R-Phils match season-long win streak

By Tony Zonca

READING, Pa. -- The Phillies matched their season-high fifth straight win Wednesday night with an 8-6 comeback decision over the reeling Altoona Curve.

They moved 13 games above .500 (45-32) for the first time since Aug. 29, 2002. They also won for the 11th time in 15 games against the Curve.

Just as they did Tuesday night, the Phillies climbed out of an early deep hole. This time, however, they did not wait until the 12th inning to take the lead.

They tied a season high with six runs in the second inning, getting a two-out, two-run single from Brad Harman followed by a home run by Michael Taylor, his 15th of the season. Tuffy Gosewisch and pitcher Kyle Drabek also knocked in runs for a 6-4 lead.

It became 7-4 in the fifth when Gosewisch squeezed in Neil Sellers from third. They scored their final run in the seventh on an infield throwing error -- the Curve’s sixth error in two games -- after Kevin Mahar had opened the inning with a double.

The Curve had scored a run in the first off Scott Eyre, on a Major League rehab assignment, and three in the second off Drabek, who was touched for five hits in the inning.

Drabek (5-0) pitched 6.1 innings and gave up just two other hits after the second inning. He walked three and struck out four. He also went 3-for-3 at the plate, upping his batting average to .625 (5-for-8).

The Curve (27-52) scored two in the ninth -- one on Jason Delaney’s homer off Tyson Brummett -- and had the go-ahead run at the plate. But Jason Mackintosh ended things with a deep fly to center.

PHILLERS: Four Phillies were named Eastern League All-Stars in the game to be played July 15 in Trenton. They are left-hander Joe Savery, right-hander Vance Worley, outfielder Michael Taylor and third baseman Neil Sellers. The complete press release can be found here. . . . Three members of the Curve -- left-hander Daniel Moskos, shortstop Brian Friday and first baseman Jason Delaney -- were named to the Southern Division squad. . . . Kevin Mahar extended his hitting streak to eight games with a fifth-inning single. . . . Mike Dubee, the Curve’s second pitcher Wednesday, is a former Philadelphia farmhand and the son of pitching coach Rich Dubee. . . . Wednesday night’s official attendance was announced as 8,208, the ninth straight home crowd of at least 7,021 and the 13th of the last 14 of at least 7,002. . . . Jim Negrych went 3-for-3 with two walks for the Curve. He is hitting .500 (20-for-40) in 15 games against the Phillies. 

IBANEZ UPDATE: Philadelphia Phillies left fielder Raul Ibanez, on the disabled list with a strained left groin since June 18, took batting practice Wednesday with the Reading Phillies but was not in the lineup facing the Altoona Curve. Ibanez, the leading All-Star Game vote-getter among all NL outfielders, basically said the organization had decided to err on the side of caution in dealing with his injury situation. “They’re looking at the next three months, not the next three days,” he said.

Despite his inactivity, Ibanez ranked third in the NL in home runs (22), fourth in RBIs (59) and sixth in runs scored (51) while batting .312.

Though Ibanez is eligible to come off the DL on Friday, the 37-year-old in his first season with Philadelphia, said he is looking at a “big picture mentality” regarding his availability.

Philadelphia manager Charlie Manuel, asked about the impact of Ibanez’s loss on the team, said on Phillies.com: “It seems to be like our hitting has been going down (without Ibanez). He gave us some production. He’s definitely a good choice to hit behind (Ryan) Howard. We had him in the 3-hole, too. And he did good. He’s very consistent. We definitely miss him.”

EYRE MAKES REHAB START: Philadelphia Phillies left-handed reliever Scott Eyre made a rehab start for the R-Phils Wednesday against the Altoona Curve. On a 25-pitch count, Eyre allowed a leadoff homer to Jim Negrych. He left with the bases loaded and two out. He allowed a run, two hits and a walk and struck out a batter. Kyle Drabek, making his regular turn, ended the inning with a groundout. Eyre threw 14 strikes and 11 balls.

With Philadelphia, he had a 1-1 record with a 2.57 ERA in 25 appearances. He did not allow a run in 24 of the 25 games in which he appeared.

Eyre has been on the DL with a strained calf since June 12. He said he expects to pitch out of the R-Phils’ pen on Friday.

This story was posted on July 1, 2009