Phillies News

"When the Eagles began training camp in July, they expected Victor Abiamiri to challenge Juqua Parker for the starting job at left defensive end.Then Abiamiri broke his right wrist.They expected Chris Clemons, who started out well, to advance on the depth chart as a third-down pass rusher. But Clemons has been bothered for more than a week with a calf injury.They weren't sure where former first-round pick Jerome McDougle stood, but they liked his attitude in camp. They wanted to see some more from Montae Reagor, but he just had arthroscopic surgery on his left knee.You might say the depth chart along the Eagles' defensive line is rather unsettled right now.Which may be why defensive ..."

"Jimmy Rollins could not silence the boobirds last night at Citizens Bank Park.Jayson Werth had no such problem.He hit a game-winning solo home run to left-center field in the bottom of the eighth inning of a 5-4 victory over the Washington Nationals that kept the Phillies 11/2 games behind the New York Mets in the National League East."It seems to me I hear we're out of it right now, like we're not even close," Werth said of the division race among the Mets, the Phillies, and the Florida Marlins. "But the reality is we're a game and a half back with six weeks to play," he said. "I feel we're the best team in this division. We just need to go out there and play like it."The pitching has ..."

"THE EXPECTATION WAS that catcher Carlos Ruiz, in his second full year in the majors, would improve on his .259 rookie batting average, that he would beef up his home runs (6) and runs batted in (54) as well.As anybody who has paid the slightest bit of attention to the Phillies' offensive face-plant the last couple of months knows only too well, it hasn't worked out that way. When manager Charlie Manuel posted the lineup for last night's game against the Nationals, Chris Coste was starting behind the plate. Ruiz (.220-2-21) was on the bench.So it's probably not surprising that a FoxSports.com report surfaced earlier this week that linked the Phillies with catcher David Ross, who was ..."

"With one swing Tuesday night, Jayson Werth accomplished what Jimmy Rollins couldn't. He made Phillies fans cheer. For a while, though, it didn't look promising. Facing the sad-sack Nationals in the opener of a nine-game homestand, the Phillies trailed by three runs in the fifth inning. Once again, their underperforming offense was being muted, and the 15th straight sellout crowd at Citizens Bank Park had little to do besides boo Rollins, who riled them with criticism last week. But the Phils were, after all, facing the Nationals, losers of their previous 10 games. So, they rallied, scoring twice in the fifth inning and once in the seventh before Werth's solo homer into the left-field ..."

"Jayson Werth hit a tiebreaking solo homer in the eighth inning to lift the Phillies over Washington 5-4 tonight, the Nationals' 11th straight loss. It is the longest skid for the Nationals since they moved to Washington before the 2005 season, and the franchise's worst since the Montreal Expos dropped 11 games straight from June 23-July 4, 1991. With 36 games remaining, Washington will need a decisive turnaround to avoid another unwanted milestone. The Nationals must finish 19-17 to dodge the club's first 100-loss season since the Expos went 55-107 in 1976. Werth drove a 1-2 pitch from Steven Shell (0-1) to the seats in left-center for his career-best 17th homer. The Phillies, who remained ..."

"Tony Hunt could have taken it as an insult. He did, after all, finish his Penn State career as the school's all-time leader in rushing attempts (654), and its No. 2 all-time rusher (3,320 yards). Now, a little less than 3 weeks before his second NFL season begins, Hunt is being told to learn to be a fullback - for an Andy Reid-coached, West Coast-offensed team that hands the ball to the fullback about as often as it runs the triple reverse. But Hunt's tenure in the NFL, short as it has been, has made the 2007 third-round draft pick a realist. It didn't escape Hunt's notice that he was active for only eight of 16 games last season, and carried the ball only 16 times, while Brian Westbrook ..."

"It is certainly an odd thing when life is simply handed to you, gift-wrapped in red, white and blue, because there are those in this world who believe in unicorns and gumdrop fairies playing on fields of gold. Among us are kind souls who believe, without fail, that the team they cover is good enough to make the playoffs. Such a bizarre notion has been forwarded by at least one local scribe in each of the past six seasons since the arrival of Jim Thome -- because their very being revolves around the Phillies. Sure, the business card says "columnist," but the reality of this is Kevin Roberts is the very embodiment of Chip Diller, the rival pledge and ROTC freak in Animal House who declared ..."

"Larry Bowa once called Phillies fans the worst ( expletive deleted) fans in the world.Jimmy Rollins now has called them front-runners.The two shortstops certainly have more in common than their observations of Phillies fans - both won Gold Gloves and made all-star teams, for example - but last week at Dodger Stadium, where Los Angeles swept the Phillies in four games, Bowa acknowledged one noteworthy difference between himself and Rollins."I was a good player," he said. "Jimmy is a great player."But Rollins, the reigning National League most valuable player, is having an unusual season for arguably the greatest shortstop in franchise history. After he memorably proclaimed the Phillies the ..."

"THE GROAN heard in the visitors' clubhouse at Dodger Stadium last week wasn't all that passionate and, in reality, served more as an acknowledgment of an event than an expression of true despair. But it was audible, and as the television at the far end of the room showed a bang-bang play at first base being called in the Mets' favor, it was a good indication that the Phillies had already begun that annual late-season ritual.Scoreboard watching."When you're not in first, you pay attention a little bit sooner than you would," outfielder Jayson Werth said. "We've already started. We've got to take care of what we're doing, but we're interested."And why wouldn't they be?In a week's time, the ..."

"ANDRE IGUODALA isn't crazy - although even he acknowledges that a lot of people might have believed he was last year when he turned down a $57.4 million contract extension from then-Sixers president/general manager Billy King.But Iguodala's high-stakes gamble certainly had to play on the mind of current Sixers president/general manager Ed Stefanski.If he did it once, he just might do it again.He played last season under a 1-year qualifying offer, and this summer became a restricted free agent, meaning the Sixers still had the right to match any contract offer made to him by another team.But if he played out the 2008-09 season on another 1-year qualifying offer, Iguodala would have become ..."

"It was Rancho Bernardo High Day at Petco Park Friday. First, Padres first-round pick Allan Dykstra - Rancho Bernardo class of '05 - was impressive while taking batting practice in his first unofficial appearance after agreeing to terms Friday. Then, Cole Hamels - RB class of '02 - held the Padres to one run on seven hits in eight innings to lead Philadelphia to a 2-1 victory, handing the hosts a 20th loss in their past 27 games at Petco. "It definitely means a lot getting a win," said Hamels, who hadn't won anywhere over his past seven starts dating back to July 3. "And it means a lot more getting a win in San Diego. Anytime you come home, you want to get a win." Maybe the Padres could ..."

"Maybe this West Coast trip was a wake-up call for the Phillies.They left Philadelphia last Sunday with a two-game lead over the New York Mets in the National League East. The Phillies entered last night's series finale against the San Diego Padres 21/2 games behind the Mets, needing a victory to avoid their first 1-6 road trip since May 2002.They have 38 games to play."There is time, but you don't want to get too far behind," manager Charlie Manuel said. "At this time of the year, if you get five or six games behind, it's not like you can't do it, but you've really got to play good and the team ahead of you has got to fold or go through a bad streak."The Phillies overcame a seven-game ..."

"Presented with the following scenario at the beginning of the season, you'd be hard-pressed to pick the more unbelievable aspect: that the Phillies, in a late-season, must-win series against the lowly Padres, would manage to score just six runs in three games. Or that this supposedly power-packed but pitching-poor team would end up winning two of them.Either way, that's what they were left with last night as San Diego native Cole Hamels recorded his first victory since July 3 and Pat Burrell hit a crucial home run to lead the Phillies past the Padres, 2-1. It might not have been the highly sought-after antidote to the team's recent offensive woes, but for at least 1 day it served its ..."

"Once the Houston Astros agreed to pay the remaining salary for pitcher Randy Wolf, the Padres considered it a fruitful negotiation last month. The Padres had no illusions about joining the pennant race and were eager to save the $1.75 million due Wolf, plus the $175,000 bonus per start he would get. "I'm not going to lie to you," General Manager Kevin Towers said after the trade was announced, when asked if the move was about saving money. So it was almost like found money for the Padres last night when the pitcher they obtained for Wolf, Chad Reineke, helped them defeat the Phillies 8-3 at Petco Park. Reineke, a 26-year-old making his major league debut, overcame a 36-pitch first inning. ..."

"Whether it's Greg Maddux with his 733 career starts Friday night or Chad Reineke in his big-league debut Saturday night, the pitcher doesn't seem to matter.The Phillies continued their nine-week offensive funk and Kyle Kendrick continued to miss the strike zone in an 8-3 loss Saturday night to the San Diego Padres at Petco Park. The Phillies, who have lost seven of their last 10 games, have fallen two games behind the New York Mets in the National League East.Reineke, whom the Padres acquired late last month in a trade with the Houston Astros for Randy Wolf, didn't have anyone in awe, but he pitched well enough to beat the Phillies.And Kendrick played a part in that. He allowed six hits, ..."

"Roger Clemens is safe for at least five more days. Greg Maddux's bid to get his 354th victory - and tie Clemens for eighth place on the career wins list - was thwarted by one of his "oldest" friends in the game ... as well as the Padres' offense. In a matchup of pitchers working in their 23rd major league seasons, the Phillies' Jamie Moyer outdueled Maddux over seven innings. The difference between the two, who began their careers in 1986 as teammates with the Chicago Cubs, was Pat Burrell's one-out homer off Maddux in the seventh inning. That was the first and last run of the game as the Phillies ended a four-game losing streak 1-0, handing the Padres their ninth shutout loss of the ..."

"It's not what Jimmy Rollins said that should be the concern. It's why he said it that needs to be examined. On "The Best Damn Sports Show Period," which aired Wednesday night, Rollins was asked about the reputation of Philadelphia and its fans. "There are times, like, it's one of those cities," the shortstop began. "I might catch some flak for saying this, but, you know, they're front-runners. When you're doing good, they're on your side. When you're doing bad, they're completely against you." To every perception there is some truth, some point of origin that backs it up. It's by no means the whole truth or a representation of the whole, but there certainly is some element that can be seen ..."

"Jimmy Rollins has heard the attendance announcement at nearly every Phillies home game this season, and he's grateful that fans have been packing Citizens Bank Park. Now, he wants their unwavering positive reinforcement. Rollins, the Phillies shortstop and reigning National League MVP, phoned into Fox Sports Net's "Best Damn Sports Show Period" on Thursday to explain, but not to retract, his remarks from the previous night's show, when he called long-suffering Philadelphia-area fans "front-runners," a comment that sparked controversy amid the masses. Speaking with co-hosts Chris Rose and John Salley before the faltering Phillies tried to avert a four-game sweep Thursday night at Dodger ..."

"Hiroki Kuroda allowed only two baserunners in seven brilliant innings, Matt Kemp homered and the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Phillies 3-1 Thursday night to complete their first four-game sweep of the Phils in 46 years. The Dodgers' sixth straight win over the Phillies, dating back to last season, kept them tied with Arizona atop the NL West and dropped Philadelphia one game behind the first-place New York Mets in the NL East. The Dodgers hadn't swept a four-game series since accomplishing the feat on the road against the Arizona Diamondbacks in July 2004 and hadn't done so in Los Angeles since June 1995 against the San Francisco Giants. They won four straight over the Phillies in July ..."

"The Chicago Cubs took Greg Maddux in the second round of the 1984 June amateur draft.They drafted Jamie Moyer four rounds later.These two age-defying veterans faced each other Friday night at Petco Park, with Moyer pitching a little bit better than Maddux in a 1-0 victory over the San Diego Padres.The win snapped the Phillies' four-game losing streak and kept them one game behind the New York Mets in the National League East.Moyer, 45, allowed three hits and two walks in seven shutout innings. Maddux, 42, gave up five hits and the run in seven innings.This was the second time these former teammates have faced each other.Could they face each other next year?"I don't know if he's going to ..."

"Jimmy Rollins boldly proclaimed the Phillies the team to beat in the National League East last season, and everybody loved him for it. He felt it. He said it. To heck with the repercussions. But when Rollins said Wednesday on Fox television's Best Damn Sports Show Period that Phillies fans were front-runners, well, Phils fans had a much different reaction to that sort of candor. He has been lambasted in Philadelphia. So yesterday, he returned to the Fox show to clarify his remarks. He later spoke with three Phillies beat reporters as he reclined in his locker inside the visitors' clubhouse at Dodger Stadium, where the Phillies tried to avoid a four-game sweep last night to the surging Los ..."

"The Phillies are back to being the hunters instead of the hunted.Maybe it's better that way.They certainly seemed comfortable in that role last season. The Phillies fell into second place in the National League East last night with a 3-1 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium. The New York Mets hold a one-game lead over the Phillies, who opened their seven-game road trip through Los Angeles and San Diego as poorly as anybody could have imagined."If you want to know the truth, I think it's a good test for our team," manager Charlie Manuel said of falling out of first. "If you stay in the hunt and you battle it out and we win, I think that tells us what kind of team we are. . . . ..."

"Used to be, a pitching performance like this would have produced smiles wider than the San Andreas fault. Brett Myers went seven innings, scattered five hits and three runs, and, for the fourth straight start, surely put his team in a position to win. These days, though, pitching and offense just can't seem to sync, and last night it left the Phillies with a rare fate: a four-game sweep for the first time since 2004, the final nail coming in the form of a 3-1 loss to the Dodgers. It also left the Phillies in second place in the NL East for the first time since July 29 as the Mets topped the Nationals, 9-3, to take sole possession of first place with a one-game lead. "We're busting our rear ..."

"Here's the thing, Jimmy Rollins said yesterday. Beneath the eye black, beneath the ballcap, beneath the jersey and sliding pants and spikes, there is a human being. And that was the reason for his now infamous answer to a question posed to him on a national sports talk show Wednesday. Speaking to local reporters yesterday in the wake of the heavily circulated video clip in which he expressed some discontent with Philadelphia sports fans, Rollins said he was simply sticking up for some of his teammates who have been booed mercilessly this season. "A lot of times, fans worldwide in general, they say, well, you are making all this money, you are supposed to [take it], or I paid to come to the ..."

"Manny Ramirez showed up at Dodger Stadium with his dreadlocks trimmed by an inch or so like Manager Joe Torre asked, and, sure enough, he didn't get a hit. But the way Hiroki Kuroda pitched Thursday in a sweep-sealing 3-1 victory by the Dodgers over the Philadelphia Phillies that kept them tied for first place in the NL West, what did it matter that Ramirez was 0 for 3? Kuroda turned in his third strong performance in a row, giving up one run and two hits over seven innings after Brad Penny went on the disabled list for the second time this season and Torre expressed his concerns about the state of the pitching staff. Kuroda walked none and struck out seven to win his second consecutive ..."

"Kent's hit ties score, then homer by Garciaparra in ninth wins it for L.A., now even with Arizona. The retirement announcement has yet to come, despite the advanced age, the visibly limited range defensively and a demeanor that seems to grow more cantankerous by the day. But in the fading twilight of a Hall of Fame career, the Dodgers' resident quadragenarian proved again the needle still isn't quite touching empty. Jeff Kent, playing like a man desperate to tack a few more weeks onto the end of what probably is his final season in the majors, capped his first four- hit effort of the year with a two-out, two-run double in the bottom of the eighth inning to erase the last remnants of what ..."

"The Phillies appear to be running out of answers, and with just 42 games to play, that could be a problem.Their high-powered offense has not been high-powered for more than two months. In fact, entering last night's game with the Los Angeles Dodgers, a lineup that includes the last two National League MVPs (Ryan Howard and Jimmy Rollins) and one potential MVP (Chase Utley) had averaged just 4.18 runs per game since June 13. To put that into perspective, only the three worst offenses in the National League have averaged fewer runs per game over the course of the season: the San Diego Padres (3.87), San Francisco Giants (3.82), and Washington Nationals (3.73)."Recommend something for me. I ..."

"Everyone knows the story of Wally Pipp, and Shane Victorino is likely one of them, so when manager Charlie Manuel asked him after batting practice on Tuesday if he felt well enough to play, his answer was a foregone conclusion.Put me in, Skip.But it didn't take long for Victorino to realize he should have begged off. And after going 0-for-4 with three strikeouts in the first 6 1/2 innings of the Phillies' 4-3 loss to the Dodgers, he left the game with what the team called lower-back stiffness."It was my fault for going out there," Victorino said. "I was no help to my team. Going out there and being of no help, trying to be a hero, instead of saying you know what, I can't do it. It's a ..."

"Jimmy Rollins seems to have transitioned into one of those athletes who can make news simply by opening his mouth.The latest example came yesterday, when Rollins offered his view on Philadelphia's notorious sports fans during yesterday's taping of Fox Sports' "Best Damn Sports Show Period."After being asked whether Philadelphia was as tough a place to play as the national media sometimes portrays, Rollins answered:"There are times," he said. "I might catch some flak for saying this, but, you know, they're front-runners. When you're doing good, they're on your side. When you're doing bad, they're completely against you."Rollins then mentioned the hometown of teammate, and fellow show guest, ..."

"It goes without saying that scenes such as the one that unfolded at Dodger Stadium last night are growing old for the Phillies.One night after Andre Ethier's single in the ninth gave the Dodgers a walkoff win, Nomar Garciaparra sent the Phillies shuffling back to the visitors' clubhouse with their heads bowed, thanks to a solo home run in the ninth that lifted Los Angeles to a 7-6 win.The Phillies suddenly find themselves losers of three straight and tied with the Mets atop the National League East.In a game in which a certain amount of failure is all but expected, it is hard to find too much fault with a bullpen that has been as good for as long as the one the Phillies have cobbled ..."

"Andre Ethier comes to the ballpark these days not knowing whether he will be asked to start the game or come off the bench to pinch-hit in the late innings. Some nights he might not play at all. Two years ago -- well, two months ago -- the Dodgers outfielder might have complained about the uncertainty surrounding his role. Now he seems to embrace it. "It's staying in the moment, staying in the situation and realizing what we're trying to accomplish," Ethier said, alluding to his team's playoff push. Ethier produced a memorable moment in the ninth inning Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium, singling to left-center field to drive in Russell Martin from second base with the winning run in the ..."

"The Los Angeles Dodgers kept Ryan Howard in check with a three-man shift on the right side of the infield. That's the only reason they were able to hold off the Phillies late Monday night. Casey Blake hit a two-run homer and Manny Ramirez doubled home two more during a six-run third inning that carried Derek Lowe and the Dodgers to an 8-6 victory over the NL East leaders Monday night. Both of Howard's RBIs came on groundouts in the hole to second baseman Jeff Kent. The game ended when the Phillies' slugger grounded out to the right side again against Jonathan Broxton with two on. "I didn't even know we were going to do it," Lowe said about the shift. "I never even thought about it. The ..."

"Cole Hamels had hoped to enjoy his first 20-win season in 2008, but he has come to realize that solid pitching performances do not translate into wins on the back of a baseball card. It takes luck, too. Hamels remains luckless and winless since July 3 despite pitching well in tonight's 4-3 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium. The lefthander allowed five hits and two runs in seven innings, but he lost the win after Chad Durbin allowed a run in the eighth inning to tie the game. The Phillies lost it in the ninth after J.C. Romero hit Russell Martin with a pitch to lead off the inning and allowed a one-out single to Andre Ethier to score Martin from second. The loss cut the ..."

"Tom Gordon, who has been on the 15-day disabled list since July 6 with an injured right elbow, has thrown his last pitch for the Phillies this season, barring a miracle.The reliever visited orthopedist Lewis Yocum on Monday, and he agreed with team physician Michael Ciccotti's diagnosis: Gordon has an injured ligament, an injured muscle on the inside of the elbow, an irritated nerve, and a small piece of bone that has separated from the ligament."That's really the biggest thing," athletic trainer Scott Sheridan said yesterday of the bone injury. "Unfortunately, that bony piece is attached to the ligament and the tendon."Gordon had two options: surgery or rehabilitation. He chose rehab. The ..."

"It happened fast. First, the Phillies were leading, then they were tied, then they watched So Taguchi's throw arrive a bit too late, and Russell Martin slide in safe, and Andre Ethier celebrate a walkoff RBI single that lifted the Dodgers to a 4-3 win over the stunned Phillies last night.For seven innings, it appeared as if Cole Hamels finally would get his 10th victory that several times over the past month he has richly deserved.But again, he pitched well enough to earn a win, and for the seventh straight start, he was left without one. He allowed a run in the first and a run in the sixth, but was otherwise flawless. He pitched seven innings, threw 111 pitches, allowed five hits and ..."

"If you've watched the Phillies this season, you know they're a flawed team. Their lineup is explosive, yet far too inconsistent. Their starting pitching, albeit hot of late, doesn't scare anyone when Cole Hamels isn't on the mound. Jimmy Rollins hasn't been Jimmy Rollins, Brett Myers is being Brett Myers ... the list goes on and on. But we're into the dog days of August and the Phillies remain where they've been almost every day since early May, still on top of a tight National League race that includes two other imperfect contenders - the New York Mets and Florida Marlins. Welcome to another intriguing pennant race. "The closer we get to September and the end of the season, every day I ..."

"He had not taken a step toward home plate, and already the chant had started. Man-ny! Man-ny! From the moment Jeff Kent had gotten hit by a pitch in the third inning, forcing the other guy to face Manny Ramirez with the bases loaded, the chant started. No cheesy directive on the scoreboard, no cue from the sound system, just fans at Dodger Stadium following the game and recognizing the moment, the anticipation rising with the decibel level. Man-ny! Man-ny! Ramirez delivered by doubling home two runs, whipping the crowd into a frenzy and sparking the Dodgers to an 8-6 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies on Monday. His was the first big hit of a six-run third inning and a victory that ..."

"When he signed an incentive-laden, minor-league contract with the Phillies on Feb. 13, Kris Benson intended to be pitching in the majors again by May. His body had other plans. So, after biceps tendinitis in spring training, a groin strain in April and tightness in his surgically repaired right shoulder in early June, Benson went to the mound here Monday night and made his eighth start for Class AAA Lehigh Valley, knowing he probably has missed his best chance to join the Phillies' starting rotation this season. "I'd definitely rather be somewhere else," he said frankly from the cramped clubhouse at Coca-Cola Park, "but I think I've shown progress." Indeed, there were signs during a 5-4 ..."

"The Phillies had a chance to put Manny Ramirez in their lineup before the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline, but they came up empty. They came up empty and now they have to watch Ramirez hit against their pitching staff six more times in the next 12 games. That might not be much fun to watch if last night's 8-6 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers is any indication. Ramirez, whom the Boston Red Sox shipped to the Dodgers in a three-team trade with the Pittsburgh Pirates, started Kyle Kendrick on a path toward arguably the worst start of his career when he ripped a two-run double to left-center field in the third inning to make it 2-0. Dodgers fans roared in anticipation when Ramirez strode to ..."

"The most important right shoulder on the Phillies played long toss yesterday afternoon at Dodger Stadium. So the shoulder still works. But how well? "I'm going to be ready to throw," Phillies closer Brad Lidge said before last night's game against the Los Angeles Dodgers. "It's up to them right now. If they don't call down [to the bullpen], they don't call down, but I'm ready." That's a relief for the Phillies, if Lidge's assessment is accurate. He had been unable to pitch since Friday because of stiffness, soreness and inflammation in his right shoulder. Lidge said his shoulder had not felt 100 percent since before the All-Star Game last month at Yankee Stadium. But he also acknowledged ..."

"If it weren't obvious by the moves that ticked across the transaction wire in late July, it was obvious last night: The Dodgers have upgraded an already-potent lineup. And on nights where they get adequate pitching - as they did from Derek Lowe last night - they are a very formidable opponent. The Phillies and Kyle Kendrick found out the hard way, suffocating under the weight of 16 Los Angeles hits and a six-run third inning jump-started by the most famous set of dreadlocks to hit Los Angeles since Coolio's first album. The Phillies did not go quietly, chipping away throughout the game before loading the bases with two outs in the ninth for Chase Utley, but in the end could not overcome ..."

"Of the Phillies' top 10 picks in this year's draft, Jonathan Pettibone was the second-to-last to sign. But when the California native and 6-5 righthander finally agreed to terms yesterday at Dodger Stadium, it marked an important step for the organization. Pettibone was considered to have signability issues when the Phillies selected him with the 110th selection (third round, supplemental). He was asking for well above the value he was "slotted" at, and had a scholarship from Southern California to use as leverage. The Phillies have lost out on other players in similar circumstances, including current Angels star Joe Saunders, who was drafted in the fifth round in 1999, but opted for ..."

"By the time he stepped to the plate in the seventh inning Sunday, Chase Utley's hitless streak had reached 12 at-bats. During the six-game homestand, he had gone 3-for-21 and stranded 21 runners, including three with his rally-killing double play two innings earlier. Greg Dobbs hardly noticed. Standing on third base, representing the Phillies' go-ahead run in the finale of their three-game series against the lowly Pirates, Dobbs had no idea that Utley was enduring such a rough week. Utley, master of the consistent swing and the poker face, never changes. So, when he cracked a tiebreaking, two-run home run into the right-field seats off reliever Tyler Yates and propelled the Phillies to a ..."

"For a second straight game, the situation called for the Phillies to send their All-Star closer to the mound to pitch the ninth inning. But, for a second straight game, Brad Lidge was unavailable. Lidge, who has experienced a "sluggish" feeling in his right arm, has been diagnosed with shoulder tendinitis. And although he and manager Charlie Manuel insist they aren't overly concerned, it was considered serious enough that the Phils shut down Lidge for the past two days. "Taking a day or two here will pay off big for me," Lidge said before Ryan Madson closed Sunday's 6-3 victory over the Pirates. "I'm not real worried about anything, but at the same time, you want to make sure you're not ..."

"In a pinch, Greg Dobbs is a cinch. Over the past two seasons, Dobbs has evolved into the majors' top pinch-hitter. And after cracking an RBI double that tied Sunday's game in the seventh inning, he emerged as the best single-season pinch-hitter in Phillies history. Dobbs' 21st pinch-hit broke a 95-year-old mark set by Doc Miller, an outfielder who batted .295 over five major-league seasons from 1910 to 1914. In 1913, he came off the Phillies bench and delivered 20 of his 30 hits. Nobody is more prolific than Dobbs, who is 21-for-51 (.412) with a majors-leading 15 RBIs as a pinch-hitter. Last season, he led the majors with 18 pinch-hit RBIs. "It's a tremendous honor for me," Dobbs said of ..."

"The Pirates on Sunday turned a simple bunt play into a wild, two-error adventure. A walk became an easy trip around the bases. Simple mistakes added up to three unearned runs for the Philadelphia Phillies, who still needed one big hit -- Chase Utley's two-run homer in the seventh inning -- to claim a 6-3 victory. "When we play well, we can play with anybody," Pirates first baseman Doug Mientkiewicz said. "When we make mistakes, we can't." Pirates right-hander Jason Davis wound up with a no-decision in his first start in the majors since July 4, 2005. He worked six innings and allowed two unearned runs on four hits, but Tyler Yates (4-3) blew a 3-2 lead in the seventh. The Phillies tied the ..."

"THE SIGN IS fading now, the paint has begun to flake and the wood is chipped around the edges. The banner, once so proud and taut, is sagging badly. These are imaginary advertisements for The National League's Best Offense, a crew that was supposed to be based out of Citizens Bank Park and create havoc for pitchers across the baseball landscape this season. It hasn't turned out that way, though. And you have to wonder if all that firepower might not have been a figment as well. The Phillies beat the Pirates yesterday, 6-3, and good for them. That's what first-place teams are supposed to do to fifth-place teams. Not to get persnickety about it, but half of their runs - two in the third and ..."

"Chase Utley is known for never changing his mood or his expression, at least for public consumption, but he could not have been too happy before he entered the batter's box yesterday for his final at-bat.The Phillies' all-star second baseman had been 3 for 21 in his team's six-game homestand, which included an 0-for-11 collar in the series against Pittsburgh. When he grounded into an inning-ending double play in the fifth yesterday, it made him 0 for 7 with runners in scoring position against Pirates pitching.But Utley redeemed himself and warmed the rain-soaked sellout crowd at Citizens Bank Park, blasting a two-run homer that broke a tie in the seventh inning and carried the Phillies to ..."

"Take a nap after work. Brew a pot of coffee in the sixth inning. Do whatever it takes to keep those eyes open and that television on until Brad Lidge comes out of the bullpen one of these next few nights in Los Angeles. You could be watching the defining moment of the Phillies' season before September even comes around. The Phillies flew to the West Coast after yesterday's 6-3 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates with a very heavy question rattling around the luggage compartment.Lidge, the team's invaluable closer, is experiencing stiffness, soreness and inflammation in his right shoulder, which might explain why he needed 26, 28 and 24 pitches, respectively, to get through his last three ..."

"THERE IS a major league baseball commandment that goes back to a time when players wore mutton-chop sideburns and fans traveled to the ballpark in horse-drawn trolley cars. Thou shalt not show up in any way a man wearing the same uniform you are. Brett Myers hissed all over that covenant Saturday night. He scrawled graffiti all over his best pitching performance of a miserable, underachieving season. Maybe manager Charlie Manuel could have let Bratt finish the eighth inning. His pitch count was at a low 93, but there was a runner on second with two out and the Phils led the bottom-feeding Pirates just 3-1, having raised their scoring average in the last three games to one a game. Halloween ..."