PHILLIES NEWS

The Phils continued their series with the Diamonbacks tonight. With J.A Happ on shelf for at least one start, Nelson Figueroa, in front of his off season home, got the spot start and did his job well. He allowed just 2 runs on 5 hits over 5 innings while striking out 4. It could have been worse if not for a heads up double play turned by Jayson Werth in the 1st inning with 2 runners on. Ultimately though 2 runs over 5 innings is about as much as the Phils could have asked from Figueroa on this night and more than enough for them to get the win. It almost wasn't though. Coming into tonight Dback's starter, Ian Kennedy had been having a farely awful season with an ERA over 5.00. Tonight he was electric allowing just 2 runs on 4 hits over 8 innings, both on solo homers by Raul Ibanez and Jayson Werth.

Thanks to a combined 3 scoreless innings out of Chad Durbin and Jose Contreras those 2 homers were just enough to get them to the 9th tied at 2. There with 2 out and nobody on in the top of the inning, Werth got the Phils biggest hit season thus far as he slammed a solo homer to dead center. That set the stage for Ryan Madson to get his 4th save of the season. He allowed a 1 out hit in the bottom of the inning but then struck out the side to close out the 3-2 win, the Phils 11th of the season. At 11-6 overall the Phils are tied for the best record in the NL and appear to be headed in the right direction again, if only they could stay healthy. After missing some of yesterday's game Placido Polanco was back full time today, but now backup SS Juan Castro had to leave tonight's with a sore hamstring and he is expected to miss tomorrow's game. So SS #3 Wilson Valdez will get the start. Castro should be back after that though and then maybe the Phils will start to be healthy again.