Halladay has strong outing, Victorino leaves after collision

Final Score: Philadelphia 4, Boston 1 

Reigning NL Cy Young winner Roy Halladay went 7 2/3 innings, allowing one run on five hits and struck out six, as the Phillies topped the Red Sox, 4-1, in Grapefruit League play. 


Josh Barfield hit a two-RBI single in the sixth while Raul Ibanez and Michael Martinez both knocked in a run for Philadelphia. Ryan Madson was credited for a save for finishing out the eighth and allowing one hit in the ninth. 


Jon Lester, the Red Sox opening day starter, was charged for four runs -- three earned -- on five hits in 5 1/3 innings. Jed Lowrie scored on Drew Sutton's sacrifice fly in the fifth to account for Boston's only run. 


Phillies outfielder Shane Victorino left the game in the top of the fifth inning after colliding with Ibanez on a routine fly ball. Victorino was cut above his left eye, and departed a short time later. 

Copyright: The Sports Network
                  

Halladay goes three innings; Phils fall to Pirates

Final Score: Pittsburgh 4, Philadelphia 3

Neil Walker's two-run homer in the sixth inning gave the Pirates the lead, and Pittsburgh topped Philadelphia, 4-3, in Grapefruit League action.

Lyle Overbay went 3-for-3 with a double and scored two runs while John Bowker added a double to account for Pittsburgh's other run.

Paul Maholm allowed one run on four hits in the three-inning start while Jeff Karstens allowed one run on two hits in two innings of work to record the win.

Roy Halladay threw three innings of one-hit ball for Philadelphia. The reigning National League Cy Young winner walked two batters while striking out four. J.C. Ramirez was tagged for four runs -- all earned -- on five hits in three innings of work in the loss.

Phillies top Yanks in Grapefruit League opener

Sardinha is looking to make the team as the #2 catcher

Final Score: Philadelphia 5, NY Yankees 4

Dane Sardinha's two-out, two-run single in the top of the eighth inning gave the Phillies the lead, and Philadelphia held on to top the Yankees, 5-4, in Grapefruit League action.

Sardinha finished 2-for-2 while both Pete Orr and Ross Gload knocked in a run for the Phillies, who won their fourth-straight National League East title in 2010 with a 97-65 record.

Brian Schlitter was touched for two runs on two hits in one inning of work but got the win thanks to scoreless eighth and ninth innings from Mike Zagurski and Jason Grilli, respectively.

Jorge Vazquez went 2-for-2 with a two-run homer in the seventh inning for the Yankees, who finished second the American League East in 2010 with a 95-67 record.

Eric Wordekemper allowed two runs on three hits in the eighth inning to suffer the loss.

Copyright: The Sports Network

Philadelphia Phillies Add Depth With Veteran Mike Sweeney

(Philadelphia, PA) - With Ryan Howard on the 15-day disabled list and the Phillies still without a viable right handed bat off the bench general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. made a move yesterday acquiring veteran Mike Sweeney from the Seattle Mariners.

The Phillies acquired Sweeney for a player-to-be named or cash consideration, the teams have yet to agree, and Sweeney will fill in at first base until Howard returns from the DL.

Phillies manager Charlie Manuel seemed pleased with the deal telling reporters. "He can hit...and help us right now".

Sweeney, 37, is in his 16th season in the majors and is hitting .263 with six home runs and 18 RBI in 30 games. He has been on the disabled list with back spasms but was removed upon the trade to Philadephia.

Howard sent back to Philly to meet with team doctors.

delawareonline.com

Philadelphia, PA- Just when you thought it could not get worse for the Philadelphia Phillies the injury struggles increased and, pending results, could send another Phillie to the overloaded disabled list.

What was thought as a minor sprain for Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard could turn into something more severe as Howard was sent back to Philadelphia yesterday to meet with team doctors.

Howard suffered the sprain in the first inning of the Phillies game three extra-innings-win against the Washington Nationals. Howard was taken for an MRI and X-Ray immediately and neither test showed a fracture.

After the teams off-day Monday the decision was made to send Howard back to Philadelphia to meet with team physician Michael Ciccotti to address the situation.

Phillies Look To Gain Ground With Three Game Set In Florida.

Getty Images / Greg Fiume

(Coral Gables, FL) - After a disappointing 1-2 in a three game set with the Washington Nationals the Philadelphia Phillies are heading on the road for a three game set with the Florida Marlins.

For the Phillies a three game set with the NL East third ranked Florida Marlins is coming at the worst time. The Phillies are 25-31 on the road this season and with the Marlins only 4 games back of the Phillies for second place in the division the Fightins will need to gain ground in Florida if they want to catch up to the Atlanta Braves.

As I mentioned a week ago the Phillies have become the walking wounded. The team is still weeks away from getting Chase Utley back from a surgically repaired thumb, Shane Victorino is on the 15-day DL and to top it all off the Phillies are now putting Ryan Howard as day-to-day after he rolled his ankle as second base in yesterdays 6-4 extra inning win against the Washington Nationals.

MLB: Even With Walking Wounded, Phillies String Together Win Streak

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It seems as if injuries are the storyline of the season for the Philadelphia Phillies.

Chase Utley is still a few weeks from returning from the disabled list with his surgically repaired thumb, Jimmy Rollins was benched yesterday with a foot injury, and to top it all off, outfielder Shane Victorino was pulled in the seventh inning with a strained muscle in his left side.

Weeks ago, I preached to the Phillies collective that the describing word for the Phillies was inconsistency, and it still may be, but in this recent six game winning streak, the buzz word must be resilience.

The resilience of a roster that has not been whole in months. The resilience that had one of the best pitchers in the league, Ubaldo Jimenez, running for the showers. The team did this on the back of a pitcher just who was demoted to the minors just days before. J.A. Happ, who hadn't pitched in the majors since April, scrounged for a victory on Sunday just days after replacing Jamie Moyer in the starting rotation.

Are The Phillies' Recent Headlines Just a Badly Played Bluff?

Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images

Philadelphia, PA—Oh, how quickly tides and public opinion can change in just four short games.
Last week, it was all hands on deck panic with the Philadelphia Phillies, who had just dropped six of seven to the Cubs and Cardinals. Yet now, just days after the firing of hitting coach Milt Thompson, the Phillies are playing like a team possessed.

Entering tonight's game against the Colorado Rockies, the Phillies are on a four-game winning streak and showing signs of production not seen in months. They have outscored their opponents 22-5 and chased one of the game's best pitchers, Ubaldo Jimenez, from the mound in a morale-boosting 10-2 drubbing.

On top of all of that, the team has done it all without making the major move that many expected just days ago. The question is, will the morale-boosting offense last, or is this all just a quick fix to an even larger problem?

Every Phillies fan is optimistic that the team of players currently in the lineup will rebound and make a charge towards the playoffs, but most, if not all, understand that pitchers like Kyle Kendrick and J.A. Happ make that surge a little more then a gamble.

Was Milt Thompson's Firing the Phillies Scapegoat?

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It is quite obvious the Philadelphia Phillies are in a slump. A team riddled by injuries and inconsistency without an ignition towards change.

Despite getting an extra innings 2-0 win in St. Louis yesterday, where Cole Hamels shined, the team still showed the overwhelming stress that comes from being back-to-back National League Champions.

The Phillies have been plagued by non-existent bats that have turned consistent players like Jayson Werth searching for a way to right the ship.

The legendary preseason beard Werth was rocking during his early hot streaks has been reduced to a whimsical and mildly scary goatee in an attempt to fix his batter's box issues.

Moyer Headed to DL, Weekend Pitchers Leaked

(Philadelphia, PA) -  Just minutes after the Phillies salvaged game three of their recent Cardinals series 2-0 the team announced that 47 year-old pitcher Jamie Moyer is out indefinitely with a sprain of the ulnar collataral ligament and a strain of the pronator tendon. He will be put on the disabled list on Saturday.

Moyer injured the elbow and forearm in the first inning of Tuesdays loss to the St. Louis Cardinals. The timetable for Moyer is not set but it would likely mean the end of his season and possibly his career.
Moyer is 9-9 with a 4.84 ERA and a 1.10 WHIP in 19 starts this season.

Weekend Pitching Starters Leaked


Phillies beat writer Todd Zolecki announced via his twitter page just minutes after the Moyer injury news that the Phillies will fill their open weekend pitching spots internally.

Phillies hint at possible pre-weekend trade?

(Philadelphia, PA) - With todays move optioning Kyle Kendrick to Lehigh Valley and the addition of Andrew Carpenter from the Iron Pigs there have been many rumblings that the Phillies are preparing to make a move before this week is over.

Phillies GM Ruben Amaro told the media the Carpenter will not move into Kendricks scheduled starting spot for Satuday and that he will be sent to the bullpen for middle relief. This move now leaves the Phillies without a fifth starter and in a desperate need to make a move before the July 31st trade deadline.

Amaro also stated that former starter J.A. Happ, who is working a rehab assignment, may be another possibility. Chances are this is false due to Happ's recent struggles in the minors.

Until a move is made there will be rumors and intense speculation surrounding the Phillies as their have been multiple reports the Phillies have made calls to the Diamondback, Royals, Cubs and Pirates but at this time no names or possibilities have yet to be announced.

(The photo was intended as a joke, noone wants Pedro, even Ruben knows that)

Phillies look to rebound with four get set in St. Louis.

(St. Louis, MI) - The Phillies entered the All-Star Break on a high note.

The swept the then NL Central leading Reds and were looking like the men of steel. The break came and went and a wake up call commenced over the weekend as the team went 1-3 in a four game set against the Chicago Cubs. The same Cubs that are currently 10 games back in the same NL Central.

The Phillies have suffered from the bug of inconsistency as of late. Sloppy play in the field, issues manufacturing runs and struggles from the starting pitchers have been keys but overall the team is suffering from a lost sense of identity.

Sometimes it takes a long road trip to fix mistakes but if the Cubs series was an indication things may get tougher this week in St. Louis. The Cardinals are not only on a hot streak, completing a four game sweep of the Dodgers over the weekend, but they are statistically one of the strongest teams in the league at home.

Panic On Broad Street & Are Fans to Naive To Realize It?

This article is a long time coming. I know the team is only 5.5 back in the division, but with the strength of the NL East and the National League in general, things may become very bleak on Broad Street.

This city of Philadelphia talks about 2008 like it was yesterday, the season where everything was perfect and the Phillies were kings of the world…guess what, it's not and they are slipping HARD.

Phillies fans have been sold a bill of goods from management with two promises about this season:

1. The team would walk into the playoffs...

2. They would pretty much spend the entire season leading the NL East…

The team has walked with a certain sense of entitlement, believing these things, and if certain parts of their performance don’t change soon, it's looking like neither will happen.

Just like many Phillies fans, I watched tonight’s Game four of the Cubs series with a sense of urgency. Halladay was on the mound and after stealing a win yesterday, I was hoping tonight would be a sign of brighter days, a refresher toward the team's potential.

Like the rest of Philly, I watched as the game came and went, seeing much of the same inconsistent play that has haunted the team this season.

Phillies Enter Break On A High Note

(Philadelphia, PA) -- The NL East is one of the toughest division in baseball and just like any team trying to make up ground going into the all-star break you want to end on a high note. The Phillies did just that sweeping their four-game series with the Cincinnati Reds in dramatic fashion and with unlikely heroes.

We all know the struggles of Cole Hamels this season but Hollywood seemed to brush them off as he went 7 2/3 scoreless innings to notch his seventh win of the season. He showed composure and control in situations where just weeks ago he would cave and conceded.

Cole has become a hemoraging wound when it comes to runners on base yet he forced the Reds into three double-plays and only allowed one extra base hit. Its starting to look like the Cole Hamels we've come to expect.

Phils Send Three To Anaheim

(Philadelphia, PA) - Tonight the elusive lineups for the 2010 MLB All-Star game were announced and three members of the Philadelphia Phillies were selected to represent the team in Anaheim California.

Chase Utley was the only Phillie selected to start the all-star game but because of his recent thumb surgery will not be able to participate in the annual mid-summer classic. Utley was elected with over 2.8 million fan votes and surpassed Martin Prado, the starter in Utley's absence, by over a million votes.

Chase Utley Goes Under The Knife.

Only three days after being placed on the 15 day disabled list, Phillies second baseman Chase Utley will now have surgery to repair a strained ligament on his right thumb.

It was originally thought that Utley may just need time to rest the thumb, which he injured in the recent Reds series, but after consulting with team doctors and an MRI, the decision for surgery was made.

No Laughing Matter: Philadelphia Phanatic Gets Sued

(Philadelphia, PA) -- It seems that the world of a major league mascot gets harder and harder. We have recently seen the issues within the Pittsburgh Pirates regarding disgruntled Pierogis and their opinions on executive decisions, now the other team that occupies the state of PA is getting into issues of his own.

Today the Philadelphia Phanatic got some bad news of his own as he was subpoened. The Phanatic is facing civil charges from a Bucks County woman claiming the Galapagoa Island native mascot injured her at a minor league baseball game.

Steroid Pioneer: Lenny Dykstra Admits Use in New Book

(New York, NY) -- In a new book on the world of Wall Street corruption, author Randall Lane manages to shed some light on the long time speculations of one of Philadelphia former darlings, Lenny Dykstra.

Dyrstra, a member for the 1993 NL Champion Phillies, became a wall street and market speculation guru after his playing days and has been involved in current controversy over money he was given to influence his stock tips.

Utley and Polanco sent to disabled list.

(6/29/2010)

Philadelphia, PA -- The injury woes for the Phillies grew today as it was announced that second baseman Chase Utley and third baseman Placido Polanco were both added to the 15-day disabled list.

Utley had an MRI on a strained right thumb ligament and may miss up to three weeks with the injury. Utley bruised the thumb in last nights 7-3 loss to the Reds.

Ploanco, who was not active for the recent Toronto series, was placed on the retroactive disabled list with inflammation in his left elbow. He received a cortisone shot in the elbow this afternoon with hopes that he could return to the lineup for tonight's game but the bruised elbow did not respond well to the shot and the decision to move to the disabled list was made.

Johnny Cueto Goes Eight Strong As Reds Top Phillies 7-3

(6/28/2010)

Cincinnati, OH -  Former Phillie Scott Rolen played game killer and Reds ace Johnny Cueto went eight strong innings as Cincinnati topped Philadelphia 7-3 in the opening contest of the three-game set at Great American Ballpark.

Rolen went 1-for-2 with three RBI including a towering two-run shot in the fourth to lead the Reds. Joey Votto and Orlando Cabrera both went 3-for-4 with an RBI in the win.