The Phillies have won six of seven thus far on their 10-game homestand, and they could have All-Star Raul Ibanez(notes) for the first time in more than three weeks Friday night when they play the first of three against the last-place Pittsburgh Pirates.
Pittsburgh will start Zach Duke (8-7, 3.28 ERA), who has been the Pirates’ best starter.
Duke, however, has dropped his last two decisions as Pittsburgh (38-47) has provided little run support. He gave up four runs and eight hits over six innings Saturday in a 5-3 loss at Florida.
The left-hander is 1-2 with a 5.40 ERA in three career starts versus the Phillies, with Werth the only current Phillies player to homer against Duke.
Joe Blanton (5-4, 4.69) might be the wrong pitcher to face if the Pirates want to get off to a good start in Philadelphia. The burly right-hander limited the Mets to four hits over 7 1-3 innings Sunday in a 2-0 win.
Blanton held the Pirates to one hits over seven innings while striking out seven on Aug. 8, but didn’t factor in the decision in Pittsburgh’s 2-0, 12-inning win.
Pedro Martinez may be close to signing with the Phillies.
Martinez, a three-time Cy Young Award winner, worked out for the team Tuesday in the Dominican Republic. It's likely he'll have another throwing session for Phillies scouts on Friday, and if it goes well, he could travel to Philadelphia early next week to undergo a physical.
Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. admitted the team is interested in Martinez but denied a report that circulated Thursday in the Dominican Republic that the sides had reached agreement on a contract worth $4 million. Martinez told the Associated Press that his agent, Fernando Cuza, is in negotiations with the Phillies.
"He has not been signed," Amaro said. "We've seen him pitch. He's not in town."
Martinez threw three innings in a simulated game Tuesday against the Phillies' Dominican Summer League team. A Phillies scout told ESPNdeportes.com that Martinez's velocity ranged from 88 to 91 mph and said a recommendation was made to the front office that Martinez could help to bolster the rotation.
"I feel the best I have for some time," Martinez told the Associated Press.
Martinez, 37, went 5-6 with a 5.61 ERA for the Mets last season. He pitched six scoreless innings for the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic in March, but he reportedly was seeking a contract in excess of $5 million. Martinez remained unsigned and has been working out for the past few months in the Dominican.
In 17 seasons with the Dodgers, Expos, Red Sox and Mets, Martinez is 214-99 with a 2.91 ERA. He figures to replace Rodrigo Lopez in a Phillies rotation that has been decimated by injuries. Brett Myers, the No. 2 starter, underwent likely season-ending hip surgery in early June, and his replacement, rookie Antonio Bastardo, went on the disabled list last month with a strained shoulder.
Lopez, who replaced Bastardo, left his start Wednesday night after five innings with right shoulder inflammation. The injury isn't considered serious.
Amaro hasn't been willing to discuss the Phillies' impressions of Martinez, but he said the team's interest in Martinez is as a starting pitcher.
PHILLIES 9, REDS 6: Chase Utley belted an inside-the-park home run and Jayson Werth homered for the fourth consecutive game to give the Phillies a victory in the series finale at Citizens Bank Park. The Phillies have won six of their last seven games and are 19-23 at home.
Werth has seven homers in his last 12 games, giving him 20 homers and 54 RBIs overall. The Phillies are only the second team, after the 2000 Blue Jays, to have four players with at least 20 home runs before the All-Star break. Jamie Moyer earned his team-leading eighth victory despite a 5.99 ERA. The Phillies are averaging 8.1 runs per game in Moyer's wins.
NOTES, QUOTES
--CF Shane Victorino's campaigning paid off. Victorino won the online voting for the final spot on the NL All-Star roster, edging Giants 3B Pablo Sandoval and three other players. Major League Baseball doesn't release voting results, but Victorino earned a record 15.6 million votes. Victorino is batting .309 with six homers and 42 RBIs and leading the Phillies with 104 hits. He will be only the fourth Hawaiian-born player to play in the All-Star Game. There's also a chance Victorino could start for the NL. Mets CF Carlos Beltran, picked as a starter in fan balloting, is unable to play because of a bruised knee. Victorino had several prominent supporters, including Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter and Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell. "To be the guy that comes out of the pack is an honor," Victorino said. "Again, playing in a city like Philly and coming up with a championship in a city that's hungry shows us again what Phillies fans are about."
--OF Matt Stairs doesn't presume to know whether his ex-teammate, Roy Halladay, would waive his no-trade clause to come to the Phillies. But he has no doubt that Halladay would be successful in Philadelphia.
"Easy," said Stairs, who played with the Blue Jays' ace in 2007 and 2008. "A guy like him, a guy who comes in and does his job every day, and does it right and does it properly, he'd be a perfect fit here."
Stairs has as much interest as anybody in whether the Jays will deal Halladay, a 32-year-old right-hander who is 123-51 with a 3.16 ERA, 40 complete games and five 220-plus-inning seasons since 2002. This week, Toronto general manager J.P. Ricciardi said he's "willing to listen" to offers, and as the July 31 trade deadline nears, the Phillies have been the most aggressive pursuer of pitching. There would be plenty of obstacles before a deal could be reached. The Jays would ask for a prospect-rich package, and the Phillies aren't willing to empty their farm system. Halladay also will make $15.75 million next season, and the Phillies already have $95.5 million committed to only 11 players.
BY THE NUMBERS: 2.61 -- RHP Joe Blanton's ERA in his last eight starts after tossing 7 1/3 shutout innings July 5 against the Mets.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "He was stubborn. But when you hit rock bottom, usually you figure it out." -- Phillies hitting coach Milt Thompson on SS Jimmy Rollins' initial reluctance to take his suggestion and alter his stride during his career-worst 0-for-28 slump.
ROSTER REPORT
--LF Raul Ibanez went 1-for-3 with a double and two walks Thursday night in a rehab start for Class AAA Lehigh Valley. Ibanez, sidelined since June 18 with a strained left groin, has played in three minor league games without having a setback. The Phillies are hopeful that Ibanez can be activated before Friday night's game against the Pirates at Citizens Bank Park. If Ibanez plays this weekend, he should be able to start for the NL team in the All-Star Game on Tuesday night in St. Louis. It will be Ibanez's first career All-Star appearance.
--RF Jayson Werth is making a late push to play in the All-Star Game. Werth homered in his fourth consecutive game Thursday night and has seven homers in his last 12 games and 20 overall. The NL team has an opening for another player after Mets CF Carlos Beltran bowed out of the All-Star Game because of a knee injury. "His stats are definitely up there with the other guys," said Phillies manager Charlie Manuel, who will skipper the NL All-Star team. "He's been swinging the bat really good lately. He plays a good right field, has a strong arm. He's a talented kid."
--RHP Chan Ho Park has found a niche in the bullpen. Park tossed three hitless innings Thursday night against the Reds and has a 3.16 ERA and 29 strikeouts in 25 1/3 innings over 18 relief appearances. Park opened the season in the rotation but struggled with a 7.29 ERA in seven starts before being moved to the bullpen in mid-May.
MEDICAL WATCH:
RHP Rodrigo Lopez (right shoulder tightness) left the July 8 game. The injury isn't considered serious.
LF Raul Ibanez (strained left groin) went on the 15-day disabled list June 18. He began a minor league rehab assignment July 6, and he might be activated before the All-Star break.
LHP Antonio Bastardo (strained left shoulder) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to June 26.
RHP Clay Condrey (strained ribcage muscle) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to June 19. He threw a bullpen session July 7, and he might start a minor league rehab assignment before the All-Star break.
RHP Brett Myers (torn labrum in right hip) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to May 28, and he was transferred to the 60-day DL on July 4. He had surgery June 4, and he is likely to miss the remainder of the season.