Joe Blanton allowed seven runs (six earned) in 4 1/3 innings, taking the loss in the Phillies' 7-5 loss to the Red Sox. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)

It was a game that featured a little bit of everything. For the Phillies, it defined tough luck.

The Phillies had to do something they hadn’t done in quite a while: play from behind. The problem was that once they worked their way out of a hole, they dug a bigger one.

It was not a good night for the starter, as Joe Blanton never found his form. It is a night of positives all the way around for the rest of the Phillies, but the result is not the desired one, as the winning streak is over for the Phillies.

This one started on a bad note immediately, as Joe Blanton served up a solo home run to Mike Aviles to lead off the ballgame. It was the first time in eight games that the Phillies allowed the first run of the game.

Things didn’t get much better after that, as Blanton allowed two more runs in the second on a personal error and a double play.

The Phillies did get on the board with an RBI double by Shane Victorino in the third. But Blanton served up back-to-back home runs in the fourth to Will Middlebrooks and Jarrod Saltalamacchia.

Freddy Galvis celebrated his third home run of the season with Hector Luna in the fourth inning of the Phillies' 7-5 loss to the Red Sox. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)

The Phillies again chipped into the lead. In the fourth, Hector Luna hit a long single of the wall, scoring a run. Freddy Galvis followed with a two-run home run and all of a sudden it was a one-run game.

But Blanton, who appeared he would be removed in favor of a pinch hitter in the fourth, returned for the fifth and served up a two-run home run to David Ortiz to put the Red Sox back in front by three.

The Phillies didn’t have a lack of chances to tie things up in the final innings. In each of the last five innings, the tying run made an appearance in some form. Twice, it was erased on an inning-ending double play. In the seventh, Carlos Ruiz lofted a deep fly ball into the gap in right-center field that was flagged down on an acrobatic diving catch by Ryan Sweeney. In the ninth, a lead-off bunt single by Hunter Pence was erased on a double play, as Ruiz hit a low liner picked out of the air by Aviles at short.

The Phillies did get a run in the eighth on an infield single by Jimmy Rollins and loaded the bases with two outs. But Shane Victorino popped the first pitch up to short to end the inning.

The Phillies brought the tying run right back to the plate after the double play in the ninth, as Wigginton singled up the middle, but Luna struck out to end the game, snapping the Phillies’ six-game winning streak by a score of 7-5.

It was already a highly anticipated game because of Pat Burrell’s retirement. It almost became memorable for a lot more. The Phillies were down 3-0, 5-1 and 7-4 and almost pulled off the comeback.

Carlos Ruiz tags out Jarrod Saltalamacchia trying to score in the eighth inning of the Phillies' 7-5 loss to the Red Sox. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)

But almost only really counts in horseshoes and hand grenades. Instead, the Phillies will be remembered in this one for bringing the tying run into the picture five straight innings. They will be remembered for stranding 11 runners on base.

But in the end, everything but the starting pitching was there. The bullpen pitched 4 2/3 scoreless innings. The offense belted out 15 hits. John Mayberry Jr., Shane Victorino and Hector Luna each had three-hit games. Ty Wigginton and Freddy Galvis had two-hit games. The only starter who ended the game without a hit was Carlos Ruiz and I think it’s safe to say he gets a pass for a game.

Joe Blanton was horrendous tonight, and perhaps the biggest mistake was leaving him in for the fifth inning. The Phillies had just trimmed the lead to one. Blanton, before exiting later in the fifth, dug the Phillies a hole they couldn’t climb out of.

Sure, it looks bad that the Phillies stranded 11 runners and had the tying run up in five straight innings. But those are actually encouraging signs.

I fully expected Jon Lester to pitch a gem. So, when Blanton was getting lit up in the first two innings, I thought the game might as well have been over then. Not so.

The Phillies didn’t hang their heads about a deficit. They chipped away at the lead. The team of April is starting to correct its little errors.

Sometimes the starter isn’t going to give you a solid effort. But when you can get it, the Phillies are proving they don’t have to be perfect for the team to win. Perhaps this offense will actually suffice. That all remains to be seen. But for now, the goal is to win series and try to take advantage of division losses.

On a day like today, the loss hurts, solely because it would have moved the Phillies our of last place and helped them gain on the entire division. Instead, the loss does nothing. Everything in the NL East remains the same.

The Phillies are back in action tomorrow afternoon as they close their series with the Red Sox. Cliff Lee gets the start against Josh Beckett.

Boxscore

Hunter Pence is greeted at home plate by Carlos Ruiz after his solo home run in the fifth inning of the Phillies' 6-4 win over the Red Sox. (Phillies Network/Kevin Durso)

At the beginning of the season, any meeting between the Phillies and Red Sox wasn’t drawn up to be between two last-place teams. But that was the case as the two squared off for the first of three games tonight.

Don’t let their position in the standings fool you. The Phillies and Red Sox were both on hot streaks entering this game.

It was truly a battle of wills. The Phillies led early. The Red Sox made things interesting late. Still, in the end, it was a familiar face ending the game. This time, he was in Phillies’ pinstripes.

The Phillies were facing Daniel Bard who is known to walk a few batters in his starts. Bard would walk three of the first four batters in the game, loading the bases for Carlos Ruiz. Chooch didn’t give Bard a chance to walk him. He lined a two-run single into right-center field on the first pitch he saw to give the Phillies an early lead.

A sac fly by Ty Wigginton and a two-out RBI double by John Mayberry Jr. capped the Phillies’ four-run first inning, which set the tone for the night.

But baseball is a nine-inning game, and the Red Sox used every inning to try to chip away at the lead. In the third, they started that when Mike Aviles homered to put the Sox on the board.

A sac fly by Daniel Nava in the fourth cut the Phillies’ lead in half.

That’s when the Phillies took action. Hunter Pence stepped up in the fifth and belted a solo shot to left to extend the Phillies lead to three.

Cody Ross got the run right back in the sixth with a solo shot of his own to left.

Cole Hamels allowed three runs in seven innings to win his sixth game of the season in the Phillies' 6-4 win over the Red Sox. (Phillies Network/Kevin Durso)

Cole Hamels did his job on the night though. For the second straight game, it appeared Hamels did not have his best stuff. But he threw 110 pitches in working seven innings allowing three runs on six hits. He walked one and struck out nine.

The Phillies turned things over to Chad Qualls in the eighth. Qualls allowed a one-out home run to Adrian Gonzalez that cut the lead to one. He got Ross to strike out swinging before turning things over to Antonio Bastardo to face David Ortiz. Bastardo got the last laugh against Big Papi, finishing off the inning with a groundout.

Jonathan Papelbon admitted he was excited to face his former team. He would have probably been more than up to the task of facing them in a one-run game. But the Phillies gave him some insurance in the eighth, as Freddy Galvis hit a solo home run, just the second of his young career, to pad the lead.

Papelbon then came on an allowed a baserunner to lead-off the ninth on an infield single. But the closer stayed composed and focused to get the next two outs without trouble.

One was disputed by Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine which led to his ejection. The lengthy argument also didn’t phase Papelbon, who came right back to get ahead of Nick Punto 0-2. He promptly finished him off swinging in front of a raucous crowd and displayed his signature fist pump. It also gave the Phillies their sixth straight win, a 6-4 victory over the Red Sox.

Jonathan Papelbon celebrates his 12th save of the season as the Phillies beat the Red Sox, 6-4. (Phillies Network/Kevin Durso)

Just across the street, a Philadelphia team and a Boston team battled in a classic playoff game. But the game that had a lesser meaning being played across the street was pretty good too.

The Phillies started off strong with a quick outburst of runs. That helped ease the minds of several fans early on. But as the Red Sox chipped away, the Phillies once again padded the lead, something they hadn’t done in previous games.

They still need to work out some things in the bullpen. The Chad Qualls for set-up man experiment may be more than over now, but Antonio Bastardo is starting to look like the pitcher he was last season and Papelbon continues to dominate.

Papelbon looked a little more intense than usual and for obvious reason. As he finished off the game, he pumped his fist and yelled in celebration. This was a save he really wanted and got.

The win also gives the Phillies their sixth straight win, which they owe quite a bit to their offense. Hunter Pence and Carlos Ruiz each went 2-for-3, combining for four of the Phillies’ six hits. It was a disciplined approached that helped the Phillies on this night, as worked six walks and were also hit by a pitch twice. If a walk or hit batter is as good as a single, then the Phillies technically has 14 hits tonight.

It’s an approach that can only help them moving forward. Now that they are the best they have been all season, two games above .500 at 21-19, they are starting to look like the team of old.

The Phillies look to extend their winning streak tomorrow night against the Red Sox. Joe Blanton gets the start against Jon Lester.

Boxscore

Charlie Manuel and Bob Davidson were each suspended one game for this nose-to-nose argument during Tuesday's game between the Phillies and the Astros. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)

When Charlie Manuel was ejected by home-plate umpire Bob Davidson in Tuesday’s 4-3 win over the Astros, we saw a side of Manuel we rarely see. This was Charlie in full-on rock-star form.

Manuel and Davidson both were handed one-game suspensions from Major League Baseball today for their actions in Tuesday’s altercation.

According to MLB’s report, Davidson is being suspended for “repeated violations of the Office of the Commissioner’s standards for situation handling.” Manuel is being suspended for his expletive-laden rant.

Davidson really coaxed Manuel into the ejection. Charlie simply objected to something Davidson did, in terms of blocking his catcher, and Davidson took exception. That was really what set Manuel off.

Bench coach Pete Mackanin will take over managerial duties as Charlie Manuel serves his one-game suspension tonight against the Red Sox. (AP Photo/H. Rumph Jr)

What also bothers me is the idea of suspending for an “expletive-laden rant” with an umpire. There are hundreds of those in baseball every season.

So what makes this one different that it warrants a suspension? Aside from Davidson’s first few comments, the field microphones on the Phillies’ broadcast are cut during the argument. (video below) So we don’t know exactly what Manuel said to Davidson. Whatever it was, perhaps it did warrant suspension.

However, I disagree with the concept that a manager is suspended for an act that happens throughout the league on a regular basis. Obviously, there must be something unique to this argument that changes things and makes this suspension-worthy.

Manuel is serving his suspension tonight against the Red Sox in the series opener. Bench coach Pete Mackanin will have managerial duties tonight and Manuel will return tomorrow.

Cliff Lee, who threw a two-hit shutout against the Red Sox last season, will start the finale of the Phillies' series with the Red Sox. (Photo by Drew Hallowell/Getty Images)

For the first time since Opening Day, the Phillies are above .500. This, then, marks the first time they enter a series above .500. Just in time for interleague play.

The Phillies host their first interleague series against the Boston Red Sox, another team that struggled out of the gate but has since started to find their form. Much like the Phillies, the Red Sox are currently in last place in a competitive division. Both teams recently put together their first five-game win streaks of the season. The Phillies are currently on theirs. The Red Sox had theirs snapped on Wednesday but bounced back with a win on Thursday. That makes both teams winners in six of their last seven games.

So, with both teams hot, who are the ones to watch on the Red Sox? Much like the Phillies, it may be best to start with the players the Phillies won’t see.

The Red Sox also sport a healthy amount of names on the injury list. Among them are superstars Carl Crawford, Jacoby Ellsbury, Kevin Youkilis and Andrew Bailey, all currently on the DL.

The Red Sox still don’t lack a few big names in their lineup, most notably Dustin Pedroia, Adrian Gonzalez and David Ortiz. Ortiz has a team-leading eight home runs and 27 RBIs, but is also the team’s DH. Since the DH rule is not being used in this series, this may benefit the Phillies, who will likely be able to avoid either Gonzalez or Ortiz in each of Bobby Valentine’s lineups for the three-game set.

Among the perhaps unrecognizable names are Mike Aviles, Daniel Nava and Will Middlebrooks. Nava and Middlebrooks are filling in for injured players but offering solid contributions. Aviles, who won the starting shortstop job, has added 23 RBIs, tied for second on the team.

Also, a few familiar faces return. Marlon Byrd and Cody Ross are both part of the Red Sox outfield and offering offense as well.

Here are the pitching matchups for the series.

In the opener, Cole Hamels (5-1, 2.28 ERA) goes against Daniel Bard (3-4, 4.30 ERA) - Hamels continues to win games, pitching another gem against the Padres in the Phillies’ 3-2 win on Sunday. Hamels allowed two runs on four hits in eight innings. In his career against the Red Sox (four starts), Hamels is 3-0 with a 1.44 ERA.

Bard won his last start against the Indians with the help of plenty of run support, as the Red Sox won, 12-1. Bard allowed one run on six hits in six innings. In his career against the Phillies (four games, no starts), Bard is 0-0 with a 9.82 ERA.

In the middle game, Joe Blanton (4-3, 2.96 ERA) faces Jon Lester (2-3, 3.71 ERA) – Blanton has been very solid this season, and continued that with another win against the Astros on Monday. He allowed one run in seven innings in the Phillies’ 5-1 win. In his career against the Red Sox (10 starts), Blanton is 3-3 with a 4.70 ERA.

Lester pitched brilliantly in his last start, allowing one run in a complete game win over the Mariners. In his career against the Phillies (three starts), Lester is 2-0 with a 0.43 ERA.

In the finale, Cliff Lee (0-1, 1.95 ERA) gets the start against Josh Beckett (3-4, 4.97 ERA) – Lee looked like he was finally on his way to his first win of the season  on Tuesday against the Astros when he allowed one run on five hits in eight innings. But the Phillies starter is still without a win to his credit. In his career against the Red Sox (11 starts), Lee is 3-4 with a 3.56 ERA.

Beckett rebounded from a shaky start to pitch well in his last start. He pitched seven shutout innings allowing just four hits in his last start against the Mariners. In his career against the Phillies (20 games, 18 starts), Beckett is 8-5 with a 4.18 ERA.

Prediction:
May 18 – Phillies 5, Red Sox 2
May 19 – Phillies 1, Red Sox 3
May 20 – Phillies 4, Red Sox 2

The Phillies and Red Sox come into this game equally hot, but the Red Sox don’t boast the same pitching the Phillies do. If the Phillies starters are on their game, that could hurt the Red Sox in scoring, and if the Phillies can continue to score like they have over their winning streak, then they can take this series.

It’s hard to pick against Cole Hamels right now, so with an average starter going against one of baseball’s hottest pitchers, advantage to the Phillies. Offense won’t be huge, but the Phillies should score enough for Hamels to pick up a win.

That being said, Jon Lester can also win his own ballgame with good pitching. For as good as Joe Blanton has been this season, I have to go in favor of Lester and the Sox.

Finally, the finale comes down to two things. One, Cliff Lee must continue to pitch his ‘A’ game. Two, which Josh Beckett shows up? If it’s the one that made a shaky start after taking a day off to play golf, then this is a lock for the Phillies. If it’s the Beckett from his last start, it’s more challenging. I still give the Phillies the advantage because of a pitcher hungry for a win. Lee held the Red Sox to two hits in a shutout win last season. I wouldn’t be surprised if he repeated it again.

The Phillies return to play against division foes when they take on the Washington Nationals at home in their next series before playing the Cardinals and Mets as part of a road trip.

Jimmy Rollins is greeted by Ty Wigginton after scoring on a throwing error in the eighth inning of the Phillies' 8-7 win over the Cubs. (AP Photo/Brian Kersey)

They scored early and often. Then they piled on. Thank goodness for that.

The Phillies, who never cease to make things interesting, found a way to do just that in a game that looked over. The result never changed, and finally Roy Halladay was a winner again.

Sure, it took a lot of extra, unneeded stress and turned an encouraging night into a concerning one, but at the end of the night, it was another win for the Phillies, who are finally back above .500.

The Phillies wasted no time scoring off of familiar friend Chris Volstad. Carlos Ruiz lined a two-out RBI single in the first to give the Phillies the lead.

The Cubs tied it on a sac fly in the bottom of the first, but the Phillies answered quickly in the second. Shane Victorino grounded out to plate one run and Hunter Pence singled up the middle to add two more.

Ruiz singled home another run in the fifth, which seemed to be all Roy Halladay needed. Despite allowed a pair of solo home runs in the seventh and eighth innings to Starlin Castro and Welington Castillo, Halladay limited the Cubs to three runs on seven hits in eight innings.

Roy Halladay allowed three runs over eight innings in picking up his fourth win of the season as the Phillies beat the Cubs, 8-7. (AP Photo/Brian Kersey)

The Phillies ensured he would be the winning pitcher of record with three more runs in the eighth, two off a throwing error by Blake Parker. Ruiz would also double home a run in the inning.

But the Cubs didn’t go quietly. They loaded the bases off Jake Diekman on a pair of walks and a hit batter. Castillo added a three-run double with two outs to cut the lead to two.

That forced the Phillies to use Jonathan Papelbon. Papelbon allowed an RBI single to Darwin Barney before getting Reed Johnson to ground out to third to end the game, sealing the Phillies’ fifth-straight win, an 8-7 final over the Cubs.

It nearly slipped right out of the Phillies hands, but they just barely held on. The Phillies only asked for three outs from their bullpen. They almost didn’t get it. Diekman pitched brilliantly in his debut, but in his first road appearance, proved he still needs to get his feet wet before assuming major roles.

Jonathan Papelbon and Carlos Ruiz celebrate the final out of the Phillies' 8-7 win over the Cubs. (Photo by David Banks/Getty Images)

Still, the offense was a huge bright spot, picking up 14 hits. Four of those hits came off the red-hot bat of Carlos Ruiz, who went 4-for-5 to up his batting average to .363 and drove in three runs to get to 27 on the season.

Hunter Pence, Juan Pierre and Roy Halladay also managed multi-hit games, while everyone in the lineup except Ty Wigginton and Shane Victorino managed a hit. Victorino and Wigginton combined to work three walks as the entire lineup reached base at some point.

Additionally, Roy Halladay was as brilliant as you’d expect a pitcher winless in five straight games to be. He limited the damage against the Cubs throughout the game to finally break out of the losing streak. Who knows? Perhaps Cliff Lee is next?

That chance doesn’t come until Sunday afternoon. But the Phillies can build on their winning ways when they face the Red Sox this weekend.

Boxscore

Jonathan Papelbon is among the league leaders in saves with 10 on the season. The new Phillies' closer has 18 strikeouts in 15 games this season. (Phillies Network/Kevin Durso)

He’s quirky, he’s emotional, he’s passionate. Those three words could easily describe the Phillies new closer, Jonathan Papelbon.

In the Phillies first 38 games, Papelbon has 10 saves in 10 save opportunities, one of three closers in baseball without a blown save this season. Six of those saves have come in perfect innings for the closer, tops in all of Major League Baseball.

But Papelbon brings something else to the table in terms of his pitching.

Take a look at the Phillies’ primary closers in each of the last few season. In 2007, Brett Myers saved 21 of 24 games he closed in, but returned to a starter role a year later. In 2008, Brad Lidge entered the picture and put together one of the best seasons ever in baseball for a closer, going a perfect 48-for-48 in save situations (including Postseason) as the Phillies won a World Championship.

Lidge remained the closer for 2009 and 2010, but with different results. Lidge blew 11 saves in 2009 while saving 31 games. Ryan Madson even took over closing duties mid-season, only to blow six saves of his own in 16 opportunities.

2010 saw both players cut down on the blown save count, but with Lidge and Madson both having health issues, the Phillies struggled to find a true closer still. Lidge saved 27 games in 2010, but his performance was noticeably different. His fastball velocity decreased. So did his slider, which also started to lose movement as well.

Papelbon isn't afraid to argue a call, as seen here in Monday's game against the Houston Astros. (Photo by Drew Hallowell/Getty Images)

So, in 2011, Madson was the Phillies closer of choice. He saved 32 of 34 games last season, but the Phillies elected to sign Papelbon over Madson this offseason.

In Papelbon, with his cross between a fastball and splitter and slider combination, has given the Phillies something they had in Madson last season and didn’t have with Lidge for the past few seasons: a dominant closer.

If you’re looking for a “where are they now” segment, it’s rather brief. Myers took the loss in the Phillies’ walk-off win on Tuesday. Madson and Lidge are both currently out with injury. Madson is out for the season after Tommy John Surgery. Lidge is on the DL after having surgery to repair a sports hernia.

There is a distinction between just getting saves and being a dominant closer. Madson was an experiment in 2009 that failed. He didn’t stack up in 2010 either, blowing five of his few save opportunities. In 2011, he finally started to put it together.

Papelbon is taking over closing duties for Ryan Madson and Brad Lidge, who played together on the Phillies since 2008. Both departed last season and are currently out with injuries. (Photo by Brian Garfinkel/Getty Images)

But the Phillies didn’t want an on-again, off-again closer. They wanted a near guarantee. Papelbon is that near guarantee. And even though Madson had the ability to strike out hitters, Papelbon gives the Phillies that strikeout pitcher they are looking for. And he’s doing it with passion and intensity.

Papelbon can certainly bring it with his pitches. He has a fastball that has averaged at around 94 mph this season. He takes something off on his splitter, throwing it at an average of 89 mph. And if he really wants to fool a hitter, he can bury a slider that has a wicked break. Unlike Lidge’s slider, this breaks away from the hitter, not straight down or toward them.

Papelbon has used this repertoire to record 18 strikeouts in his 15 games, an average per nine innings of 10.80. Additionally, 32 percent of hitters that have faced Papelbon this season have struck out.

Papelbon gives the Phillies that guy that can strike out any batter in a lineup. The Phillies had spent years past with Lidge needing to get the hitter to put the ball in play somewhere the Phillies could get an out.

He may do things in a interesting manner and make things interesting when he’s on the mound. But Papelbon has been the most effective reliever the Phillies have had all season. And he’s ending every save with a familiar fist pump in celebration.

Hector Luna, heading toward home plate after his grand slam in the ninth, joined Ty Wigginton and Carlos Ruiz (both pictured) in collecting big hits in the Phillies' 9-2 win over the Cubs. (Photo by David Banks/Getty Images)

One day after having to overcome an error in the ninth to win in the tenth, the Phillies had to overcome another. Only this time, they had five innings to do it.

The Phillies, who in previous games may have let runs like that kill them, rallied back to tie the game almost immediately, then got timely hitting.

You couldn’t write the script that went on tonight. The Phillies went from being the same team that couldn’t put a winning streak together at the plate to the team that had won three straight.

Now, you can make it four straight, as the team’s best player delivered the game winner, and an unlikely hero provided the fireworks that put the game out of reach.

The Phillies scored first once again, getting yet another timely hit from rookie second baseman Freddy Galvis. Galvis lined a double down the line in right with two outs in the second to score the Phillies’ first run of the night.

In the fourth, with Kyle Kendrick cruising, he hit a snag in an at-bat with Bryan LaHair. On the 14th pitch of the at-bat, Kendrick appeared to have the last laugh, as LaHair lifted a lazy fly ball to left. But Juan Pierre dropped the ball allowing LaHair to reach second. Alfonso Soriano followed with a two-run home run to give the Cubs the lead.

Kyle Kendrick took a no-decision despite allowing two runs over six innings in the Phillies' 9-2 win over the Cubs. (Photo by David Banks/Getty Images)

The Phillies were quick to answer in the fifth. Kyle Kendrick singled to lead off the inning. He moved to third on a one-out double by Pierre. Then, Shane Victorino beat out an infield single to score Kendrick, tying the game.

But in the fifth and seventh innings, the Phillies stranded the go-ahead run on third thanks to double plays. They wouldn’t let the game escape them though.

They owe that to their pitching. Kendrick, making a spot start for the injured Vance Worley, pitched six solid innings, allowing two runs (one earned) on three hits with no walks and four strikeouts.

The bullpen also did their job. Jose Contreras pitched a scoreless seventh, allowing the Phillies a chance to take the lead in the eighth.

Carlos Ruiz did just that. Just moments after Hunter Pence nearly homered to give the Phillies the lead, Chooch homered to left. It is Ruiz’ seventh home run of the season, already more than his total from last season.

After a scoreless inning from Antonio Bastardo, featuring a pair of strikeouts, the Phillies had a chance to put the game away in the ninth. Clinging to a one-run lead, the Phillies loaded the bases with no outs on a double by Galvis, a hit batter in Mike Fontenot and a walk by Jimmy Rollins. That brought Ty Wigginton to the plate, and he rolled a single through the hole into right field, scoring two runs.

Not satisfied there, the Phillies would reload the bases after Victorino and Pence both made outs on the infield. The Cubs elected to walk Ruiz intentionally for pinch-hitter Hector Luna.

Big mistake. Luna blasted a pitch into the seats in left for the first grand slam of the season for the Phillies and the first slam of Luna’s career. All this happened in Luna’s first at-bat with the Phillies since being called up on May 11.

Raul Valdes joined Phillies relievers Jose Contreras, who got the win, and Antonio Bastardo in retiring the last nine Cubs in the Phillies' 9-2 win. Phillies pitching retired the last 17 Cubs to come to the plate. (AP Photo/Paul Beaty)

With the lead secure, the Phillies sat down Jonathan Papelbon, who started warming up at the start of the ninth, and sent in Raul Valdes, also a May 11 call-up making his Phillies’ debut. Valdes struck out two in the scoreless frame to seal the Phillies’ 9-2 win.

Things have certainly turned around since last week. The Phillies have now won four straight games. They are back to .500 for the first time since May 3.

This was a game that the Phillies had to win once it appeared it was within reach. If the Phillies never had a chance in this one, of which I honestly gave them very little of a chance, then so be it. But once the Phillies had a shot at the win, they needed to finish it off.

This is because mainly because Roy Halladay, who is winless in his last five starts, is facing Chris Volstad, who the Phillies have hit well previously, tomorrow. There may not be more of a guaranteed win than that.

Still, don’t take anything away from what the Phillies did tonight.

First off, the bullpen and offense both did things that we haven’t seen in some time. The bullpen, along with Kendrick, went on to retire the last 17 Cubs that came to the plate. It takes that kind of shut down pitching that helps win ballgames.

Finally, the offense didn’t settle for the lead. They instead searched for the dagger. With the lead secure going to the ninth, they didn’t rely on Papelbon to seal the game with a one-run lead. They focused on pushing across some insurance. Six runs proved to be plenty of insurance.

Individually, this was a big night for several Phillies at the plate as well. Carlos Ruiz continues to remain red hot. He went 2-for-4 with single and a home run and also scored three runs on the night. Freddy Galvis, who I wrote about this morning in terms of making an impact, had a pair of doubles, including one that scored a run. Juan Pierre also had a multi-hit game, going 2-for-3.

All three pinch-hitters for the Phillies tonight got in on the fun as well. Luna may have the highlight hit, but Fontenot got a hit and was hit by a pitch in his at-bats and Wigginton got a huge two-run single in his.

You may not find more of a team win than this, and it shows that the meeting Charlie Manuel had a week ago has certainly made an impact. Since that meeting, the Phillies have won five of six games. They go for a five-game winning streak tomorrow.

The Phillies can also sweep this two-game series with the Cubs tomorrow night. Roy Halladay gets the start against Chris Volstad.

Boxscore

Kyle Kendrick, who lost to the Cubs on April 29, will start the opener of the Phillies' two-game series with the Cubs tonight. (Phillies Network/Kevin Durso)

It’s uncharted territory for the Phillies as they head to Chicago. The Phillies are on their first real winning streak of the season.

After beating the Astros in dramatic fashion yesterday afternoon, they carry their winning ways into Chicago, where they could be on the plus side of things by the end of the series.

It wasn’t long ago that the Phillies faced these Cubs in a four-game series, splitting it two games apiece. Now, the teams switch venues for a quick two-game series.

The Cubs enter the series as one of the worst teams in the National League. They are 15-21, tied for last in the NL Central with the Astros. But leading the way on offense are two players who are starting to make names for themselves. The first is shortstop Starlin Castro, who leads the team with 21 RBIs and 12 stolen bases. The second is first baseman Bryan LaHair, who leads the team with a .358 average and nine home runs. He is also second in RBIs with 20.

Another name to watch is Tony Campana, who had an excellent series against the Phillies in April. He is second in batting average at .338 and stolen bases with nine. He is easily one to watch in the lineup as he gets on base a lot and makes things happen once he’s on the basepaths.

Here are the pitching matchups for the series.

In the opener, Kyle Kendrick (0-3, 7.32 ERA) goes against Matt Garza (2-1, 2.56 ERA) - Kendrick is unexpectedly making the start after Vance Worley was scratched with arm soreness. Kendrick’s last start came against the Nationals on May 4 where he took a no-decision. He took the loss to the Cubs on April 29 where he allowed three runs (two earned) over six innings. In his career against the Cubs (three games, two starts), Kendrick is 0-1 with a 1.80 ERA.

Garza’s last start came on Saturday where he took a no-decision allowing one run on three hits in five innings to the Brewers. Garza started against the Phillies on April 29, where he pitched seven shutout innings and allowed just one hit and one walk while striking out 10. In his career against the Phillies (four starts), Garza is 2-1 with a 0.96 ERA.

In the finale, Roy Halladay (3-3, 3.20 ERA) gets the start against Chris Volstad (0-5, 6.92 ERA) - Halladay suffered the loss in his last start, allowing two runs in seven innings to the Padres in the Phillies’ eventual 2-1 loss. The Phillies have lost each of Halladay’s last five starts since Halladay started the season 3-0. In his career against the Cubs (six starts), Halladay is 1-5 with a 3.75 ERA.

Volstad lost his last start to the Brewers, allowing six runs in six innings. He pitched against the Phillies on April 30 where he allowed four runs in six innings in taking a no-decision in what would be a 6-4 Phillies win. In his career against the Phillies (13 starts), Volstad is 2-5 with a 5.89 ERA.

Prediction:
May 16 – Phillies 2, Cubs 3
May 17 – Phillies 6, Cubs 1 

The Phillies could just as easily sweep this series if they remember the fundamentals. I even think Kyle Kendrick could pitch his way to a victory. The problem is going to be offense. I expect plenty of offense in the finale because the Phillies have had Volstad’s number in the past.

The finale really is one of the safest bets. One of the best pitchers the Phillies could face against a pitcher in a winning drought (but not as bad as Cliff Lee) that has lost because of lack of run support. Roy Halladay could win his own ballgame in this one, but for once, I don’t think he will have to.

The opener is the big concern to me because of the way the Phillies hit Garza last time they faced him. Or didn’t hit him. The Phillies have not had the best success against Garza which is my main concern in the opener. If they can give Kendrick a lead to work with, I think the Phillies can take both games.

The Phillies return home after this series for a pair of three-game series against the Red Sox and Nationals.

Freddy Galvis has 15 RBIs in 37 games this season, ranking him third on the Phillies. (Phillies Network/Kevin Durso)

All eyes were on Phillies’ rookie Freddy Galvis months ago. It was December, and the Phillies still hadn’t signed longtime shortstop Jimmy Rollins.

When Rollins was resigned, it appeared that Galvis was bound for the minors for another year. Then Chase Utley started missing workouts due to knee pain, and it became evident that the Phillies would be without him at the start of the season.

Once again, all eyes turned to Galvis, especially as he impressed in spring training. Galvis hit .280 with two home runs and 14 RBIs during the spring, giving him the starting job at second base on Opening Day, even though by trade he is a shortstop.

Galvis immediately impressed with his defense. But his bat took a while to come around. His career started 0-for-12 at the plate before he hit a two-run double in a game far out of reach against the Marlins on April 9.

To this point on the season, Galvis only has one home run to his name. He is hitting only .225. That’s not great, but when you consider that at the end of April his average  was .191, you can see the growth.

Perhaps the most important part of Galvis’ game so far is that he has been able to come up with the big hit when needed. Galvis has 10 RBIs this month, including a three-RBI game and a pair of three-hit games. His season total for RBIs is at 15, which ranks him third on the Phillies.

Like him or not, he’s another example of a rookie thrown into a big role and embracing it rather than shying away from it.

There were many questions entering the season about whether or not Galvis was ready for the big leagues. It was clear that patience was running thin as the at-bats started to pile up for the rookie early in the season without a hit to show for it.

But lately, Galvis has been coming through. He doesn’t step up to the plate as an expected out. He’s a legitimate threat to reach base every time up.

Additionally, he’s getting backed up by the fans more and more. In one of Galvis’ earliest hits, the fans at Citizens Bank Park could be heard chanting “Freddy, Freddy!” right before he made contact.

Galvis, who usually plays shortstop, is in his first season playing second base, filling in for the injured Chase Utley. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Perhaps the most impressive thing is that in the middle of an injury-riddled roster, Galvis has played in all 37 games the Phillies have in some form, whether it be pinch hitting, defensive replacement or even one start at shortstop.

Galvis came into the season as one of the x-factors for this team. He remains that, but after 37 games of seeing what he can do, he looks like a player who will stick with the Phillies. He’s making an impact, and doing it quietly, one play at a time.

Hunter Pence went 3-for-5 with two home runs, including the game-winner in the 10th, in the Phillies' 4-3 win over the Astros in 10 innings. (AP Photo/H. Rumph Jr)

Baseball is sometimes a game of redemption. For the Phillies bullpen, things just couldn’t seem to get any worse than the Mets series last week. And then the ninth inning hit today.

When players make an error, the baseball gods sometimes have a funny way of making it up to them. In the end, a horrendous play for Hunter Pence turned out to have no bearing on the ballgame other than the length, as the Phillies still managed to finish off a sweep of the Astros.

After failing to score a run in the first even after getting a lead-off double by Jimmy Rollins, the Phillies gave Lee a lead in the second. With two outs, Brian Schneider connected on one and sent it into the seats in right for his first home run of the season, a two-run shot.

The Phillies would stay put at that margin until the sixth, when Hunter Pence, who was just three for his last 29 at-bats, homered to right to extend the lead. It was his eighth home run of the season.

Lee made his only mistake of the game in the top of the seventh, as Matt Downs blasted a solo shot to lead off the inning.

Cliff Lee took a no-decision despite pitching eight innings and allowing one run on five hits to the Astros. The Phillies went on to win the game, 4-3, in 10 innings. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)

But Lee worked his way through that inning and one more, lasting eight innings allowing one run on five hits, walking one and striking out 10.

There were a few fireworks before Lee exited the game though. Lee’s 10th strikeout didn’t result in a recorded out, as a wild pitch got away from Schneider allowing Jason Castro to reach base. Charlie Manuel was frustrated with home plate umpire Bob Davidson in the way he made strikeout call, as it appeared he blocked Schneider from retrieving the loose ball. Davidson promptly ejected Manuel, which led to one of Charlie’s better arguments.

In the end, the Phillies needed only one inning out of their bullpen. They called on Chad Qualls in a save situation with Jonathan Papelbon unavailable. Qualls couldn’t stop the bullpen’s bleeding that has been on this homestand.

Qualls allowed a lead-off double to open the inning. Carlos Lee drove home a run on an RBI single with one out. Then with two outs, a single into right field by J.D. Martinez was not going to be enough to score Brian Bogusevic, but Hunter Pence bobbled the ball trying to throw it in, allowing Bogusevic to score and tie the game. Qualls would allow another double before exiting the game.

Jake Diekman then came on in his major-league debut needing an out to keep the game tied. He struck out Marwin Gonzalez with a nice display of a fastball with zip and a devastating slider. More importantly, he kept the game tied to give the Phillies a chance to win it in the ninth.

After a scoreless ninth, Diekman pitched a scoreless 10th as well, striking out two in the inning. Most importantly, he left the game tied so only one run would need. Cue the man that needed redemption the most, Hunter Pence. He had two hits in his last two at-bats after slumping mightily. He capped off the day by lining a solo home run out to left to win the ballgame for the Phillies, 4-3, in 10 innings.

Left-hander Jake Diekman made his major-league debut and picked up his first major-league win in the Phillies' 4-3 win over the Astros in 10 innings. Diekman pitched 1 1/3 innings and struck out three in his debut. (AP Photo/H. Rumph Jr)

There is no player on this roster I feel sorrier for than Cliff Lee. What does this guy have to do to get a win? After pitching brilliantly for eight innings, the bullpen, asked to pitch just one inning, couldn’t do it.

Credit the rookie Jake Diekman for coming into a pressure-packed situation and finishing the job. He displayed a nice combination of his pitches and looks like a formidable pitcher for this shaky bullpen.

Additionally, several players are starting to find there offensive form. A game like this could jumpstart Pence from the slump he was in. Also factor in multi-hit games for Brian Schneider, Jimmy Rollins and Placido Polanco.

The bottom line today is that a win is a win. So even though it came in rather ugly fashion, it still gets the Phillies on a winning streak and puts them one game below .500 for the first time in a while.

Now, the Phillies travel to Chicago to face the Cubs in a quick two-game series before returning home for another homestand.

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