Chan Ho Park was angry with himself for serving up back-to-back home runs on back-to-back pitches in the fourth inning Saturday night. But he knew if he could keep the deficit from growing, the Phillies had a chance. "When I got out of the game, I believed we were going to come back," Park said. "We always do." It does seem that way, doesn't it? Through Sunday, the Phillies had scored 40 of their 85 runs after the seventh inning. They had eight come-from-behind victories and were 5-6 when trailing after six innings, 4-6 when trailing after seven and 3-7 when trailing after eight. "I don't have an answer for that," manager Charlie Manuel said of the Phils' uncanny comeback ability. "Scoring late, that's not a bad way to play if you score enough. We don't want to play like that every night, but right now, that seems to be what's happening."
PLAYER NEWS: --LHP Cole Hamels threw in the bullpen before Saturday night's game at Dolphin Stadium. And, as expected, he didn't want to discuss it. After missing nearly a week in spring training with stiffness in his left elbow, Hamels has declined to offer daily updates on his bruised left shoulder, especially because he isn't expecting to miss a start. For the record, though, how did the bullpen session go? "Peachy," pitching coach Rich Dubee said. "He threw fine." Hamels, who left last Thursday's game in the fourth inning after being hit on the left shoulder by Prince Fielder's line drive, is scheduled to start Tuesday night against the Washington Nationals at Citizens Bank Park.
--OF Matt Stairs is 4-for-8 (.500) with two home runs and five RBIs as a pinch-hitter, and his 16 career pinch-hit homers lead active players. His effectiveness as a pinch-hitter stems from his simple, grip-it-and-rip-it approach. Stairs admits that he only tries to hit home runs. "He goes up to hit the ball hard," Manuel said. "That's a good way to think anyway if you've got power and you're a pull hitter. You should be thinking about hitting the ball hard."
MEDICAL WATCH:
LHP Cole Hamels (bruised left shoulder) left the April 23 game, but he doesn't expect to miss a start.
C Carlos Ruiz (strained right oblique muscle) went on the 15-day disabled list April 11. He began a rehab assignment with Class AAA Lehigh Valley on April 25, and he could return to the Phillies after a few games in the minors.
ROTATION:
LHP Cole Hamels
RHP Brett Myers
LHP Jamie Moyer
RHP Joe Blanton
RHP Chan Ho Park
BULLPEN:
RHP Brad Lidge (closer)
RHP Ryan Madson
RHP Chad Durbin
LHP Scott Eyre
RHP Clay Condrey
LHP J.A. Happ
LHP Jack Taschner
CATCHERS:
Chris Coste
Lou Marson
INFIELDERS:
1B Ryan Howard
2B Chase Utley
SS Jimmy Rollins
3B Pedro Feliz
INF Eric Bruntlett
INF Miguel Cairo
OUTFIELDERS:
LF Raul Ibanez
CF Shane Victorino
RF Jayson Werth
OF/INF Greg Dobbs
OF Matt Stairs
