Philadelphia Phillies

Here’s a rundown on how the Phillies’ minor league teams fared on Tuesday, June 18.

Rest of the season could signa the return or the departure of the Phillies’ free-agent-to-be catcher.

Former Neumann-Goretti star is flourishing following 50-game suspension for using Adderall.

Cliff Lee picked up his ninth win as he cruised after a rain-delayed start to propel the Phillies in a 4-2 win over the Nationals and into a tie in the NL East with Washington. At this point last season, Lee was still searching for his first win. But after eight frames of two-run ball, to go with five hits allowed, nine strikeouts and no walks, Lee is now 9-2 this year with still nearly a month to go until...

Tuesday night's game with the Washington Nationals was delayed by rain for an hour and 10 minutes. Phillies lefthander Cliff Lee pitched as if he was making up for lost time.

The Phillies beat the Nationals 4-2, at Citizens Bank Park on Tuesday, June 18, 2013.

Cliff Lee struck out nine in eight impressive innings, Michael Young tied a career high with three doubles and the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Washington Nationals 4-2 Tuesday night. Read more Cliff Lee news

LAKEWOOD, N.J. - A potential cache of Phillies trade prospects waited out the rain at the South Atlantic League All-Star Game Tuesday night. The Phillies, too, are waiting.

One hundred ten pitches. Nine strikeouts. No walks. Five hits. Two runs. Cliff Lee. Tonight's offense included doubles of an unusual sort from Michael Young -- they did not include "play' at the end. Ben Revere started a rally with an excellent bunt hit and a fabulous read and run on one of Michael Young's doubles. Kevin Frandsen bailed out Domonic Brown and Delmon Young, who both whiffed with the bases loaded with nobody out in the sixth inning when he singled in the two runs that made the margin of victory in the game. Ryan Howard hit a STAND UP TRIPLE. But...Cliff Lee. During a year when the Phillies have left my 11 year old kid crying on a bunch of nights...Cliff Lee. He makes it fun to watch baseball again. He was magnificent. Sure, he gave up two homers, but they were in situations where nobody was on base, because, y'know, he doesn't walk anyone. He singled in the fifth, but Delmon Young was thrown out at the plate following a bad decision to send him by Sendberg. (H/T Pat Gallon via Joecatz). He had good at bats. He made some hitters look silly (Ryan Zimmerman's strikeout in the 6th was a beauty). It was classic, epic Cliff Lee. Jayson Werth had a homer. Good for you, WFC. Enjoy your empty night of losing stat-padding. Yeah. Take that. And shave. Jonathan Papelbon came in to save the game in the 9th with Lee at 110 pitches, but it was ok, since the win expectancy was at 93%. Charlie Manuel did the right things by subbing in defensive players (Freddy Galvis and John Mayberry) at appropriate points in the game. Papelbon did his usual baboonish fist-pumping schtick. One of the real saving graces of this year is, if the Phillies continue to be kind of out of it, that Papelbon is likely to be traded. While he is useful, he is aesthetically unacceptable in my world. I would not be unhappy to see him go. Maybe Amaro could trade him for a useful outfielder like maybe Nate Schierholtz. I wonder what team might have to do to get a good player like that. Best feel-good at-bat of the night? Delmon Young getting hit. All possible good outcomes occured there. Cringeworthy Wheels quote of the night? Discussing Mick Jagger's athleticism. Just...yuck. Fangraph of Destiny: Source: FanGraphs

It’s funny how fast things can change. Just two days after finishing up an atrocious road-trip against three bad teams, the Phillies have won two straight against the Nationals, with a chance to sweep the series on Wednesday. Cliff Lee allowed a solo home run to Jayson Werth in the fourth, but the Phillies came back to score four straight runs, which was all they would need in their 4-2 victory. The Phillies have now won six straight games at home. Lee dazzles again Lee tossed eight strong innings, striking out nine and walking none en route to his ninth win. PHOTO: AP It seems like every start is the same. He works fast, pounds the strike zone, racks up the punchouts, and exits having only improved his season numbers. Yea he gave up a few mistakes (solo homers to Werth and Jeff Kobernus) but he was still flat out dealing tonight. Lee tossed eight strong innings, giving up just the two runs on five hits while striking out nine. It’s his third nine strikeout game in his last four starts, and his ERA is sitting at 2.53. He threw 110 pitches, 82 for strikes and walked none. Frandsen provides knockout punch in sixth Kevin Frandsen has quietly been one of the most consistent hitters on the Phillies when he plays. In the sixth inning, after Domonic Brown and Delmon Young both struck out with the bases loaded and less than two outs, Frandsen came through with a clutch two-RBI single to give the Phils a nice three run cushion. Frandsen, who has to deal with sometimes not playing for two, three or four days or only having one at bat per game, has an average of .286 after play tonight. He is also hitting .300 with six RBI with two outs and runners in scoring position, and in the month in June his average is .375 with an OBP/OPS of .464/.923 Howard tripled? And Young doubles thrice I thought it was at least worth noting that with his triple tonight, Howard now has more triples than he did in his 2006 MVP season when he was young and spry (sort of). Who would have thought. Michael Young smashed three doubles tonight, and drove in a run. It took Young 29 games to get his first three doubles of the season. Up Next… Wednesday provides the Phillies a chance to sweep the series, but they will have to do it against the reigning N.L. wins leader Gio Gonzalez. Gonzalez is 2-1 with a 2.52 ERA in four career starts against the Phillies. He will be opposed by Kyle Kendrick, who has pitched well for the Phillies this year, but is coming off his worst outing of the year in which he gave up seven runs on ten hits to Colorado. First pitch is at 7:05 p.m.