way into the starting lineup at least one of the days.

Game chat: Phils visit Yanks in interleague opener

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Rumor: Phillies discussing potential Peavy deal

Mike Francesa of 660-AM radio in New York claimed the Phillies are discussing a potential deal for San Diego’s Jake Peavy, who shot down a trade to the White Sox yesterday. Francesa didn't cite a source. Peavy will earn $11 million this season, $15 million in 2010, $16 million in 2011 and $17 million in 2012, and also has a $22 million club option for 2013. Mayberry update: In unrelated news, John Mayberry Jr., a possible call-up candidate for Saturday's game in New York, is not in tonight's lineup for Lehigh Valley, but is still in the ballpark. Pablo Ozuna is in the starting lineup. (courtesy of Gregg Shore).

Phils can’t escape hard evidence of interleague futility

The Phillies-Yankees series has been advertised as a barnburner between two hot teams leading their respective leagues in homers. History suggests otherwise, at least for one side.

Churning along just as they are now, the Phillies crashed into a wall last season once they hit interleague play, going 4-11 against the Junior Circuit. Offensively, the hangover lingered for months. Lifetime, they’re 90-109 against the American League, typically receiving the short end of the stick by playing better competition than their National League peers. This season, the schedule is a bear once again, starting with a red-hot Yankees team that has won nine in a row. This will be the Phillies’ first visit to the Bronx since 2000, where they’re a lifetime 1-5. The Yankees, meanwhile, are a stunning 123-87 against the NL.

But for all the hype about two these power offenses, don’t be surprised if it turns into a tight series. Besides Mets-Boston and Angles-Dodgers, Phillies-Yankees is this weekend’s marquee match-up, including a Saturday’s East Coast game on Fox. It has all the trappings of a playoff series, including some excellent pairings, like Brett Myers and A.J. Burnett tonight, then Cole Hamels and C.C. Sabathia on Sunday. In true Beerleaguer fashion, it's Saturday's paring of J.A. Happ and Andy Pettittee that intrigues me most.

Chacin activated: Left-hander Gustavo Chacin has been added to the Reading roster from extended spring training, sliding into Antonio Bastardo's spot. The Phils signed the former Blue Jay hurler in April. To make room, catcher Orlando Guevara, who has become the Phillies’ well-traveled organizational catcher, will go all the way back to Williamsport after seeing action with both Lehigh Valley and Reading this season.

Other news: Right-hander Steven Register and Miguel Cairo were officially added to Lehigh Valley. Steven Green was released and Jose Valendia demoted. Mike Drago wonders if Kyle Drabek is coming to Reading soon, and if Vance Worley is headed to the Majors.

Beerleaguer for breakfast: Bullpen crisis averted

A week ago, Brad Lidge blew another save and it appeared the 'pen was headed into a tailspin. On the eve of a tough series with the Yanks, and with J.C. Romero's return ltwo weeks away, they're back in business.

The offensive onslaught and questions about the rotation have dominated the headlines during the Phillies' 6-1 roadtrip, but very quietly, the bullpen has worked its way back into playoff form. Yesterday, the bullpen entered play with a combined 3.95 ERA, which is fifth in the National League. They also rated third in opponents' batting average (.224) and third in strikeouts (110). This was before Clay Condrey, Scott Eyre, Chan Ho Park and Sergio Escalona combined for four scoreless frames in yesterday's 12-5 drubbing.

Several factors are at play, foremost the individual performances. Chad Durbin, Jack Taschner, Ryan Madson, J.A. Happ, Eyre and Condrey have either met, or in the case of Happ, Condrey and perhaps Taschner, exceeded expectations.

Adding an extra reliever at Miguel Cairo's expense spared the bullpen from a few extra innings. Escalona hasn't given up a run in his three appearances. Other reason: the Phillies received a pair of front-line starts by Cole Hamels and Brett Myers this week; Myers pitched a key seven-inning gem in the first game of Saturday's twin bill. They also received six serviceable frames from Jamie Moyer Wednesday. Last, and certainly not least, the offense keeps putting runs on the board, creating a bit more breathing room for struggling relievers, like Lidge, to settle in.

Phils’ boss spotted observing Worley’s morning start

General manager Ruben Amaro was in attendance to watch right-hander Vance Worley and the Reading Phillies today at FirstEnergy Stadium. Worley, 21, took a tough loss, but pitched well, surrendering three runs over seven innings. Worley, who fell to 3-2 with a 3.22 ERA, has been scouted several times by top team officials this season. New Hampshire completed their sweep of the Phillies with a 7-1 win. (Photo courtesy of alert Beerleaguer Steve T.)

Game chat: Blanton scheduled in Reds rubber match

Joe Blanton (1-3, 6.86) tries to find his groove when the Phillies wrap up their series in Cincinnati. First pitch is 12:35.

With a chance to take this tough road series before heading off to the Bronx, this is a key game at an important spot in the schedule. The Phils really need a good outing from Blanton, coming off a poor start Friday in Washington. Of all the Phillies’ starters, Blanton has been the toughest nut to crack. He walked six his last outing, suggesting problems with his command, but at the same time, does he have enough stuff? For Cincinnati, Micah Owings (3-4, 3.95) will face a Phillies lineup featuring seven lefties.

Promise to Park prevented Phils from smartest move

The Phillies and Reds conclude their series in less than two hours. In the meantime, a look at Ruben Amaro’s first notable mistake as GM.

When Ruben Amaro Jr. assured free agent Chan Ho Park of an opportunity to win a spot in the Phillies’ rotation, he put the team’s credibility at stake. The Phils reportedly wanted Park in the bullpen all along and had several good young pitchers, including J.A. Happ, lined up to compete. But if the 35-year-old outperformed the other candidates in spring training, the Phils would have no choice but to be men of their word and award him a spot in the rotation, despite years of well-documented failure in the role. Park pitched well, and with the team’s integrity at stake, was awarded the fifth starter job. It would prove to be Amaro’s first bungle as GM, making a promise he knew his team wasn’t completely willing to keep.

If Park wasn’t willing to accept the Phillies’ bullpen-only terms, the Phillies should have moved in a different direction. Park isn’t exactly a difference maker, and on the heels of a World Series win, the Phils shouldn’t have resorted to making concessions to a career mediocrity like Park.

Today’s lineup: Rollins, Utley, Ibanez, Howard, Stairs, Victorino, Dobbs, Ruiz. Game chat fires off shortly.

Remembering 25 years of memorable Phillies homers

Inspired by the Reading Eagle's recent list, Beerleaguer's own RSB recalls 25 wacky, thrilling and clutch home runs from the last 25 years.

June 11, 1985: Von Hayes hits grand slam for second homer of 1st inning to give Phils a 7-0 lead en route to a historic 26-7 thrashing of Mets.

April 18, 1987: Mike Schmidt hits his 500th career homer to give the Phillies a comeback victory over the Pirates.

September 30, 1987: Luis Aguayo homers off Jesse Orosco in the bottom of the 10th to give the Phils a 5-4 win over New York. Although Terry Pendleton's homer off Roger McDowell earlier in that month is more remembered as a crucial blow to the Mets' divisional hopes, this one came on the eve of the season's final weekend and truly sealed the Mets' fate, much to the delight of this young and vengeful fan.

May 15, 1989: Bob Dernier (who hit .171 that season) pulls off a 3-run inside-the-park HR in the 12th to beat the Giants, 3-2.

June 8, 1989: Steve Jeltz hits homers from both sides of the plate as Phillies rally from 10-0 deficit and beat the Pirates, 15-11, on a night where probability was turned on its ear.

July 23, 1990: Dickie Thon breaks up Frank Viola's no-hitter with a sixth-inning grand slam; Phils go on to beat the Mets, 7-4. This one is especially memorable due to Rich Ashburn's call.

May 20, 1991: Thon hits 2-strike, 2-out homer in bottom of ninth off Stan Belinda to beat the then-mighty Pirates, 6-5.

May 9, 1993: Mariano Duncan hits a grand slam off Lee Smith with 2 out in the 8th to erase a 5-2 deficit and send Phillies to a 22-7 record wth a sweep of the Cardinals.

September 28, 1993: A second slam by Duncan puts the Phils ahead of Pittsburgh in the 7th inning in the game that clinched the NL East.

October 11, 1993: Lenny Dykstra hits an emphatic 10th inning homerun off Mark Wohlers after Braves had scored 3 to tie in the ninth; Phillies go up 3-2 in an NLCS which they were nearly unanimously disfavored to win.

June 15, 1995: Tony Longmire pinch-hits a 2-out, 3-run HR off Houston's John Hudek following two scratch singles, beating Astros, 4-2.

May 10, 1997: In the midst of the team's abominable first half, old hero (and right fielder) Darren Daulton offers a final great moment in his Phillies career, a 2-run, game-winning homer in the bottom of the 10th to beat Colorado, 5-4.

June 16, 1998: Mike Lieberthal pinch-hits a 3-run homer in bottom of the ninth to beat Pirates at the Vet, 8-7.

July 8, 2001: Travis Lee hits a 2-out, 3-run, game-winning homer at Camden Yards to preserve the Phillies' divisional lead at the All-Star Break - slightly outshining the 3-run game-winner he hit on 5/25 off Ugie Urbina of the Expos. (For all the flak Lee got as a Phil, he had some big moments.)

September 23, 2001: Johnny Estrada hits game-winning homer in 10th inning to beat Florida, 5-4, and move the Phillies to within a half-game of the division lead.

June 21, 2003: Todd Pratt hits a 3-run homer in the bottom of the 13th to cap an astounding comeback against Boston. One of my all-time favorite games, as Jim Thome earlier homered twice with the Phils down to their last out (in the 9th and 11th) in order to keep the game preserved.

June 20, 2006: Ryan Howard connects for a tape-measure, 3-run shot off the facing of the third deck at CBP off the Yankees' Mike Mussina in the first inning; Howard would collect 7 RBI in the Phils' eventual 9-7 loss. Though he had won the ROY a year earlier and had been having a good season to that point, this performance and homerun in particular seemed to really put Howard on baseball's radar as a superstar.

September 16, 2007: Greg Dobbs unloads a pinch-grand slam off Jorge Sosa to put the Phillies ahead for good en route to a 10-6 victory, a 3-game weekend sweep of the Mets, and the finishing touch on a seven-game blitz of New York that keyed the Phils' September comeback.

May 2, 2008: Pat Burrell beats the Giants' Brian Wilson, culminating a long and hard-fought AB with a 2-strike, 2-out, 2-run homer in the 10th, 6-5.

October 2, 2008: Shane Victorino delivers the knockout blow to C. C. Sabathia, opening a 5-1 lead over the Brewers in the second inning and deciding Game 2 of the Decision Series with a thrilling grand slam into the left-field bleachers.

October 9, 2008: In the first game of the NLCS, Chase Utley hits a 2-run, game-tying homer in the sixth inning off Derek Lowe, who had completely shut the Phils down to that point. It was a key moment in the Phillies getting a leg up in the series, and it was a particlar boost coming from Utley, whose power had been largely MIA for the past four months.

October 13, 2008: Victorino shocks the Dodgers by tying Game 4 of the NLCS in the eighth inning with a two-run homer down the right-field line, in a game that had looked squandered by all rights.

October 13, 2008: Two batters after Victorino's clutch homer, Matt Stairs permanently alters the tone of the NLCS by clubbing a 2-run, pinch-hit bomb off LA's Jonathan Broxton.

October 26, 2008: Ryan Howard hits a vintage, opposite-field homer off Any Sonnanstine that opened a 5-1 lead and put the Phillies firmly in command of not only Game 4, but the World Series as a whole. The instant Howard dropped his bat, all of Philadelphia knew the series was theirs.

April 24, 2009: After trying to lean into a pitch earlier in the AB, Victorino comes through with another incredibly well-timed grand slam, with two outs in the ninth off Matt Lindstrom and the Marlins to highlight a seven-run inning which erased a 3-0 deficit.

April 24, 2009: Raul Ibanez hits an electric grand slam off Joel Hanrahan to give Phils a 13-11 lead over Washington. This somehow outdoes the 2-run homer Ibanez had hit days earlier to reverse a ninth-inning deficit and beat the Padres.

Postgame: Reds snap Phillies' streak with 5-1 win

Aaron Harang held the Phillies to four hits over seven innings, ending the Phils' five-game run and stopping the Reds' own four-game slide.

Aside from a Raul Ibanez solo homer, his 14th of the season, Harang was in total control on a quiet night for the Phils, including hitless nights by the top two table-setters. Meanwhile, Jamie Moyer's quest for 250 continues. Moyer took the loss in a nine-hit, three-run quality start, but the Phils will gladly take it over the recent alternative: getting his brains beaten in. Although his line was helped by some bad baserunning, he settled down after the third, finishing with only one walk and a pair of extra-base hits. The Reds tacked on two more off Chad Durbin on a two-run Brandon Phillips triple. (Summarized from the comments. 'Star Trek' was phenomenal.)

Game chat: Moyer makes another run at 250 wins

Jamie Moyer (3-3, 8.13) is also searching for his lost command after posting a terrible 13.87 ERA over is last three starts. He's opposed by Aaron Harang (3-4, 3.44) as the Phllies and Reds resume their series. First pitch is 7:10. Lineups are posted and it's the new standard set, with Chris Coste doing the catching. Seeing as Moyer has been unwatchable lately, it's a good night for Beerleaguer to go where no man has gone before: to see 'Star Trek.' (Technically, a few people have seen it. Domestic box office over $160M.)

Breaking news: Phils claim RHP Register off waivers

Steven Register, 26, was 0-2 (4.50) in 16 relief appearances with Colorado Springs (AAA, Rockies). He will reportedly be sent to Lehigh Valley.

Register became a 40-man roster casualty Monday when the Rockies needed his spot for Joel Peralta, who was recalled Monday, according to Rotoworld. Register, a former 2004 third-round pick of the Rockies, has appeared in the majors, making 10 bullpen appearances with Colorado in 2008. In six minor league seasons, all in the Colorado organization, he’s 23-36 with a 4.49 ERA and has been used exclusively in relief since 2007. He was drafted by the Mets in the 2007 Rule 5 draft after leading the minor leagues with 37 saves, but he wasn’t kept. He should be considered a longshot to help the Phillies in any way.

For Mayberry, a possible break from 'Pigs purgatory

We all know the Nationals are setting baseball’s low-water mark with an 11-27 (.289) record. It isn’t much worse than Lehigh Valley’s win-loss total.

What is the major malfunction with Philadelphia’s Triple-A affiliate? For the third year in a row, they’re awful. Look at these records. It’s a mess: Ottawa 2007: 55-88; Lehigh Valley 2008: 55-89; Lehigh Valley 2009: 15-23. Developing talent is the real purpose of the minor leagues, not records, but there again, the Phils have flunked the test. J.A. Happ is the best thing to come out of Triple-A in the last three seasons, and I have a sneaky suspicion he’s learned more during scattered bullpen use in the majors than he did pitching for 55-89 rubbish.

Six weeks is a small sliver of the minor league season, but still. What happened? On paper, they looked promising, packed with talent and depth. While they try to pick up the pieces, maybe it’s time to think about saving one of their better players from baseball hell. At some point, the Phillies need to realize that 25-year-old outfielder John Mayberry Jr. has had all the Triple-A seasoning he can get. His future is on the Phillies’ bench anyway, unless they sit Triple Crown contender Raul Ibanez, Gold Glove winner Shane Victorio, or Jayson Werth, rated the most underrated player in the game by baseball execs.

The Phils appear to be leaning toward a call-up for the weekend series with the Yankees. If so, Mayberry, who has eight homers and a healthy .898 OPS, would fit the bill. Afterward, they’ll need to decide if it’s time for Mayberry to learn on the job. I have a hunch Charlie Manuel will find ways to use the young slugger, who hit fifth in Manuel’s lineup most of the spring.

It’s sad. Triple-A has become the place where prospects go to die. Look at Jason Donald’s line following a great spring and awesome AFL: .242/.288/.350 with one homer and 40 strikeouts in 165 plate appearances. I have to think his surroundings have played a small part.

Lopez dealing: When considering possible call-ups to fortify the starting rotation, the names Carlos Carrasco and Kyle Kendrick are mentioned most. But what about 33-year-old veteran Rodrigo Lopez? The IronPigs had lost eight in a row before winning 3-1 yesterday behind a seven-inning, six-strikeout gem by the former Oriole 15-game winner. On the season, he’s 2-2 with a 3.94 ERA in six starts with a 24-5 K/BB ratio in 32 innings. Lopez is trying to recover from a surgically repaired elbow ligament and flexor tendon in his pitching arm. He’s a career 65-65 with a 4.80 ERA in the majors.

Postgame: Phillies edge Reds 4-3 in a tight one

Cole Hamels continued his Cincinnati dominance with six strong innings, while Jimmy Rollins continued his ascent from the abyss, as the Phillies grabbed game one at Great American Ball Park.

Good win, and comforting to see a couple of main players start to come around. Mr. Everything, Ryan Howard, got the Phils on the board first with a solo shot in the second while flashing some glove in the field. Rollins' RBI double started a three-run fifth and extended his hitting streak to eight games. He's hitting .324 during that span and has scored nine runs, looking noticeably better and stronger at the plate. Afterward, he told Sarge Matthews he's made some adjustments to his stance. Chase Utley followed with an RBI single, then it was Raul Ibanez's turn with a sac fly. All of this came at the expense of Johnny Cueto, who entered the game with a 1.93 ERA.

Hamels pitched better than his six-inning, three-run line suggests, surrendering a pair of solo homers and a sac fly, set up by a Jayson Werth misplay in right. He appears to be back in charge every time he climbs the hill and is right back to being the pitcher we saw during the World Series. Brad Lidge picked up his eighth save, but not before putting the tying run on second and winning run on first with one out.

Overall, a clean game with great pitching and continued execution from the revamped lineup. It's hard to imagine a sound effort like this happening at home. Interesting note: Charlie Manuel handed the seventh inning to Clay Condrey in a tight spot, signifying his rise to late inning prominence. Introducing your new 7-8-9 troika: Condrey, Madson and Lidge.

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Game chat: Phillies visit Reds; Happ joins rotation

Cole Hamels (1-2, 5.04) tries to give eight relievers reason to twiddle their thumbs when the Phillies open a three-game set against Johnny Cueto (4-1, 1.93) and the Reds. Meanwhile, the Phils have seen enough of Chan Ho Park in the rotation. They will replace him with J.A. Happ and stick Park in the 'pen, according to two reports.

Park returns to the bullpen after pitching to a 7.06 ERA in seven starts. Reportedly signed to be a reliever all along, but promised an opportunity to compete for the rotation, he won a spot in the starting five during spring training. In 2008 with Los Angeles, he was largely used in middle relief and performed well there. Happ, who had Saturday's scheduled start erased by a Brad Lidge blown save, is 2-0 with a 2.49 ERA in 12 appearances this season, used mostly in mop-up or extra frames. He has started five games for the Phillies.

Beerleaguer: It's an easy call, but it could be window dressing if the rest of the rotation can't get it together. After all, we're talking fifth starter, a spot where teams can afford to experiment. 

Game preview: As expected, Sergio Escalona survived the off day and stayed on for the trip to Cincinnati, bringing the grand total to eight bodies who will have Hamels’ back. The ace hasn’t needed much support against the Reds, the team he debuted against in 2006. Lifetime, he’s 3-0 with an 0.60 ERA against Cincinnati, including two of his four career complete games. He’s also pitched very well at Great American Ball Park (0.80). Hamels, who looks fully recovered from myriad freak setbacks, pitched a season-high seven innings in a no-decision on Thursday against Los Angeles. Meanwhile, the Reds will be without Joey Votto, who suffering from an unexplained ailment that’s causing him chronic dizziness and an inability to focus.

Lineups have been announced and Charlie Manuel is sticking with what works: Rollins, Utley, Ibanez, Howard, Werth, Victorino, Feliz, Ruiz.

As June looms, Phillies need to amass May wins

The Phillies did themselves a huge favor with a weekend sweep of the Nats. The competition stiffens today, but is by no means overwhelming, a word best used to describe the entire month of June.

The Washington series might have been ugly, but it served a very important purpose, padding the win column and providing the nice, easy atmosphere for Jimmy Rollins, Brad Lidge and other slumping players to regain traction. Now, as the road trip leads to Cincinnati, they must find a way to keep it going. They have a good shot to do it. The Reds are a promising team, but the kind of opponent the Phils can beat playing the brand of baseball they’ve played on the road, where their record can no longer be ignored. Simply put, they’re better away from Philadelphia. Much better. Anyone can see that, without looking at the records. Whether it’s the distractions of home or some other factor, their heads aren’t it in Philly, and it shows.

So this week represents a decent opportunity to earn some wins, even with a tough task ahead in the Bronx. After that, they’re home against Florida and Washington, more opportunities to win, before a grueling 10-game road trip to start June. Then the interleague schedule hits, and we all know how the Phillies perform against the Junior Circuit.

NL East: Standings tighten after Mets' loss in LA

Errors in the game's final inning proved costly in the Mets' 3-2 loss to the Dodgers in 11 innings.

A month ago, the Marlins were the class of the division with enough dominant young pitching to make it seem unlikely they would fade away. But after opening the season 11-1, they've gone 7-19, including a sweep at the hands of the Phillies. The Phillies, meanwhile, had been muddling along until a four-game sweep against the lowly Nationals. This opened the door for the Mets, who have been much better since dropping Oliver Perez from the rotation, to go 11-2 and surge into the lead, seeing improvement throughout most of their pitching staff. The Mets have dropped two in a row to fall back of the Phillies in the loss column, with two games in hand for the hometown nine.

Beerleaguer: Yesterday on Comcast Daily News Live, FoxSports analyst Ken Rosenthal was asked his assessment on the East. He said right now the Mets are the class of the division, while the Braves have the most upside. It's hard to disagree. The Phils have not shown up against either team.

But the standings foreshadow a division race likely to remain tight through September. As poor as the Marlins have played, they're a good week away from climbing back into the conversation at this early stage of the season.

Beerleaguer's coverage of the Bako deal continues

With the signing of Paul Bako, the Phillies have an overabundance of experienced catching inventory. It's enough to make you wonder.

Maybe it's just a minor move for catching depth. Or maybe it's more. Frankly, the Bako signing is so odd, it's hard to ignore. Consider this "what if?" What if they're planning on making Chris Coste strictly a right-handed bench bat? The Phillies need a right-handed hitter, and solving the problem internally by freeing up Coste isn't just an economic solution in the tradition of Phillies' quick fixes, it's likely the best they can do considering that sellers don't exist six weeks into the season.

As nomadic as his career has been, it's a little surprising that Bako hasn't caught on somewhere when experienced catching is at a premium. He's an atrocious hitter, but he's a bonafide backup, good enough to earn 338 plate appearances last season in Cincinnati. That's 33 more than Coste got in '08.

So when you consider where he might fit into the catching mix, it's hard to see an assignment to Double-A, or even Triple-A, considering he hasn't had a regular stay in the minors since 1999.

Notes: J.C. Romero surrendered a run on two hits in an inning of work in his first appearance with Lehigh Valley. He also struck out two. For those keeping tabs on Gary Majewski, he also pitched in the game, giving up a pair of runs over two innings. His ERA has ballooned to 4.22. Infielder Miguel Cairo has accepted a minor league assignment, according to a report on the Phillies' Web site. It is not yet reported which Phillies affiliate he will report to, but Lehigh Valley, which featured a Pablo Ozuna occupying the No 3 hole tonight, is a good bet.

Breaking news: Phillies sign Bako to minor deal

Journeyman catcher Paul Bako, 36, last played with the Reds in 2008 and will report to extended spring training, according to a team news release.

A veteran of 10 different Major League teams over 11 seasons (yeah), he's a career .231/.305/.317 hitter with 21 home runs over 745 games. He was last with the Cubs during spring training and was released March 30. He bats from the left side. Beerleaguer: Curious signing. I'll digest this more during the commute home and give it the full Beerleaguer treatment tonight, seeing that it's Paul Bako and all. Bako actually started last season fire-hot and was hitting over .300 into May, earning much of the playing time for the Reds. He fell off sharply soon after, ending the season hitting .217. Interesting line from the news release. Read into it what you will: "He'll advance through the minor league system when he is physically able to play."

Phillies set up for Sunday classic in the Bronx

By pushing Jamie Moyer’s start to Wednesday, which lines him up for a favorable matchup with Florida on Monday, Cole Hamels, who pitches tomorrow, is on schedule to meet C.C. Sabathia on Sunday.

Just a little flip in the rotation, made possible by the off day, makes the next week seem a little easier for an embattled rotation. The Phillies’ upcoming visit to Cincinnati could be a nasty little trap series, but their chances could improve by lining up Hamels against Johnny Cueto (1.93), and allowing Moyer to match up with the more manageable Micah Owings (3.95). Joe Blanton follows and is paired with Aaron Harang (3-4, 3.44) in the finale. As you can see, this trip to Cincy will be no joke as the Phils try not to look ahead to their first visit to new Yankees Stadium and all that comes with it. Looking ahead, next to Raul Ibanez, Brett Myers was the best thing going for the Phils this weekend. He’s paired with A.J. Burnett in a good one in game one. Then it’s Park’s scheduled turn on Saturday, and depending on how the rest of the rotation fares earlier in the week, there could be an opportunity for J.A. Happ to get the call. By carrying an extra pitcher this week in Cincinnati, likely to end once they need a DH, it could allow the Phils to save Happ’s unfamiliar arm for the Yanks. Cole and C.C. look like a match for Sunday.

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Monday link: Rating the top 10 Phillies home runs

Here’s a fun off-day diversion. Reading Eagle colleague Brian Smith assembled a comprehensive list of the most significant home runs in Phillies history. [Link]

Brian is one of those writers with an encyclopedic sports memory, so the challenge wasn’t remembering them all, but placing them in order of importance. Obviously, Matt Stairs’ NLCS blast in Game 4 is fresh in our minds, and for the youngest generation of fans, it probably ranks right at the top. Stairs’ two-run bomb into the night indeed makes the list, along with several others from the World Series winners, but it's not in the top spot. Read the full list here.

Postgame: Phillies win ugly to complete sweep

The Phillies received a season-low 1 1-3 innings from Chan Ho Park and won the game anyway, defeating the awful Nationals 8-6 on an error to complete the four-game sweep.

Before you pop open the bubbly, consider this: the Phillies are 7-2 against the Nationals. They're 13-14 against everyone else. Ironically, a four-game road sweep will be the series that exposes a Phillies pitching staff in need of wholesale change. The Phillies should use those brooms to sweep away their own mess. This was an unwatchably bad game between two clubs without pitching. But of all the poor performances seen this series - Olsen, Cabrera, Carpenter - none reeked worse than Park's embarrassing effort. If this wasn't enough to yank him from the rotation, I don't know what is. Then again, a half-decade of failure as a starting pitcher wasn't enough to deter them from sticking him there in the first place.

Now to the positive. After being hung out to dry, the bullpen pitched well. For the second straight day, a fresh-faced rookie earned the win, this one awarded to Sergio Escalona for a trouble-free seventh in his Major League debut. Escalona, along with Jack Taschner, Chad Durbin, Scott Eyre and Brad Lidge, held the Nats to a single run over the final eight innings. Lidge picked up his eighth save with a double play induced on one pitch.

The Phillies got five runs off starter Jordan Zimmermann, three in the first, then two in the fourth. Jimmy Rollins, who knocked in one of the runs today, had his third multi-hit game of the weekend to raise his average to .222. Chase Utley, who was also mired in a slump before this series, doubled in a run and was on base through most of the weekend. A two-base error on a Pedro Feliz eighth-inning bunt provided the go-ahead run,

Final weekend totals, courtesy of the AP: 55 runs, 42 walks. Pop open the Tylenol is more like it.

Game chat: Phillies put the sweep in Park's hands

With brooms at the ready, the Phillies send out Chan Ho Park (1-1, 6.00) to complete the job against Jordan Zimmermann (2-1, 5.90) and the Nationals.

Lineups are posted. The hometown nine goes like this: Rollins, Utley, Ibanez, Howard, Werth, Victorino, Feliz, Ruiz. ... According to Elias and courtesy of the Phillies press office, Raul Ibanez became the first Phillie since Harry Anderson on June 8, 1958 to hit multiple home runs in one game of a double header and homer in the second game. ... Not since the Pennsylvania Farm Show have so many Zimmerman(n)s been in one place. Minor news: IronPigs 3B/DH Mike Cervenak broke his wrist when he was hit by a pitch last night (Lehigh Valley has not announced this yet.)  He is going to be for several weeks. No roster move has been announced as of yet. David Newhan is starting at third today. - Gregg Shore

Sunday: Roster shuffle puts Phils in position to retool

The Phillies carry a four-man bench into the final game with Washington, likely a temporary measure as the need for a right-handed bat has become more evident.

When Brad Lidge blew Friday's save, forcing the Phillies to exhaust Saturday's scheduled starter J.A. Happ, it might have been the push the Phillies needed to rethink their 25-man roster. The newest addition is 24-year-old Sergio Escalona, a lefty who started turning heads late last season. The Phillies thought enough of Escalona to protect him on the 40-man roster, and he's demonstrating why, saving 10 games at Double-A and extending a scoreless innings streak to 9 1-3 innings prior to yesterday's call-up.

Recalling Escalona may have been the quickest and easiest solution to round out the roster while the Phillies finish up in Washington. It's probable Escalona won't last long, but the club has been known to surprise. Lugging the league's second-worst ERA, the Phillies could actually view Escalona as part of their plans rather than a quick fix with options. Since Happ has proven to be an invaluable longman, while Jack Taschner has become something of a poor-man's Happ, the Phils actually have a need for a situational lefty, something the Phillies hope Escalona can become.

The Phils may have looked good in yesterday's twin bill, but don't let their performance against woeful Washington fool you. While the pitching staff remains on shaky ground, the biggest hole may be on the bench. The Phillies identified this right-handed weakness early this offseason and never found a suitable answer. Miguel Cairo, who filled the role until about 10 p.m. on Friday, was designated for assignment, leaving them a man short for a standard bench. Cairo's greatest asset was his versatility, providing insurance for Pedro Feliz and Chase Utley, who've both emerged healthy. Now, with Greg Dobbs, Chris Coste and Eric Bruntlett all struggling, the Phils are desperate for another threat.

As teams begin to identify their strengths in weaknesses around the league, the Phils could begin searching for a match from the outside. Until they find one, Escalona could stick around, at least through the end of the roadtrip.