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Phillies-Blue Jays Preview

Jun 27, 2009 - 5:38 AM By MATT BEARDMORE STATS Writer

Philadelphia (37-33) at Toronto (40-34), 1:07 p.m. EDT

The Philadelphia Phillies still own the major league's best road record. But lately, they're not getting the job done there either.

The struggling Phillies try to snap a three-game slide Saturday afternoon when they continue their three-game interleague set against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre.

Philadelphia (37-34) still has the majors' best road record at 24-12, but having lost 11 of its last 13 overall, the defending World Series champs realize they need to get their season back on track.

"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," Phillies center fielder Shane Victorino said following Friday's 6-1 loss that prompted a 20 minute closed-door meeting by the team.

Philadelphia maintained its half-game lead in the NL East as the New York Mets lost 9-1 to the Yankees on Friday night. The Phillies, though, dropped their season-high third straight on the road and sixth in a row to Toronto as they had just three hits. It was the first time all season Philadelphia did not have an extra-base hit.

"Right now we're definitely not playing good baseball all around," said second baseman Chase Utley, who ended rookie Ricky Romero's no-hit bid Friday with a leadoff single in the seventh.

J.A. Happ (4-0, 3.47 ERA) was scheduled to pitch the series opener, but his start was moved back so ace Cole Hamels could get an extra outing before the All-Star break. That didn't work, though, as Hamels lasted just 4 2-3 innings and was ejected after arguing with plate umpire Mark Carlson on his way out of the game.

Happ, who makes his first career appearance against Toronto, looks to improve from his last outing Saturday when he walked four and yielded a career-high 10 hits in a 6-5 loss to Baltimore.

He is 2-0 with a 4.08 ERA in six starts since taking Chan Ho Park's spot in the rotation. Park relieved Hamels on Friday, but was hurt when Alex Rios hit a ball off his right knee.

Toronto (41-34) gives the ball to Brad Mills (0-0, 9.82), who makes his second career start and second versus the Phillies. Replacing the injured Casey Janssen (right shoulder inflammation), the 24-year-old left-hander went 3 2-3 innings in an 8-7 win over Philadelphia on June 18 when he allowed four runs and six hits, including two home runs.

Blue Jays third baseman Scott Rolen hit in his career-best 15th straight game Friday with a leadoff double in the fourth inning. Rolen is batting .412 (7 for 17) with four extra-base hits versus against Philadelphia this season.

Blue Jays catcher Rod Barajas was placed in the disabled list with a strained right hamstring suffered in Friday's game. Toronto will call up Kyle Phillips from Triple-A Las Vegas.

Making his first appearance since June 6, Phillies closer Brad Lidge walked two while giving up two runs and two hits in one-third of an inning.

Rollins was out of the Phillies' lineup for the second straight game. The 2007 NL MVP is hitless in his last 19 at-bats and is batting just .211.

"If he doesn't play tomorrow, I'll talk to him tomorrow," Phillies manager Charlie Manuel told the team's official Web site. "If he doesn't play the next day, I'll talk to him after that."