Starting Five is our wrapup of the previous day's baseball action, with a quick nod to what is ahead.You Oughta Know ...
That the Phillies are grateful to be in the NL East.
The division got out-scored 37-7 on Friday as the AL East swept in interleague play. And it's only the rest of the division's mediocrity keeping Philadelphia in first by a half-game.
After their 11th loss in 13 games, 6-1 to the Blue Jays as Ricky Romero didn't allow a hit in the first six innings, the Phillies held a team meeting.
Manager Charlie Manuel was already seething over mistake after Thursday's loss, and he was so flustered after Friday's effort he declined to be interviewed.
Finally, Shane Victorino spoke.In going 2-11, the Phillies have blown a lead six times, had three blown saves without recording a save and been out-scored 84-54.
"Whether we're trying too hard to make things happen, I don't know," he said. "I can't put my finger on it. What do you do? You just keep playing . . . we're not going to make any excuses. Maybe we need to relax. Maybe we need a gut check."
From the Trainer's Room ...
Boston third baseman Mike Lowell, recovering from November hip surgery, may require an injection to lubricate the joint. He could be out through the weekend.
Lowell is 7-for-35 (.200) with two RBI in his past 10 games.
"Obviously I'm not starting today, and we'll see through this weekend, see what we do," said Lowell before Friday's game. "I guess it's how I wake up tomorrow, but honestly I'm not predicting a miraculous, like, I feel 100 percent tomorrow morning."Numbers Game ...
Andre Ethier had the Dodgers' first three-homer game since Hee Seop Choi in 2005 and the ninth in the history of Dodger Stadium. Ethier has eight homers this month: one one-homer game, two two-homer games and Friday's three-homer effort.
In Their Own Words ...
"We'll keep going out there with the five best (starters) in the organization at any given time. Since April, there's been a little changeover." – manager Bud Black of the Padres, who have 1-2 punch Jake Peavy and Chris Young on the DL and the past two games have gotten just 3 2/3 innings total from starters Wade LeBlanc and Walter Silva
Advance Scouting ...
Felix Hernandez, who has not lost since May 19, takes on the Dodgers tonight as the Mariners visit Los Angeles (10:10 PM ET). Hernandez is 3-0 with a1.00 ERA over his past six starts, striking out 42 in 45 innings. Hernandez has also won his past four interleague decisions, with a 1.61ERA over those seven starts. Dodgers lefty Eric Milton will come off the DL (strained back) for his first start since May 31; he last faced the Mariners on Sept. 2, 2002.
