PHILLIES NEWS

This afternoon in the 3rd of their 4 game set with Cincinnati, Brett Myers got the start for the Phils and struggled allowing 4 runs on 8 hits in just 5 innings of work. Meanwhile, the Red's Edison Volquez dazzled the Phils to the tune of 1 run on 5 hits in the 5 and 1/3rd innings of work. So it was an especially frustrating afternoon for the Phils. The Reds took the early lead in the bottom of the first on a 2 run homer by Ken Griffey Jr. In the bottom of the 3rd Jeff Kepinger slapped a solo homer for a 3-0 Reds lead. In the bottom of the 4th Corey Patterson hit a 2 out double to score Paul Bako for a 4-0 Reds lead. In the top of 5th, the Phils finally got on the board as Carlos Ruiz doubled and scored to cut the lead to 4-1. Just as the Phils seemed to be turning things around, the Reds struck in the bottom of the 6th, where a double by Jeff Kepinger, a single by Adam Dunn, and a fielder's choice, scored 4 runs and pushed the Red's lead to an insurmountable 8-1. Finally, in the top of the 8th Chase Utely doubled and scored a relatively meaningless run , on a single by Pat Burell, that did nothing but reduce the final margin to 8-2 as the Phils went down in order in the 9th. So the Phils drop to 2-4 overall, but considering how bad they've been in April the past couple years that's not too bad at all.