--RHP Chad Durbin had a 1.68 ERA through Aug. 8. In his last 12 appearances, he has a 7.82 ERA. Durbin's latest tough outing came Wednesday night when he allowed a game-tying solo homer to Washington's Ryan Zimmerman and three runs in the eighth. Durbin, primarily a starter until this season, has appeared in a career-high 60 games. Is he tired? "I'll take a day of rest (Thursday)," he said. "I won't argue with that."
Said manager Charlie Manuel, "We've been using him a lot. Sometimes, we push him in the back of the bullpen. We ask a lot of him, but he's been that good." --1B Ryan Howard belted two home runs Wednesday night, increasing his majors-leading total to 39. But Howard wasn't enough for the Phillies to overcome the last-place Nationals. Before the game, Howard acknowledged that the Phillies are in a two-pronged playoff race. They trail the NL East-leading Mets by three games and the wild-card-leading Brewers by 4 1/2. "Right now, you're just fighting to get to the playoffs," Howard said. "Hopefully, you win the division. If not, you try and take the wild card. The end result is just getting to the playoffs. That's the goal. We hold our lives in our hands, as far as the division and the wild card. It's just a matter of going out and taking care of our business."
--RHP Kyle Kendrick was slated to start Sunday night against the Mets. Instead, he will be available out of the bullpen this weekend, according to pitching coach Rich Dubee. The Phillies haven't decided if Kendrick will make his next start, pushed back to Monday night against the Marlins at Citizens Bank Park. Kendrick, 1-3 with a 9.14 ERA in his last five starts and 3-5 with a 6.45 ERA since the All-Star break, could be replaced in the rotation by rookie LHP J.A. Happ. "I'll be ready to go," Kendrick said. "I just have to get my mind right and get back on track."
--CF Shane Victorino, mired in a 5-for-36 (.139) funk, wasn't in the starting lineup Wednesday night against the Nationals. Manager Charlie Manuel said Victorino has been "jumping" at the ball instead of being patient. Victorino entered in the sixth inning as a pinch hitter and hit a flyball to right field on the first pitch. In Victorino's place, Jayson Werth moved to center field, and Eric Bruntlett made his first career start in right. Manuel opted to start Bruntlett instead of reserve OF So Taguchi.
BY THE NUMBERS: 2 -- Players in the last 15 seasons to go 4-for-4 after entering a game as a pinch hitter. Chris Coste achieved the feat Aug. 26 in a 13-inning win, joining the Angels' Shawn Wooten in 2002.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "The biggest thing, being Canadian, would've been partying down Yonge Street (in Toronto). But I'll find a new street in Philadelphia and party down there. Maybe I'll look for (Rocky) Balboa and hang out there." -- OF Matt Stairs, on attempting to make the playoffs with the Phillies after being traded Saturday.
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