The Phils ended the week far better than they began, on a 5 game winning streak, bringing their record to 20-17, 1.5 games behind front running Akron in the Southern division. Javon Moran is 2nd in the league in runs (31), leading the league in hits (44) and stolen bases (16), and 6th in the league in average (.319). Jesus Merchan continues to lead the league in average at .381, is second in on base percentage (.440) and 10th in the league in hits (27). Mike Costanzo is second in the league in homers (8) and leads in the league in strikeouts (49). Kyle Kendrick leads the league with 53 innings pitched and Landon Jacobsen is 5th in the league with 4 wins.

The Phils continued their up and down season last Thursday evening with another loss to Connecticut 5-2, dropping the Phils to 15-17. Kyle Kendrick (2-4) started and took the loss for the Phils going 6 innings and allowing 4 runs (3 earned). The offense was practically non-existant with the only notable performance coming from Jesus Merchan who was 2-3. The Phils broke out of their funk on Friday, with Tim McClaskey, leading way both pitching and hitting. McClaskey (3-3)went 6.1 innings giving up 2 runs on 5 hits, while walking one and striking out 4. McClaskey matched his career total in hits with 2, going 2-3 with 3 RBI’s leading the offense. Mike Costanzo, back after sitting out two games, had a very good game going 2-4, with a homer, and 3 runs scored. Joey Hammond and Javon Moran also had multi-hit games. On Saturday, the Phils climbed back up to .500 with a 2-1 victory over Connecticut. Bubba Nelson, (2-0)in his first start of the year pitched extremely well, giving up only 1 hit over five shutout innings. Anderson Garcia pitched the last 1.1 innings striking out 2 for his 7th save of the season. Joey Hammond led the offense going 3-4 with an RBI. The Phils closed out their four game set on Sunday, with a 10-4 victory and taking 3 out of 4 against the Defenders. Landon Jacobsen (4-2) started and got the win giving up 4 runs and 8 hits over 5.2 innings. Clearwater callup/prospect Mike Zagurski pitched 2 shutout innings in relief. The Phils had 16 hits and were led offensively by Matt Padgett who went 4-5 with an RBI and a run scored and Mike Costanzo who was 2-4 with a HR (7) and 3 RBI’s. Michael Garciaparra, had an excellent game as well, going 3-4 with 2 RBI’s and a stolen base.

The Phils opened a three game series against New Hampshire on Tuesday night and came from behind for a 7-6 victory, leaving Reading at 19-17. The Phils fell behind quickly behind a very rocky outing by prospect Matt Maloney. Maloney went 5 innings giving up 6 runs on 7 hits. Fortunately, the bullpen picked up the slack pitching 4 shutout innings(Key, Zagurski, DeLaCruz), giving the offense time to regroup for a walk off victory after an infield single by Greg Jacobs scored Jesus Merchan who had tripled. The offense was led by Javon Moran who went 3-5 with 2 doubles, a stolen base and an RBI, Jesus Merchan who was 2-5 with 2 runs scored, and Greg Jacobs who went 2-5 with 2 runs scored and 2 RBI’s. Mike Costanzo commited 2 more errors giving him 15 on the year. Reading picked up their 5th straight win, Wednesday afternoon, behind 3 homeruns, the last one being a 3 run shot by Matt Padgett. Kyle Kendrick (3-4) won his first game in over three weeks, giving up 8 hits and only one run over 8 innings while striking out five. Julio De La Cruz came in and nailed down his third save throwing a game ending double play ball. Javon Moran had his second consecutive 3 hit game, going 3-5, with 2 runs, a homer and 2 RBI’s. Mike Costanzo added his 8th homer of the year for Reading.

Philling: Starter Heath Totten was called up to (AAA) Ottawa last Thursday. Bubba Nelson will be replacing Totten in the rotation.

Juan Tejada’s streak of consecutive games with an RBI ended at 10.

Mike Costanzo received his first two days off of the season (well deserved based on how he was playing) last Wednesday and Thursday. They seemed to help as Costanzo bounced back with 2 homers over the weekend.

24 year old prospect Mike Zagurski was called up from Clearwater. In Clearwater, Zagurski had a 1.10 ERA and 5 saves. He had been averaging almost 2 strikouts per inning at Clearwater (A).

2B Joey Hammond was called up to Ottawa (AAA) to take the roster spot of Chris Coste. The callup was well deserved as Hammond had been hitting .322 this year in Reading. INF Phillip Cuevas was called up to Reading to take the roster spot of Hammond.

Closer Anderson Garcia was called up to (AAA) Ottawa and Reliever Ryan Cameron was returned from Ottawa. Mike Zagurski, Julio DeLaCruz and possibly Cameron appear to be candidates for the vacated closers position.

Relief Pitcher Nick Evangelista was demoted to (A) Clearwater after starting this year with a 7.36 ERA. Evangelista has not reported to Clearwater and the Phils have placed him on the suspended list.

Relief Pitcher Nate Johnson was sent down to (A) Clearwater on Wednesday. He had an ERA over 6.oo in 11 appearances.

Phillies pitcher and former Reading Phillie Ryan Madson will be making rehab appearances Friday and Saturday for Reading.

Spotlight: Starting pitcher Matt Maloney(3rd round pick, 2005 draft), one of two pitchers the big Phils consider real prospects can be best described as pitching adequately thus far this year. In his 8 starts, he is 3-2 with a 4.15 ERA over 43.1 innings pitched. He has walked 20 and struck out 33, giving him a BB/K ratio that needs improvement. While opponents are hitting only .235 against him, the problem has been that when they do connect the ball travels far as Maloney is averaging almost one home run ball a start.