The Phils went 2-5 since we last spoke and are now 25-26, in 4th place and 5 games behind leading Akron in the Southern division.  Reading still has numerous players among the league leaders in categories both good and bad.  Landon Jacobsen is 4th in the league with 5 wins and 2nd in the league with 64.2 innings pitched.  Kyle Kendrick is the league leader with 66 innings pitched.  Matt Maloney is 10th in the league with 44 strikeouts, however has yielded 7 homers which ranks 3rd in the league, behind Tim McClaskey who is the league leader in homers allowed with 8.  In the hitting categories, Javon Moran, despite his injury still ranks among the leaders in runs (2nd, 36), hits (3rd, 53), and stolen bases (2nd, 16).  Greg Jacobs has been climbing the ranks and now ranks 8th in hits (50) and 3rd in RBI’s (32).  The Phils have two league leaders in hitting categories.  Jesus Merchan in  average (.371) and Jason Hill with 18 doubles.  Mike Costanzo ranks 2nd in homers with 10, and continues to lead the league in strikeouts with 67.

The Phils ended their four game series with Portland last Thursday losing 7-6, splitting the series.  Again defense cost the Phils as Michael Garciaparra’s 2 errors led to 2 costly unearned runs.  Landon Jacobsen (5-2) gave up only one earned run over 6 innings, however Julio De La Cruz blew the save on only 6 pitches and took the loss.  Mike Costanzo who ripped his 9th homer(to go along with his 3 hits) of the year led the Phils offense. Matt Padgett and Jason Hill also had 2 hits for Reading. Toronto Blue Jay Victor Zambrano, on a rehab assignment, started for New Hampshire and went 6.1 innings giving up 5 runs on 10 hits.

The Phils opened a 4 game series against New Hampshire Friday with a 9-5 loss.  Matt Maloney (3-4), pitched strong through five innings but imploded in the 6th and left the game having given up 4 runs (3 earned) in 6 innings. He walked one and struck out 4.  The Phils offense was led by Peeter Ramos who was 4-5, with 2 runs and an RBI, along with Matt Padgett who had 2 hits and 3 RBI’s. The Phils also had 2 more costly errors (Garciaparra, Gradoville). More fundamental lapses led to the Phils third straight loss 8-5, Saturday afternoon as four unearned runs in the second inning dropped the Phils to under .500 (23-24).  In something that I havent seen since little league, Cory Keylor stole home as Tim Gradoville threw the ball back to the mound and this was followed up by a throwing error committed by Jason Hill leading to the unearned runs. Kyle Kendrick had control issues in the second inning giving up four walks, which compounded the defensive lapses.  Kendrick (3-6) gave up six runs (2 earned) over 6 innings, walking 5 and striking out 6.  Greg Jacobs led the Phils offense going 3-4 with a homer (6th) and 3 RBI’s. The Phils lost their 4th straight Sunday afternoon 6-4 to New Hampshire. Reading blew an early 3-0 lead, and again, errors proved costly as Mike Costanzo’s 18th error led to another unearned run.  Tim McClaskey started and pitched 5 innings giving up 6 hits and 3 runs (2 earned). He walked 2 and struck out 4.  Allan Simpson (0-1) took the loss.  Chris Coste, who was behind the plate, hit his first homer for Reading.  Juan Tejada and Greg Jacobs had two hits for the Phils. New Hampshire completed their 4 game sweep of Reading, handing the Phils their 5th straight loss 4-1, Monday afternoon.  Heath Totten, (2-5)who just returned from Ottawa, was less than mediocre, giving up 3 runs on 4 hits and 3 walks over 3 innings. The only offense for the Phils came from Matt Padgett who hit his 4th homer of the year in the 8th inning.

The Phils opened a three game series at home against Portland on Tuesday, desperately needing a win and thats what they got in come from behind fashion 5-4.  Reliever Jason Anderson, pitching in his first game for Reading got the win.  Landon Jacobsen started and gave up four runs over 7 innings. The Phils who were down 4-0 came back behind strong offensive performances from Mike Costanzo who was 3-4 with 2 runs scored, Chris Coste was was 3-5, and Jason Hill who was 3-5 with an RBI.  Other Phils with multi hit games were Peeter Ramos, Juan Tejada, and Brian Burgamy. On Wednesday, the Phils took their second straight against Portland, 6-5.  Matt Maloney started and went 6 adequate innings giving up 3 runs on 9 hits while striking out 4.  Fabio Castro came in and blew the 5-3 lead the Phils had built, however, Chris Key(4-0) held Portland scoreless for the final 2.1 innings to give the Phils a chance to reclaim the lead which they did on Mike Costanzo’s 10th homer of the year. Both Chris Coste(2) and Greg Jacobs (7) added homers for the Phils.  Peeter Ramos had three hits sparking the Phils offense as well.

Comings and Goings: Bubba Nelson once a prospect in the Braves system seems to have reestablished himself as such with the Phils and has been recalled to (AAA) Ottawa. In his 3 starts with Reading, Nelson had a 1.80 ERA and was averaging a strikeout an inning.  Heath Totten rejoined Reading from Ottawa and will be placed in the rotation replacing Nelson.

Lefthanded Reliever Mike Zagurski completed a quick ascent to the big leagues when he was called up to Philadelphia last Friday.  Zagurski comes into Philadelphia looking to fill a clear need of the Phillies as a left handed arm in the pen. In 18 appearences  split between Clearwater and Reading, Zagurski was 0-0 with a 1.16 ERA and 5 saves.  He struck out 38 in 23.1 innings.

Chris Coste was sent down to Reading with the return of Ryan Howard to the Phillies lineup.  Coste requested the move to Reading as opposed to Ottawa as he hoped to see some time behind the plate, which is behind manned on a daily basis in Ottawa by prospect Jason Jaramillo.

Tim Gradoville was called up to AAA Ottawa to back up Jaramillo and reliever Jason Anderson joined Reading from Ottawa.  Anderson was 0-1 with a 5.73 ERA in Ottawa.

Philling: Both Jesus Merchan (hamstring) and Javon Moran (calf) missed their fifth straight game Monday with injury, taking both the leadoff and #2 hitters out of the lineup. The Phils lost all five games they were out.  Merchan returned to the lineup Tuesday, however Moran remains out and didnt play the entire week.

Line of the week: Mike Costanzo, Sunday against Portland.  0-5, 3 strikeouts and his 18th error.  Can anyone say overmatched?

Lefthander Chris Key has pitched 12.2 consecutive scoreless innings out of the bullpen.

With the recent comings and goings (Garcia and Zagurski) out of the bullpen, Chris Key and newcomer Jason Anderson will be closing games for the Phils.

Starter Heath Totten was placed on the disabled list Wednesday with shoulder inflammation.