Philadelphia Phillies

Michael Young has played even better than expected as the Phillies’ full-time third baseman. Today he’ll get a new challenge. With Ryan Howard out of the lineup, Young is starting at first base, a position he hasn’t played since he started a regular-season game there for the Rangers on Sept. 28, 2012. Young didn’t get any action at first base during spring training, nor has he played there at all when the team takes infield before batting practice. “I put [my first baseman's glove] on my hand and bang my fist in it, but that’s pretty much the most action it’s seen,” he said. Young, who has played 77 games at first base in his career and owns a .993 fielding percentage there, found out this morning he’d shift across the diamond just before the lineup was posted. “He doesn’t need to give me a head’s up,” Young said. “He ran it by me and I had no problem with it. I love to play. I feel like I’m prepared. I’m ready. If anything, I look forward to it. I look forward to new challenges.”The Phillies face Homer Bailey today. Last time they faced him (April 16), Bailey threw eight-shutout innings. He allowed only two hits, struck out 10 and didn’t walk anyone. Today’s starting lineup is an interesting one. Here it is: --SS Rollins, CF Revere, 1B M. Young, 2B Utley, LF Brown, RF Nix, C Ruiz, 3B Galvis, P Pettibone. As you can see Delmon Youngis not in the starting lineup. He’s 2-for-15 (.133) in his last four games. Even though the Phillies are facing a righty, Howard is not in the lineup. In his last seven games, he’s hitting .149 (7-for-47) with 20 strikeouts, three walks, two extra base hits and only four RBIs.

At first, it looked like maybe it was just a charley horse. Carlos Ruiz didn’t get that lucky. The Phillies catcher limped as he headed to third base in the second inning on Freddy Galvis’ single. A trainer and manager Charlie Manuel came out to check on Ruiz, who stayed in the game. In between innings, though, Ruiz was replaced by backup catcher Erik Kratz. A little while later, the Phillies announced Ruiz has a strained right hamstring. Ruiz hasn’t really warmed up this season since being activated from the restricted list. In 15 games, he’s hitting .240 with two doubles and just two RBIs. Last year, he was the Phillies best hitter and appeared in his first All-Star Game. Ruiz was on the DL each of the last four seasons (2009-2012), but never for a hamstring strain (right oblique strain, concussion, lower back inflammation, plantar fasciitis in left foot). Expect the Phillies to make a roster move at the end of the game. They’ll likely call up Humberto Quintero fromTriple-A Lehigh Valley. He was with the Phillies for their first 25 games. If the Phillies find themselves in need of another catcher for today's game, the team's emergency catcher is Kevin Frandsen, who is not in the starting lineup today.

Sunday's game ended on a high note for the Phillies. The news that followed about players' health didn't. Ryan Howard did not play because of a sore left knee. He is having an MRI on Monday. "Yesterday is when it kicked in more than normal," he said. "It's been acting up since spring training. But I’ve been able to tough my way through it." Charlie Manuel said Howard was available to pinch hit today, but added that he was trying to stay away from him. And his availability tomorrow is in question. "I'm kind of leary [about starting him tomorrow]," Manuel said. Carlos Ruiz, who left after the second inning with a right hamstring strain, is staying in Philadelphia to have an MRI on Monday morning. He said he is flying to Miami on Tuesday. In case the team decides to put Ruiz on the D.L. right away, they are sending Lehigh Valley catcher Humberto Quintero to Miami to be with the team tomorrow. "It was a bad feeling because it surprised me when that happened," said Ruiz, who said he felt something pop as he headed from second to third in the second inning. "And it happened like that (he snaps his fingers). "It was the last thing that I expected to happen because I was feeling great." Mike Adams, who last pitched on May 10, still could land on the disabled list, but the Phillies aren't sure one way or another. He played catch Sunday for the first time in a week. "Everything felt good," he said of his mild, mid-back strain. "The shoulder felt like s**t. But the back felt great. I feel really good. We'll see how it goes. That's all I can tell you.”

Phillies outfielder Domonic Brown is plenty familiar with the Florida store that sold this weekend's huge Powerball-winning ticket.

This isn't entirely a bad thing, but I'm starting to despair of figuring out this Phillies team. They've been shut out six times in 44 games, and have allowed double digit runs six times while yet to score 10 or more in a game themselves. They're letting inherited runners score at a near-record pace, are 1-8 in games started by their $144 million ace pitcher, and have just two regulars with an on-base percentage over .320. Their pythagorean record going into today--what they "should be" based on how many runs they've scored and allowed--was 17-26. They've also seen former rotation afterthought Kyle Kendrick blossom into something like an ace, have gotten an almost Marty Bystrom-esque first month from rookie pitcher Jonathan Pettibone, and have won six times in their last at-bat. None were more exciting or unexpected than Sunday's 3-2 win over the Reds, giving the Phils the series victory and a 7-5 record in their last 12 games against the Giants, Diamondbacks, Indians and Reds, all first- or second-place teams. Pettibone didn't figure into the decision, but he kept it close Sunday while the bats were waking up. The 22 year old went a career-high seven innings, allowing two runs on seven hits and three walks. The first run was a long solo homer in the second to registered Phillie-killer Jay Bruce, who's got 12 in 155 career at-bats against the Phils; the second came in the sixth after a Domonic Brown throwing error put Joey Votto on second base, and Todd Frazier doubled him in with two outs. With Reds starter Homer Bailey holding the Phillies off the board for seven innings, that figured to be more than enough. This wasn't exactly yesterday's display of offensive futility against Bronson Arroyo; the Phils had a number of hard-hit outs, and put men in scoring position in four of the first six innings. But Bailey got outs when he needed to, running his personal scoreless streak against the Phils to 14 innings. The break came when Dusty Baker put in old friend Jonathan Broxton for the eighth inning. With two outs, Ben Revere just beat out an infield hit, then stole second. Broxton walked Michael Young, then gave way to Sean Marshall, who surrendered a single to Chase Utley for the Phillies' first run since the eighth inning Friday night. But Brown flied out on the first pitch he saw, leaving the score 2-1 heading into the ninth. It was quickly clear that Reds closer Aroldis Chapman didn't have his absolute best stuff. He walked pinch-hitter Delmon Young on four pitches, which is damn difficult to do. Wanting to save back John Mayberry, Jr., Charlie Manuel pinch-ran pitcher Cliff Lee--who promptly got picked off, prompting some of us to turn Twitter temporarily blue. But Erik Kratz, in the game after Carlos Ruiz tweaked his hamstring running the bases in the second, promptly tied things up with a solo home run to left... and three pitches later, Freddy Galvis won it with a solo shot that just stayed fair down the left field line. Fangraph of Rapture: via www.fangraphs.com

The Phillies took an otherwise boring game and brought some excitement to those who remained in Citizens Bank Park on this dreary Sunday. With the team trailing 2-1, just having snapped their 16-inning scoreless streak, the Phils were staring down the barrel of Aroldis Chapman. Undeterred, Erik Kratz tied the game with a homer and Freddy Galvis won it with a line-drive shot that just cleared the left field wall. The Ninth Inning Delmon Young led off the ninth and promptly drew a four pitch walk from the flame-throwing Chapman. As we all know, D. Young is not the fleetest-of-foot; but still the choice to pinch-run with Cliff Lee is always a questionable one. Lee got caught in a rundown after Chapman attempted a pick-off. It was a poor baserunning move and Cliff knew it. He was visibly frustrated in the dugout as Erik Kratz stepped to the plate. After Chapman threw a few of his signature high-90s fastballs, Kratz zeroed in on one and delivered it to the left field seats. The crowd celebrated, but Lee’s pickoff was still fresh in their minds. Lee’s reaction said it all after the Kratz homer – he knew that would have been the win. Nonetheless, the game was tied and Freddy Galvis was up. He had started the game at third base, with Michael Young at first, so that Ryan Howard could have the day off (more on him later). Galvis took a 99 mph fastball for a ball and fouled off the next pitch. The third pitch, a slower 95-mph fastball, landed just over the left field wall inside the foul pole for Galvis’ first career walk off homer. For the 15,000-or-so fans remaining in the stadium, it was well worth the patience required to watch an anemic offense play on a misty Sunday afternoon. The low scoring and high drama made it feel almost like a soccer game. Pitching Jonathan Pettibone had another solid outing, going seven innings with just one earned run coming off a Joey Votto blast to centerfield. The Phillies are 5-1 when he starts. Justin De Fratus and Antonio Bastardo each allowed a hit in relief, but kept the Reds from scoring any more runs. Bastardo got the win and becomes the only Phils reliever with multiple wins on the season. Injuries There’s some bad news on the injury front. As mentioned, Ryan Howard had the day off due to soreness in his left knee. After the game, it was announced that he will undergo a precautionary MRI on Monday. He mentioned that his knee has “been acting up”, and some speculate he may be overcompensating for his previously injured Achilles. If Howard does see time on the DL, it may indirectly give Galvis an opportunity for more playing time. Carlos Ruiz left the game after the second inning today. He tweaked his right hamstring while running first-to-third on Freddy Galvis’ first hit of the afternoon. Chooch said he felt something “pop” and, like Howard, will have an MRI on Monday. Game Notes The Phillies are off to Miami for a 3-game series before heading to DC then Boston…Ben Revere is now batting .406 in the month of May…Tyler Cloyd was recalled to pitch Tuesday…This was the first time ever the Phillies won a game on back-to-back HR’s in bottom of the ninth inning.

The Phillies beat the Reds, 3-2, at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia on May 19, 2013.

The Phillies' prospects didn't look so bright. Having scored one run in the previous 17 innings, they entered the ninth inning of Sunday's series finale with the Cincinnati Reds trailing by 2-1.

Freddy Galvis and Erik Kratz each homered off closer Aroldis Chapman in the bottom of the ninth innings Sunday, rallying the Philadelphia Phillies past the Cincinnati Reds for a stunning 3-2 victory.

It’s time for the weekly rundown of minor league notes, taking a look at who is hot and who is not, from each team.  Stats and standing accurate through game action played on Saturday. Triple-A Lehigh Valley IronPigs (18-24, 4th place, North Division International League)- Hot list… Cody Asche with Reading in 2012 Third baseman Cody Asche has hit safely in 12 of his last 13 contests.  In his last 10 games, Asche is batting .326 with two doubles, two home runs and 10 RBI.  The 22-year-old was the Phillies’ 4th round pick in 2011 out of the University of Nebraska. Cold list… Joe Savery has allowed nine earned runs in one total inning over his last two appearances with the IronPigs.  Savery, whose season ERA in the International League sits at 5.87, sported a 0.63 mark this season prior to his most recent two appearances. Lefty starter Adam Morgan has a 0-4 record along with an 8.33 ERA over his last five games.  The University of Alabama product was the Phillies’ 3rd round draft pick in 2011.  Morgan, a Georgia native, is 23-years-old. Double-A Reading Fightin Phils (15-25, last place, East Division Eastern League)-  Hot list… Reading OF Tyson Gillies OF Tyson Gillies went 9-for-23 (.391 avg) with six RBI over a stretch of six starts this week.  Overall through 13 games with Reading, Gillies has a .244 average with three doubles and a stolen base. First baseman Jim Murphy is 13-for-30 (.433 avg) with four doubles, a triple, three homers and nine nine RBI over his previous nine games.  Murphy, 27, leads the Eastern League in total bases with 88. Cold list… Right-handed starter Seth Rosin is 0-1 with a 5.51 ERA in three starts this month.  The 23-year-old, who was acquired in the Hunter Pence trade with the Giants last year, is 1-3 with a 3.95 ERA in eight starts this season. Class A Advanced Clearwater Threshers (21-20, 3rd place, North Division Florida State League)- Hot list… Maikel Franco with Lakewood in 2012 Third baseman Maikel Franco is 8-for-25 (.320 avg) with a double, a triple and two homers over his last six games.   Franco, a Dominican native, is 20-years-old. Righty reliever Chris Nichols, who was added to the Threshers’ roster this week out of extended spring training, has made three scoreless appearances since joining the active roster.  The 22-year-old University of Sioux Falls product was a 31st round draft choice by the Phillies last year. Outfielder Cameron Perkins leads the FSL in hits with 56 and ranks second in the league in average with a .354 mark. The 22-year-old was the Phils’ 6th round draft selection last year out of Purdue University. Cold list… Shortstop Jose Mojica has gone 3-for-26 (.115 avg) over his last seven games.  Prior to his recent slow stretch, the 24-year-old Mojica was among the Florida State League’s top hitters with a .354 average. Following a four-game stretch in which he went 4-0 with a 0.75 ERA, lefty starter Hoby Milner has thrown back to back outings with no decisions while allowing six earned runs in 11 innings (4.91 ERA).  Milner was a 7th round draft pick out of the University of Texas last year. Class A Lakewood BlueClaws (17-24, 6th place, North Division in South Atlantic League)-  Hot list… Lakewood OF Larry Greene Jr. Larry Greene Jr. posted a seven-game hitting streak that ended on Saturday.  During the streak, Greene was 10-for-23 (.435 average).  Overall in 23 games, Greene, the Phils’ 1st round draft choice in 2011, is batting .227 with four doubles and eight RBI. Outfielder Zach Taylor is 11-for-25 (.440 avg) with four doubles, two home runs and six RBI in his last seven games.  Taylor, who is batting .306 in 22 games, was selected in the 12th round of the 2012 draft by the Phillies. Cold list… Infielder Angelo Mora is 1-for-19 (.053 avg) in his last six games.  The 20-year-old Dominican is batting .109 in 13 games this month. Venezuelan Summer League Phillies (4-0 record,