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: --RHP Ryan Madson noticed it last season. About the only thing the Phillies and Mets have in common is their managers' last name. The Phillies don't particularly like the Mets, and the Mets aren't fond of the Phillies. And over the past three seasons, they have played enough riveting, cuticle-chomping games and talked enough trash to stake a claim as the National League's -- and arguably all of baseball's -- most entertaining rivalry.
The grudge match resumes Friday at Citizens Bank Park in the opener of a three-game series, the first of 2009 between the clubs. The way things turned out the past two years -- the Phils overcame a seven-game deficit with 17 games left to overtake the melting-down Mets and win the division in 2007, then leapfrogged front-running New York again last September before winning the World Series -- has led to the widespread perception that the Phillies are mentally tougher and the Mets' chemistry is as flawed as their 2008 bullpen.
Madson didn't phrase it so bluntly, but he alluded to that notion a few days ago in the clubhouse before a game against the Nationals at Citizens Bank Park.
"Some of the guys on their team just wouldn't fit in our clubhouse," he said, "and some of the guys here just wouldn't fit with their guys. That's just how it is. It's one of those things where it's two totally different mentalities, two different attitudes, everything. We just don't believe in the same things. Our two teams, it's like oil and water."
--C Carlos Ruiz played Thursday for Class AAA Lehigh Valley, going 2-for-3 with two RBIs. Ruiz, who has been sidelined since April 10 with a strained right oblique, suffered a setback Monday when he felt discomfort while taking batting practice. But if Ruiz feels OK on Friday, it's possible the Phillies could activate him from the disabled list during the weekend series against the New York Mets at Citizens Bank Park. When Ruiz is ready to return, the Phillies will option rookie C Lou Marson back to Lehigh Valley.
MEDICAL WATCH:
RHP Brad Lidge (inflamed right knee) did not pitch April 26-29. If he isn't ready to go May 1, he likely will be placed on the disabled list.
LHP Cole Hamels (sprained left ankle) left his April 28 start, but he doesn't expect to miss a turn in the rotation. He had left his April 23 start with a bruised left shoulder.
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 but had a setback April 27. He returned to minor league action April 30, and he might be activated by the Phillies on May 1.
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
