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Romero holds Phillies hitless for six innings

Jun 27, 2009 - 3:45 AM TORONTO(AP) -- The Philadelphia Phillies held a closed-door meeting after losing for the 11th time in 13 games. The 20 minute session uncovered a lengthy list of problems but didn't provide any solutions.

Ricky Romero held Philadelphia hitless for six innings and Aaron Hill hit a two-run double in the Toronto Blue Jays' 6-1 victory over the slumping Phillies on Friday night.

"There's no answer right now," Philadelphia outfielder Shane Victorino said. "Ultimately we need to find a way to stop it, whether it be 'Hey, you know what? Relax, have fun.' I have no answer for the situation. It's just one of those things where you're losing, things escalate by 10."

Romero, a former first-round draft pick, gave up a hit to Chase Utley leading off the seventh and Jayson Werth followed with an infield single for the Phillies. Romero got Ryan Howard to hit into a double play and John Mayberry flied out to center to finish the inning.

Going for the no-hitter gave Romero an emotional lift.

"It's a pretty cool feeling when you're out there and the fans are into it," the rookie left-hander said.

Romero (5-3) allowed two hits, walked one and struck out seven.

"Outstanding job," Blue Jays manager Cito Gaston said. "He just really dominated out there tonight."

Jeremy Accardo worked a perfect eighth and Dirk Hayhurst finished the three-hitter, allowing Werth's sacrifice fly in the ninth.

Toronto won for the fourth time in five games and has beaten the Phillies in six straight. The Blue Jays swept a three-game series in Philadelphia last week. After that, the Phillies were swept by Baltimore and lost two of three in a World Series rematch at Tampa Bay.

"We're not playing like the team we are, that's the bottom line," Victorino said. "And we need to find a way."

Phillies manager Charlie Manuel did not speak to reporters after the game, but addressed his teams struggles at length beforehand.

"We're not really playing what you'd call 'together baseball' right now," Manuel said before batting practice.

Utley echoed those remarks in a somber Phillies clubhouse afterward.

"Right now we're definitely not playing good baseball all around," Utley said. "There's no one thing we're doing bad, we're just not playing together as a team."

Toronto opened the scoring in the second when Scott Rolen doubled and came around on a single by Alex Rios, who snapped an 0-for-12 skid. Rolen's double extended his hitting streak to a career-high 15 games.

The Blue Jays added three more in the third against left-hander Cole Hamels (4-4), who is winless in four starts. Hill hit a two-run double, stole third and scored on Rolen's sacrifice fly.

Hamels was replaced by right-hander Chan Ho Park after infield singles by Adam Lind and Kevin Millar, then was ejected by home plate umpire Mark Carlson for arguing balls and strikes as he left the field.

Park got out of the jam but was injured when Rios hit a bouncer off the pitcher's right knee. Park picked up the loose ball and made the throw to first before falling to the ground in pain. Righty Tyler Walker replaced Park in the sixth.

Toronto lost catcher Rod Barajas in the second when he injured his right hamstring running to first on a single. Raul Chavez replaced Barajas and later hit an RBI single off Brad Lidge in the eighth.

After the game, Toronto placed Barajas on the 15-day disabled list and promoted catcher Kyle Phillips from Triple-A Las Vegas.

Phillies shortstop Jimmy Rollins, who is stuck in an 0 for 19 slump, sat out his second straight game.

NOTES: Hamels changed places with Saturday's starter, lefty J.A. Happ, so that he could get one more start before the All-Star break. ... Phillies LHP Antonio Bastardo will return to Philadelphia and see a doctor Monday after leaving Thursday's start in the fourth because of a shoulder strain. ... After throwing a bullpen session, Toronto RHP Roy Halladay (groin) declared himself ready to come off the 15-day DL and start Monday against Tampa Bay. ... To make room for Phillips on the 40-man roster, Toronto moved RHP Shaun Marcum from the 15-day DL to the 60-day DL.