Philliedelphia

Phils can claim series as Pettibone starts finale against Reds

Jonathan Pettibone is 2-0 with a 2.45 ERA in three starts at Citizens Bank Park this season. (Kevin Durso/Philliedelphia)

The homestand, which will wrap on Sunday afternoon, featured five games. Two of them have been strong showings by the Phillies. The other two have been total embarrassments.

So in the series finale on Sunday, fresh off a 10-0 shutout win, the baby of the rotation will face a beast of the National League as the Phillies (20-23) close out the season series with the Reds (26-17).

Jonathan Pettibone (3-0, 3.41 ERA) gets the start for the Phillies. Pettibone allowed two runs on four hits over 6 2/3 innings in his last start against the Indians, picking up the win. Pettibone is making his first start against the Reds and sixth career start. At Citizens Bank Park, Pettibone is 2-0 with a 2.45 ERA.

The Phillies will face right-hander Homer Bailey (2-3, 3.51 ERA). Bailey allowed two runs on six hits in a complete-game win against the Marlins in his last start. Bailey pitched eight shutout innings allowing two hits against the Phillies on April 16. Bailey is 0-3 with a 4.24 ERA in his career against the Phillies. At Citizens Bank Park, he is 0-2 with a 5.92 ERA.

Game notes and lineups are available after the jump.

Game Notes:

• The Reds are just 10-11 on the road this season, but since posting eight straight losses in April, have won nine of their last 12 road games.
• Ben Revere makes the start against the right-handed Bailey. In six at-bats, Revere has three hits.
• If the Reds win the series finale on Sunday, it will be just their third series win on the road in seven series. The Phillies are 10-12 at home having won one series of six at Citizens Bank Park.

Phillies lineup

1. Jimmy Rollins SS
2. Ben Revere CF
3. Michael Young 1B
4. Chase Utley 2B
5. Domonic Brown LF
6. Laynce Nix RF
7. Carlos Ruiz C
8. Freddy Galvis 3B
9. Jonathan Pettibone P

Jonathan Pettibone will start today's game.

Reds lineup (UPDATE: 10:57 A.M. - Zack Cozart scratched from lineup with illness)

1. Shin-Soo Choo CF
2. Cesar Izturis SS
3. Joey Votto 1B
4. Brandon Phillips 2B
5. Jay Bruce RF
6. Todd Frazier 3B
7. Xavier Paul LF
8. Ryan Hanigan C
9. Homer Bailey P

Homer Bailey will start today's game.

TV: PHL17

Radio: 94 WIP/1210 WPHT

Kevin Durso is a contributor for Philliedelphia. You can follow him on twitter @KDursoPhilsNet.

Phillies pounded by Indians in series finale

Cole Hamels looks on after allowing a two-run home run to Nick Swisher in the fifth inning of the Phillies' 10-4 loss to the Indians.

There's something about the top three in the rotation. There's something about the Cleveland Indians. Whatever the reason, the Phillies just can't play well on the days when Cole Hamels pitches. For whatever reason, the Indians have the Phillies' number this year.

Hamels battled deep counts and a tight strike zone all day, managing one of his worst outings of the season. Even with that, the game was still close enough for the Phillies to rally back. But the bullpen failed the Phillies as well, never really stopping the bleeding.

In the end, the Indians posted their third rout of the Phillies on the season, winning the series finale on Wednesday afternoon by a score of 10-4 at Citizens Bank Park. 

Hamels labored through the first two innings, somehow keeping the game scoreless despite stranding three runners and throwing 51 pitches.

Finally, in the third, the Indians capitalized. Mark Reynolds managed the first blow, a two-out, two-run double to put the Indians on the board.

The Phillies answered in their half of the inning. A two-out single by Jimmy Rollins scored John Mayberry Jr. to get the Phillies on the board.

But Hamels surrendered the run right back, giving up a solo home run to Mike Aviles. 

Nick Swisher made his mark on the game in the fifth, hitting a two-run home run down the left-field line to increase the lead to four.

Again, the Phillies managed an answer. Carlos Ruiz and Mayberry reached base for Kevin Frandsen, hitting in place of Hamels. Frandsen popped out in foul territory for the second out.

But Rollins came through again, delivering a two-run double to cut the lead to two.

With Hamels finished after five innings - he allowed five runs on six hits - Chad Durbin quickly retired the first two batters of the sixth before the inning spiraled out of control. A walk to Indians' starter Corey Kluber led to an infield single and a walk to load the bases. Durbin was pulled for Jeremy Horst after the infield single.

Horst couldn't escape the inning, giving up a two-run single to Asdrubal Cabrera, putting the lead back at four.

Raul Valdes entered in the eighth inning and allowed a three-run home run to Jason Kipnis. Kipnis had three extra-base hits on the day.

The Phillies went quietly from there, aside from an RBI double for Ruiz in the ninth, as the Indians managed their third win against the Phillies this season and snapped a three-game winning streak for the Phillies.

The Phillies get a day off on Thursday before opening a three-game series against the Cincinnati Reds on Friday. Cliff Lee gets the start against Tony Cingrani.

Kevin Durso is a contributor for Philliedelphia. You can follow him on twitter @KDursoPhilsNet.

Have A Night, John: Pettibone, Mayberry, Papelbon key Phils third straight win

Carlos Ruiz scores on John Mayberry Jr.'s two-run double in the fourth inning of the Phillies' 6-2 win over the Cleveland Indians. (Kevin Durso/Philliedelphia)

Jonathan Pettibone started the game for the Phillies on the mound and led the pitching. John Mayberry Jr. lifted the offense. Jonathan Papelbon closed the door. 

The three Johns - or Jons - were the leaders on a night when everything seemed to click for the Phillies. They hit consistently once again, scattering 10 hits. They pitched well, led by Pettibone, despite having to use three pitchers in a crazy eighth inning. And finally, Papelbon finished the job again.

It all resulted in the completion of the Phillies' second three-game winning streak of the season as they started their revenge on Ohio with a 6-2 win over the Cleveland Indians on Tuesday night at Citizens Bank Park.

Chase Utley got the night off for the Phillies. His replacement in the lineup was Kevin Frandsen. Frandsen started the game off in a strong way, belted a 1-2 pitch from Scott Kazmir just deep enough to left for a solo home run.

The Indians' powerful offense answered quickly. Pettibone threw a 1-2-3 inning in the first, but allowed a single to Nick Swisher and a softly hit double to Carlos Santana. He got Mark Reynolds to pop out on the infield for the first out, but Michael Brantley followed by hitting a two-run single up the middle, giving the Indians the lead.

Pettibone would work out of trouble in the second and in the third as well, loading the bases on a walk and two hit batters for Reynolds. A close call on a foul ball helped the Phillies as Pettibone forced another infield pop up from Reynolds.

The Phillies capitalized on a scoring chance in the fourth. With two on and one out, Mayberry ripped a double to left-center field, scoring Domonic Brown and Carlos Ruiz.

Brown would provide more pop in the sixth. He belted a solo home run to right, his seventh of the season, to increase the Phillies' lead to two.

Pettibone pitched into the seventh, getting the first two outs of the inning before being removed. He finished with 6 2/3 innings allowing two runs on four hits with two walks, two hit batters and three strikeouts.

Antonio Bastardo allowed a single in the seventh before getting the final out of the inning. He returned in the eighth. And that's when the Phillies had to protect the lead.

Asdrubal Cabrera tripled off the right-center field fence to lead off the inning. The ball had caromed away from Ben Revere and Mayberry, nearly resulting in an inside-the-park home run. Cabrera put on the breaks at third.

Bastardo then struck out Nick Swisher before walking Santana. That brought Justin De Fratus into the game. De Fratus only faced one batter in getting the win on Sunday. He needed just two pitches to retire the only batter he faced on Tuesday, getting Reynolds to pop out to second again.

Finally, Jeremy Horst entered with two outs and runners at the corners. Horst needed four pitches to do his job, striking out Brantley to end the inning.

Mayberry added his third hit of the night in the eighth, scoring Ruiz. Freddy Galvis, who entered for Frandsen in the eighth, followed with an RBI single as well, capping the scoring on the night.

Papelbon entered for the ninth and allowed a lead-off, bunt single to Drew Stubbs. But Stubbs would be erased on a double play by Mike Aviles and Michael Bourn grounded out to shortstop the end the game.

The Phillies improved to 19-21 with their third straight win. They can finish a two-game sweep of the Indians on Wednesday afternoon. Cole Hamels faces Corey Kluber in the series finale.

Kevin Durso is a contributor for Philliedelphia. You can follow him on twitter @KDursoPhilsNet.

Three is Enough: Phils halt losing streak behind Lee

Cliff Lee picked off A.J. Pollock in the third inning. Lee picked up the win pitching seven shutout innings. Pollock struck out with the tying run on second to end the game.

In his last start on Monday, Cliff Lee was asked to play stopper. He did just that.

Saturday night was no different. Lee was out to halt a three-game losing streak. Runs came at a premium, but when all was said and done, it was the Phillies making the return to the win column.

Lee pitched seven shutout innings and the Phillies managed to outscore the D'Backs in a pitcher's duel, beating the D'Backs and snapping a three-game losing streak with a 3-1 win on Saturday night at Chase Field.

Lee and D'Backs starter Trevor Cahill traded scoreless innings through four innings. Finally, in the fifth, the Phillies managed a run.

Ben Revere led off the inning with a walk and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Lee. A wild pitch moved Revere to third, allowing Jimmy Rollins to bring him home with a sacrifice fly.

The same scenario played out in the seventh. Revere singled and stole second. Lee bunted him to third. Rollins drove him in with a little more flare, hitting an RBI single.

An insurance run scored in the eighth as Domonic Brown added an RBI single.

Lee finished after working out of a jam in the seventh. After allowing two hits and a walk to load the bases with two outs, Lee got Wil Nieves to ground out to short to end the inning.

Lee finished with seven shutout innings allowing six hits. He walked two and struck out three, throwing 114 pitches.

Antonio Bastardo entered for the eighth and worked himself into trouble. With one out and runners at the corners, the Phillies turned to their closer.

Jonathan Papelbon had recorded two five-out saves in 2012. For his first one of 2013, he have to work around two jams. The first came easier. 

Papelbon finished the eighth allowing a sacrifice fly to Cody Ross - getting the D'Backs on the board - and a strikeout of Miguel Montero. 

Papelbon put the tying run on second with one out in the ninth. But he followed that with back-to-back strikeouts of Eric Hinske and A.J. Pollock to end the game.

The Phillies are now 17-21 with one game left on a week-long road trip against the D'Backs. Kyle Kendrick gets the start against Brandon McCarthy.

Kevin Durso is a contributor for Philliedelphia. You can follow him on twitter @KDursoPhilsNet.

Late Heroics: Montero's homer in 8th downs Phils

Jimmy Rollins homered to lead off the game, but couldn't play hero as he grounded out with the tying run on third to end the Phillies' 3-2 loss to the D'Backs.

The Phillies entered Friday night's game with 20 losses on the season. Seven of them were charged to relief pitchers. The number reached eight on Friday.

An early lead slowly slipped away as the Phillies couldn't cling to a one-run lead for nine innings. Tyler Cloyd's debut was wasted and the Diamondbacks got some late heroics thanks to the backstop.

Miguel Montero's homer to lead off the eighth inning off Mike Adams proved to be the difference in a 3-2 D'Backs win on Friday night at Chase Field.

Jimmy Rollins started things off with a bang, belting the first pitch of the game to right for a solo home run. The Phillies would add another run in the inning on an RBI single by Domonic Brown.

The D'Backs added a run back in the first on an RBI double by Eric Chavez with two outs. 

That was all Cloyd would allow while on the mound. With a threat brewing in the seventh, the Phillies pulled Cloyd for Antonio Bastardo with one on and one out. A two-out single by Martin Prado scored Cody Ross to tie the game.

Cloyd finished with 6 1/3 innings allowing two runs on two hits. He walked three and struck out four.

Adams allowed the lead-off homer to Montero, giving the D'Backs the lead. After three straight days of pitching, Heath Bell - the D'Backs closer - was unavailable. Arizona elected to use David Hernandez.

The Phillies worked a rally with Brown and John Mayberry Jr. each picking up singles and Ben Revere bunting the runners to second and third.

But Laynce Nix lined out weakly to third and and Rollins grounded out to first to end the game and give the D'Backs the win.

The Phillies dropped to 16-21 as a result, suffering their third straight loss. They try to return to the win column on Saturday night against the D'Backs. Cliff Lee gets the start against Trevor Cahill.

Kevin Durso is a contributor for Philliedelphia. You can follow him on twitter @KDursoPhilsNet.

Runs, Please?: Phils waste another Hamels' gem in loss to D'Backs

John Mayberry Jr. is thrown out at second on a force play after Kevin Frandsen drove in the lone run in the Phillies' 2-1 loss to the D'Backs. 

Cliff Lee may have had the most puzzling season for a pitcher in recent memory in 2012. He simply couldn't buy a win.

Cole Hamels can now sympathize.

The 1-4 pitcher fell to 1-5 after another solid performance on the mound went by the wayside as the Phillies suffered a 2-1 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks on Thursday night at Chase Field.

Hamels and D'Backs starter Patrick Corbin traded scoreless innings through four. The D'Backs finally managed a run in the fifth. It was Corbin getting the job done.

With one out, Corbin rolled a grounder to short. With the infield in, the Phillies may have had a play at home. But the Phillies had moved the infield back just one pitch earlier, allowing Martin Prado to score.

Cody Ross would score in the sixth on a safety squeeze by Geraldo Parra.

Hamels allowed two runs on six hits in six innings. He struck out three and walked five.

Phillippe Aumont and Jeremy Horst split the final two innings, with Horst working out of a bases-loaded jam in the seventh.

The Phillies got on the board in the seventh. With the bases loaded and one out, Kevin Frandsen lined a hit up the middle to score Domonic Brown. But the ball was softly hit and all runners had to freeze on the play. That allowed the D'Backs to get John Mayberry Jr. out at second on a force play. Jimmy Rollins followed, ending the inning with a weak fly out to shallow center.

Brown doubled with one out in the ninth but was stranded there as Laynce Nix grounded out to short to end the game.

The top of the Phillies' order - consisting of Rollins, Chase Utley, Michael Young and Ryan Howard - combined to go 0-for-14 at the plate in the loss.

The Phillies are now 16-20 on the season and have lost two straight one-run games. They return to the field on Friday night for the second game in the four-game series with the D'Backs. Tyler Cloyd starts against Ian Kennedy.

Kevin Durso is a contributor for Philliedelphia. You can follow him on twitter @KDursoPhilsNet.

Hamels solid, Phils bats quiet in one-hit shutout loss

Cole Hamels shows the ball after snagging a comebacker in the seventh inning.

Freddy Galvis singled two batters into the game. It wasn't until the seventh inning that Galvis would reach again, this time on a walk. 

Galvis represented the only two baserunners the Phillies had in eight innings. Jose Fernandez and the Marlins' bullpen combined for a one-hit shutout, snapping the Phillies' two-game winning streak with a 2-0 win on Saturday night at Citizens Bank Park.

Cole Hamels was trying to follow up his first win of the season on Sunday. He made two mistakes the whole game. That would be what cost the Phillies.

The first mistake came leading off the second inning. Marcell Ozuna hit the first pitch of the inning out to left-center field for his first career home run.

In the next inning, it was Chris Valaika getting his first home run of the season and second of his career.

That was all Hamels would allow as he scattered four hits through eight innings, allowing just two runs, both on the home runs. The Marlins had only one hit after the third inning. 

Phillippe Aumont and Jeremy Horst combined to pitch a scoreless ninth to finish a solid night for Phillies' pitching.

But the Marlins were even better on the mound. Fernandez pitched seven shutout innings allowing just one hit and one walk, both to Galvis. Mike Dunn and Steve Cishek finished the job out of the pen, completing a one-hit shutout.

The Phillies fell to 14-17 as a result. They can still win the series with a win in the finale on Sunday.

Roy Halladay will start Sunday afternoon's finale against Kevin Slowey.

Kevin Durso is a contributor for Philliedelphia. You can follow him on twitter @KDursoPhilsNet. 

Phillies homer happy in win over Marlins

Ryan Howard hit his fifth home run of the season to lead off the second inning of the Phillies' 4-1 win over the Marlins.

For the second straight night, Ryan Howard and Domonic Brown put power on display. Chase Utley thought he would join the party as well.

The trio each belted solo home runs in separate innings as the Phillies picked up their second straight win over the Marlins, winning 4-1 on Friday night at Citizens Bank Park.

Ryan Howard wasted no time getting the Phillies on the board. In the second inning, he belted a 2-0 pitch out to right field on a line for his fifth home run of the season.

With two outs in the inning, Carlos Ruiz singled and stole second. That allowed Ruiz to easily score on a single by Ben Revere.

Chase Utley led off the third inning with a solo home run on the first pitch he saw from Ricky Nolasco. It was his sixth home run of the season.

Jonathan Pettibone worked three scoreless innings before surrendering a run. Donovan Solano homered to lead off the fourth, cutting the Phillies' lead to two.

But Domonic Brown wasted no time in getting that run back. He homered off the foul pole in right to lead off the fourth, his fifth home run of the season. 

Pettibone cruised from there, pitching into the seventh inning for the first time in his first three career starts. He pitched 6 1/3 innings allowing one run on five hits. He struck out three and didn't walk a batter.

Antonio Bastardo took over with one out and one on in the seventh and loaded the bases with two walks to open his outing. But he got Austin Kearns to strike out swinging and Matt Diaz on a called third strike to end the inning with no damage.

Mike Adams also pitched around a jam in the eighth. The Marlins again put two runners on with one out before Adams retiring Justin Ruggiano on a strikeout and Marcell Ozuna on a foul pop-up on the infield.

Jonathan Papelbon came on for the save and pitched a perfect ninth to seal the win.

The Phillies improved to 14-16 on the season with their season straight win over the Marlins. They can claim the series on Saturday night.

Cole Hamels will get the start for the Phillies against Jose Fernandez.

Kevin Durso is a contributor for Philliedelphia. You can follow him on twitter @KDursoPhilsNet.

Phillies pile on runs in win over Marlins

Ryan Howard connects on his solo home run in the fourth inning of the Phillies' 7-2 win over the Marlins.

If there is such a thing as a crucial series in May, then the Phillies made the first game count.

With four games against the lowly Miami Marlins, the Phillies had wins available for the taking. They managed to hold off the Marlins in the opener.

Backed by home runs from Domonic Brown and Ryan Howard, Kyle Kendrick picked up another victory as the Phillies beat the Marlins, 5-2, on Thursday night at Citizens Bank Park.

Kendrick struggled out of the game and allowed the first two baserunners to reach first and third with no outs. Placido Polanco did drive in a run but grounded into a double play to put two outs on the board.

The Phillies answered in the second on a solo home run by Brown. Brown lined a 1-0 pitch from Alex Sanabia just over the fence in right for his fourth home run of the season.

Howard followed suit in the fourth, blasting a 3-2 pitch into the first row in left field for his fourth home run of the season.

The Phillies added two more runs in the fifth on a sacrifice fly by Chase Utley and a passed ball that scored Jimmy Rollins.

Kendrick settled in from there, allowing just a solo home run to Justin Ruggiano in the sixth. He pitched seven innings allowing two runs on seven hits. He walked two and struck out five.

Mike Adams pitched a scoreless eighth inning.

With the heart of the order due up in the eighth, the Phillies instantly started a threat with back-to-back walks to Howard and Laynce Nix. Brown followed with an RBI single to score Howard. Nix scored on a wild pitch. Erik Kratz lined an RBI single into left to cap the three-run inning.

Jonathan Papelbon pitched a perfect ninth to close out the win.

The win snaps a two-game losing streak for the Phillies, who improve to 13-16 on the season.

The Phillies return to action on Friday night. Jonathan Pettibone starts against Ricky Nolasco.

Kevin Durso is a contributor for Philliedelphia. You can follow him on twitter @KDursoPhilsNet.

Unwelcome Homecoming: Lee rocked early, Phils swept by Indians

Laynce Nix makes a great leaping catch at the wall in the fourth inning of the Phillies' 6-0 loss to the Indians.

There was only one major-league team Cliff Lee had never faced in his career. It was the Cleveland Indians, the first team Lee played for in his career.

But Lee's homecoming to Progressive Field was not a welcome one. For the second straight night, the Phillies were flawed as a whole. They couldn't hit in the big spots or take advantage of opportunity. Lee got himself in just enough trouble for luck to go the wrong way. The bullpen didn't perform too well either. The Indians didn't exactly put on a clinic, but they schooled the Phillies.

In the end, it resulted in another loss for the Phillies, a 6-0 defeat to the Indians on Wednesday night.

The Indians scored in the second inning on a sac fly by Mike Aviles. Domonic Brown made the catch in left field and fired to the plate. The throw was well ahead of the tagging Carlos Santana, but Carlos Ruiz couldn't hang on and Santana was safe.

Lee allowed two baserunners in the third on a bunt single and a walk. On the first pitch to Asdrubal Cabrera, he surrendered two runs, as Cabrera smoked a fastball down the line for a two-run double.

Two infield singles produced another run with Ryan Raburn getting the RBI.

Raburn doubled home another run in the fifth. 

Lee allowed five runs - four earned - on nine hits. He walked two and struck out four.

Jeremy Horst entered for the seventh and loaded the bases with two outs. Drew Stubbs singled home another run as the Indians hit three more infield singles.

Phillippe Aumont pitched the eighth and allowed two hits in a scoreless inning. 

The Phillies managed three hits for the game, two by Domonic Brown. Despite that, the team collected seven walks, led off the inning with a baserunner five times and had runners on first and second four innings. They stranded nine baserunners and went 0-for-10 with runners in scoring position.

The Phillies return home with a 12-16 record for a four-game series with the Miami Marlins. Kyle Kendrick starts the opener against Alex Sanabia.

Kevin Durso is a contributor for Philliedelphia. You can follow him on twitter @KDursoPhilsNet.