--RHP Brett Myers struggled through another poor start Thursday, allowing seven runs (six earned) on nine hits and lasting only five innings against the Diamondbacks. Myers is 2-3 with a 5.33 ERA in eight starts this season, hardly the performance the Phillies expected from their Opening Day starter. More alarming, Myers is at a loss for a solution. "I definitely didn't give us any opportunity to stay in the ballgame," Myers said. "I made some good pitches they hit. I made some bad pitches they crushed. I can't put together back-to-back good starts, and I don't know what the problem is."
--RHP Kyle Kendrick ran out of time this week to ask Diamondbacks ace RHP Brandon Webb for advice on throwing a better changeup. So, instead, he watched Webb's masterful performance Thursday and picked up a few pointers. "The way he attacks the strike zone with his sinker, it's impressive," said Kendrick, the Phillies' sinkerball specialist. "Carlos (Ruiz) sat down next to me and said, 'Your sinker is good, but his is really good.' And I talked to a couple hitters who said that's a Wiffle Ball changeup he's got there." --CF Shane Victorino, showing no ill effects from his violent collision Wednesday night with Arizona 1B Conor Jackson, recorded two hits in Thursday's loss. Since he returned from the disabled list, Victorino is 14-for-42 (.333) in his last 12 games. He has hit safely in five consecutive games, batting .364 (8-for-22).
--LF Pat Burrell, off to a sizzling start, went 1-for-12 during the first three games at Arizona. So, manager Charlie Manuel gave him a rest Thursday against Diamondbacks ace Brandon Webb. Burrell is still batting .305 with nine home runs and 30 RBIs in 35 games. "I rested Pat because he's starting to kind of pull off the ball," Manuel said. "He'll be in there (Friday night)."
--LHP Stephen Randolph was acquired Thursday by the Phillies in a deal with Houston for a player to be named. He will report to Class AAA Lehigh Valley on Friday. Randolph, who turned 34 last week, has pitched in only 14 major league games since 2004. In 11 appearances this season for Class AAA Round Rock, Randolph was 0-1 with a 1.23 ERA. He went 0-1 with a 12.15 ERA in 14 games for the Astros last season, and in 109 major league games for Arizona and Houston, he is 10-7 with a 5.52 ERA.
"He actually has two strikeout pitches -- a slider and his changeup," said Phillies closer Brad Lidge, who briefly teamed with Randolph in Houston. "I've watched him strike out a lot of good hitters with them. His whole thing is, when he's going right, his control is down. When that abandons him, that's when he struggles at times."
BY THE NUMBERS: 95 -- RBIs since last July 1 for Pat Burrell, tied with Milwaukee's Ryan Braun for the most in the majors.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "Philly fans are very passionate, smart fans. It's nice to know that a lot of fans, whether they like me or not, knew that I came out to play every game and gave it all I had. It had been a while since we had won a (division) and the city had a winner. It was a blessing to be part of that. I appreciated every moment." -- Giants CF Aaron Rowand on the two seasons he spent with the Phillies.
