The Phillies offense came out of its shell for a second consecutive game as the Fightins pounded the L.A. Dodgers 9 to 2 in a nationally televised game to go up two games in this four game series.  Pat Burrell blasted his 30th home run of the season in the first inning plating three runs.  Burrell hit the ball off the left field foul pole to spot starter Cole Hamels with an early lead.    Hamels went seven strong innings giving up five hits and two runs.  He was touched for the two runs in the third inning as Russell Martin hit a two run home run.

The Phillies busted the game open in the fifth and sixth innings scoring three runs in each frame.  In the fifth Dodger center fielder Matt Kemp lost a fly ball hit by Pat Burrell in the high Philadelphia sky and the ball fell untouched for a double!  Jimmy Rollins scored on the play, Ryan Howard then smoked a double to center field to knock in two more runs.  In the sixth Burrell again figured in the scoring mix as he singled to knock in Hamels.  Shane Victorino then singled to knock in Burrell and Chase Utley.   Scott Eyre and Rudy Seanez finished out the game on the mound for the Phillies to book the win.

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Geoff Jenkins was placed on the fifteen day disabled list with a hip sprain.  Andy Tracy was recalled from Triple A to take Jenkins roster spot.  Tracy has previous major league experience as he played for the Montreal Expos and Colorado Rockies.  Tracy is a veteran player and is 35 years of age.  His primary position is first base but will serve as a left handed bat off the bench for the Fightins.  Pat Burrell had five RBI’s in the game matching his career high.  This has been a season of offensive spurts for the Fightins and hopefully this is a spurt that lasts thru the playoffs!  Sometimes playing better teams actually makes you play better yourselves and the Fightins certainly are in the midst of a challenging run with two left with the Dodgers, then two with the Mets and four with the Cubbies.  The last two games the hitters have been much more aggressive early in the count and have been successful, they are dead red fast ball hitters and if opposing pitchers try to use the heat to get ahead in the count this team can make you pay! 

When the offensive portion of a team is in a funk like the Phillies are then other ways need to be found in order to win.  In this game the Fightins found a way.  Jimmy Rollins set the tone early as he legged out an infield single in the game’s first at bat.  He then stole second base, went to third on an errant throw by the San Diego catcher and then scored on a sacrifice fly by Jayson Werth.   Cole Hamels made that early lead hold up thru five innings as he handcuffed the Padres and shut them out.

Pat Burrell slammed his 29th home run of the season in the visitor’s sixth inning to give Hamels a bit of a cushion.   San Diego did score in the bottom six but Hamels would deny them any more as he went eight strong turning a one run lead over to premier closer Brad Lidge.  Lidge struck out the side and earned his 30th save in as many tries updating the Fightin’s record to a perfect 55 and 0 when leading after eight innings!   A must win was gained to keep the team two games off the pace for the Eastern Division title.

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The team won the San Diego series two games to one, in the middle game Kyle Kendrick was wild and got shelled for a second consecutive outing in a 8 to 3 loss.   The team has an off day today and then begins a HUGE nine game homestand starting with three against the Nationals.  They then must pay back the Dodgers as the Hollywood crew comes in for four games and lastly there are two with the Mets.   While the Mets have won six straight they have been against the likes of the Nationals and Pirates, they now embark on a seven game homestand of thier own taking on the Braves for four whom they have struggled with thus far and the Astros for three, Houston swept the Metropolitans in Houston the last time they met.  I think this topsy turvey race is far from over and each week brings different paths forward !

Hopefully the boo bird fans do not shower J-Roll with their collective affection this week, let’s take his comments as a challenge to be even more supportive and step up like we want our Fightin’s to do! Nobody wins with the negativity stuff !   Rudy Seanez is back off the disabled list and was available in the Padre series, Mike Cervenak was optioned back to triple A.  Pedro Feliz may come off the D.L. as early as Wednesday. 

Let’s go Fightins !  We are in a race, much more exciting this way than in many years past!   Lets get at ‘em and collectively get this thing done, what’s the worst that can happen, we lose?  Been there before and no one died from it!   Winning is much sweeter though, let’s taste that drink once again!

Cole Hamels gave the Fightins another quality start but once again had it go to no avail as the bullpen was not able to hold the lead.  Hamels pitched seven innings and left with a 3-2 advantage.  Chase Utley had given Hamels the lead early as he hit his 30th home run of the season in the first frame. 

Chad Durbin had a shaky eighth inning and allowed the tieing run to score as he worked into a bases loaded no out jam before a sac fly scored the tieing run. He was then being able to coax a double play ground ball to end the inning

J.C. Romero took the loss as the Dodgers scored in thier half of the ninth to win.

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The loss marked the seventh consecutive outing that Hamels has pitched and the team has not been able to win.  In most cases he has been more than deserving of the win but the offense has not come up with the support.  Hamels is one of the least unsupported by offensive backing in the league thus far this season.  It forces him to be close to perfect every time out.   The four game series continues tonight as Joe Blanton takes his turn on the hill.

On four other occassions this season the Phillies offense has been completely shut down in a day game that follows a previous night contest.  This one was no exception as young Marlins hurler Chris Volstad limited the Fightins to just three hits thru six impressive innings.  Volstad had a no-hitter thru four frames.  The 21year old displayed a nasty hook to go along with a mid to low nineties fast ball.

Florida scored single runs in the second, sixth and seventh innings with center fielder Cody Ross touching home twice.  Hard luck lefty Cole Hamels did not actually pitch badly as he went six and one third innings with seven strikeouts.  He was tagged with three runs, two earned on seven hits.  Can’t win if your team doesn’t score ! 

The Phillies were limited to four hits total  in the game.  Kevin Gregg pitched the ninth to earn his 25th save of the year.   Not much excitement in this one as it was a sleepwalk, I actually fell asleep watching it!  The Mets beat the Padres so both the Marlins and Mets gained ground on the Phils.  Phillies have to find a way to win the head to head games against these two.  They are 4 and 9 against the Mets with five remaining and 5 and 7 vs the Fish with 6 remaining.  Throw in 8 against Manny and the Dodgers and it is clear if the Fightins are going to win the division they must beat quality opponents, can’t live on the laurels of the 15 remaining games against the Nats and Braves!

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During the game the team announced they had acquired left handed reliever Scott Eyre from the Chicago Cubs in exchange for a class A minor leaguer.  Eyre hopefully will take some innings away from the main relief corps allowing Charlie to rest his crew between appearances.   My son in law was in attendance at the game, not sure he has ever been there when the Fightins have won,  will have to ask him, if not will suggest he stay away from the park! 

Phillies open a three game set against Pittsburgh on friday, have to take the series, a sweep would be sweet!  Juan Samuel will be added to Phillies Wall of Fame prior to friday’s game.   Samuel played for the team from 1983 to 1989 and was eventually traded to the Mets for Lenny Dykstra who became a key member of the 1993 N.L. championship team.  Sammy was fun to watch as he had all the tools but he also frustrated us fans as he seemed unable to lay off the low outside curves or sliders!  He could run like the wind and I remember many first to thirds and triples back in the day.

Cole Hamels gave up four runs to the Cardinals in the fourth inning including a three run home run by Joe Mather.  Hamels was touched for another run in the fifth as Ryan Ludwick took him deep to left field.   All tolled Hamels pitched six innnings and gave up five runs (four earned) on eight hits.  It was his second subpar performance in a row.

The Phillies fought back to within a 5-3 score as they scored three times in the sixth inning.  The highlight of the inning was a two run home run by Pat Burrell, his 27th of the season.   That score held till the Cardinals eighth when Ryan Ludwick blasted his second home run of the game (25th of year) off of Ryan Madson to give the Cards a three run lead.

Jason Isringhausen recorded the final four outs to earn his 12th save of the season.   The Marlins and Mets also lost so the Phillies maintained the same lead that they started the game with in regards to the Eastern division.

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Apparently the Phillies were close to making a deal for a starting pitcher prior to the deadline, it was a three team deal which fell through when the third partner backed out.  Speculation is that pitcher was Bronson Arroyo of the Reds.  Hamels had difficulty in this one getting the ball down and was hurt on high strikes, hopefully he can bounce back in his next start, pitching up in the zone leaves his changeup very receptive to being hit hard!  So Taguchi got a standing ovation from the Cardinal fans when he pinch hit for Hamels, Taguchi did a great job for St. Louis when he was a member of their team and the Card fans showed alot of class in their greeting.

Brett Myers pitched seven strong innings yielding only one unearned run as the Phillies defeated the Washington Nationals 2 to 1 in Washington.  Chase Utley provided Myers all the run support he would need as he popped a two run home run to right field in the third inning scoring Jimmy Rollins who had reached base on a single.  Myers only allowed four hits to the light hitting Nationals.   J.C. Romero and Chad Durbin collectively pitched the eighth inning to earn holds.  Brad Lidge pitched the ninth inning to earn his 25th save of the season.

Pat Burrell and Utley each had two hits in the game as Nationals starter Collin Ballester pitched six strong innings as well and combined with his bullpen to limit the Fightins to only eight hits.  With the Mets also winning the Phillies kept pace 1/2 game behind the New Yorkers in the National League East standings.

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Adam Eaton was optioned to Triple A on the off day prior to this contest.  Left hander J.A. Happ was added to the major league roster.  Pedro Feliz was placed on the 15 day disabled list prior to the game and infielder Mike Cervenak was recalled to replace him.  Rumors still circulate about potential trades for the Phillies, Manny Ramirez, Ron Mahay, Jason Bay, John Grabor, Arthur Rhodes, etc. are amongst the names mentioned as potentials coming to the club.  It is a wait and see as the deadline is 4 pm on 7/31.  Rumblings are that Cole Hamels has a small fracture in his left elbow. Also that Chase Utley may have an injured hip.  If either were to miss extensive time the team would indeed be in serious trouble!

When Cole Hamels takes the hill for the Phillies one usually expects a quality start.  This one appeared to be no different thru three frames as Hamels allowed no Brave runs to score.  The Phillies spotted their ace to a three run lead when they scored twice in the second inning as Chris Coste singled with two outs to score Ryan Howard and Pat Burrell.  Howard had reached on a walk and Burrell had followed with a double.    The third run scored in the third inning as Shane Victorino tripled and Chase Utley scored him on a sacrifice fly.

Things got ugly for Hamels however in the fourth inning as the Braves plated nine runs!  Included in the inning were errors by Hamels and Utley that in effect made only four of the runs earned but Hamels was hit hard as he allowed five hits in the inning including a three run home run by Mark Teixeira.  Hamels was far from “ace like” in this one as he was chased after three and two thirds innings.

The FIghtins were true to their name however as they did not hang their heads and call it in.  They put up a seven spot in the fifth inning to regain the lead.  The Phillies brought ten batters to the plate in the inning.  Key blows in the inning were two out hits by Chris Coste and Greg Dobbs.  Coste delivered a single to right to score Ryan Howard and keep the inning alive.  Dobbs then smoked a three run home run to put the Phillies ahead by one!  This team has not shown any dog in them and the innning was a true reflection of team character!

The Phillies bullpen dominated their part of the contest.  Atlanta was held scoreless by Rudy Seanez, Adam Eaton, Ryan Madson, Chad Durbin, J.C. Romero and Brad Lidge.  Eaton was credited with the win while Madson, Durbin and Romero all earned holds.  Lidge earned his 23rd save and set a new team record by converting 23 consecutive save opportunities breaking the old mark set by Billy Wagner when he was a Phillie. 

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Eric Bruntlett started the game at third as Pedro Feliz again sat out with back pain.  Greg Dobbs got his 20th pinch hit of the season, a game winner at that.  Dobbs has been excellent all year at hitting in the pinch.   In order for Hamels to be a real staff ace he cannott implode in games like this one, he has dominated the Braves thus far this season but lost his composure in this one as he even errored on a throw himself trying to force a play.  I think he is an extreme talent but is still young and we fans must be patient with his continued development.   Joe Blanton takes his second turn in the rotation tommorrow in the series finale.

Cole Hamels pitched eight innings but could not hold the slim one run lead provided to him as the Marlins Cody Ross slammed a game tying home run in the home team’s eighth at bat to knot the score at two.  Ryan Howard had staked Hamels to an early lead in the first inning as he singled to score Jimmy Rollins.  Howard knocked in his 87^th run of the year in the third frame as he doubled to score Chase Utley. 

  The Marlins scored their first run in the fourth inning as Jeremy Hermida touched Hamels for his 12^th home run of the season.  Meanwhile Josh Johnson kept the Phillies at bay till turning the game over to the bullpen with two outs in the sixth inning.

  The game advanced to extra innings and was finalized in the 11^th as Jorge Cantu delivered the game winner knocking in Alfredo Amezaga.  Clay Condrey absorbed the loss for the Fightins.  The Phillies left ten runners on base in the contest.  Shane Victorino joined Howard with two hits in the contest but timely hits were not found as six runners were left on base in scoring position.  With the win the Marlins pulled within ½ game of the Division lead while the Mets win over the Reds put them back into a first place tie with the Fightins.  The Phillies have an off day tomorrow but then open a three game series in New York on Tuesday which will determine the Division leader going into next weekends play.

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 Geoff Jenkins had to leave the game with a contusion on his shoulder after his bat splintered in a sixth inning at bat.  A portion of the bat knocked him down as it broke.  Maple bats and the way they shatter is a concern for fear that someone might get seriously hurt at some point.  These bats tend to splinter when they break. Brett Myers is slated to join the team and pitch against the Mets on Wednesday.  He has stated that he has his swagger back and is ready to go……… here is hoping swagger keeps the fastball out of the middle of the plate!

Greg Olsen who in times past has stated he hates the Philies had just enough to gain a win in the second game of this three game set.   He pitched five innings giving up four runs on eight hits which was hardly a stellar performance but enough to outlast Phillies starter Kyle Kendrick who struggled in this outing.  Kendrick only pitched four and one third innings giving up seven runs on ten hits.  Kendrick gave up home run blasts to John Baker, Jeremy Hermedia and Dan Uggla.  Kendrick was unable to spot his sinker and paid the price accordingly.  He is a pitcher who really only has one effective pitch and when failing to locate usually has difficulty.

Pat Burrell had a good offensive game for the Fightins as he blasted two home runs giving him 25 on the season.  Burrell also had a double in the contest.  Clay Condrey and Ryan Madson pitched scoreless relief for the Philies but Rudy Seanez was touched for two runs in the eighth inning.

The series concludes with a Sunday Matinee in which team ace Cole Hamels will take the hill for the Fightins.

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Speculation still abounds that the team will acquire a left handed reliever prior to the trade deadline.  John Grabow of the Pirates seems to be the least costly and most attainable.  Rumors still swirl that Brian Fuentes is a possibility from Colorado.  New addition Joe Blanton was added to the active roster and Joe Bisenius was optioned to triple A.   Brett Myers is slated to rejoin the team as well during the coming week and the team most likely will go back to carrying 12 pitchers on the roster, the most likely option candidate is infielder Mike Cervenak.

In the series finale with Arizona both team’s aces took the hill.  Cole Hamels opposed Brandon Webb.    The Diamondbacks scored first as Chad Tracey connected on a home run to right field in the second inning.  They scored again in the fourth inning as Robby Hammock knocked in Chris Young with a single.

 The Phillies plated one in the fifth as pitcher Cole Hamels stroked a double to right center scoring Pedro Feliz.  The game was tied in the bottom of the seventh as Jimmy Rollins stroked a double to deep right center to score Carlos Ruiz.   At that point both Hamels and Webb were out of the game and the contest was turned over to the bullpens

 Chad Qualls started the eighth frame for Arizona on the hill and ran into immediate trouble as both Chase Utley and Ryan Howard singled to reach base.  That set up the heroics of Pat Burrell who slammed a Qualls slider to deep left center for his 23^rd home run of the season.  Pedro Feliz followed with his 12^th home run to put the lead at four.

 Brad Lidge pitched the ninth inning and was touched for one run but struck out two to end the contest.

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 With the win the Phillies clinched first place in the N.L. Eastern Division at the All-Star break.  They also won the season series with the Diamondbacks 4 games to 2.  The game was a sellout again marking the 31^st of the season.