PHILLIES NEWS

The Phils finished off their 4 game set with Cincinnati earlier this afternoon, as Cole Hamels got his second start of the season. Once again he delivered a quality effort, allowing just 2 runs on 5 hits in 7 innings of work, and this time the Phils backed him up with some runs and got him the win. The Phils got off to a quick start in the top of the first as a solo homer by Jimmy Rollins and a 2 run homer by Pat Burrell gave them a 3-0 lead. The Reds answered back in the bottom of the inning as a fielder's choice and a Jeff Kepinger single cut the lead to 3-2. In the top of the 3rd Burrell and Geoff Jenkins crushed back to back homers for a 5-2 Phils lead. From there that lead held up until the bottom of the 9th as new closer Brad Lidge came in to get his first save as a Phil. After two quick outs Lidge loaded the bases. A wild pitch then allowed Paul Bako to score and cut the lead to 5-3. It also allowed Ken Griffey Jr, representing the winning run to move up to second, as in scoring position. Fortunately, after another near wild pitch, Lidge was able buckle down and strike out Javier Valentin to end it in a 5-3 Phils win. So the Phils move to 3-4 on the season thus far and at least for now avoid falling behind as far as they usually do this time year.