• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Padres-Phillies Preview

Jul 23, 2009 - 3:03 AM By BRETT HUSTON STATS Writer

San Diego (37-57) at Philadelphia (53-38), 7:05 p.m. EDT

The Philadelphia Phillies' longest winning streak in 18 years may be over, but the 10-game run was enough to give them a nice cushion atop the NL East.

A game against the reeling San Diego Padres could be a good way to get back in the win column.

Philadelphia will try to shake off its first loss in more than two weeks Thursday night when it welcomes in the last-place Padres for the makeup of an April rainout.

The Phillies (53-39) had a slim two-game lead over Florida on July 8, but won their final five games prior to the All-Star break and their first five of the second half. The run came to an end Wednesday afternoon with a 10-5 loss to the Chicago Cubs.

The club's longest winning streak since it won 13 in a row July 30-Aug. 12, 1991, has it 5 1/2 games ahead of second-place Atlanta and six up on the Marlins.

"I think we might be better than we've been playing," manager Charlie Manuel told the Phillies' official Web site. "We've been getting some breaks, but at the same time, we've been playing good."

Philadelphia averaged 5.7 runs during its streak, getting contributions from a variety of sources. Jayson Werth led the way with 10 RBIs and hit three homers, including the three-run shot Tuesday in the 13th inning that extended the streak to 10.

Raul Ibanez and Ryan Howard also went deep three times, driving in nine and seven runs, respectively.

Philadelphia allowed just 2.6 runs during the 10-game run, and holding the Padres (37-58) off the scoreboard hasn't been a challenge for anyone lately.

San Diego has scored more than three runs just once in its last 13 games, and Wednesday was shut out for the ninth time. The Padres mustered only three singles in a 5-0 loss to Florida, capping a three-game sweep in which they totaled four runs.

"When it rains, it pours, I guess," said left fielder Chase Headley, who struck out in a pinch-hit appearance to drop his average to .200 (8 for 40) in his past 12 games. "Nobody's really swinging very well right now. It's a tough go. You have to figure a way to get everybody going."

The player the Padres really need to produce is All-Star Adrian Gonzalez, who's hitting .168 with two homers and nine RBIs since June 20.

Gonzalez has enjoyed facing the Phillies this season, hitting .353 (6 for 17) with four homers and six RBIs while walking 10 times. He homered twice as San Diego took two of three in Philadelphia from April 17-19, and twice more during the Phillies' three-game sweep at Petco Park from June 1-3.

Gonzalez is 5 for 15 with a homer in his career against Cole Hamels (5-5, 4.72 ERA), who will start Thursday. The left-hander gave up one run and four hits over five innings in a rain-shortened outing Friday at Florida, leaving without a decision in the Phillies' 6-5, 12-inning win.

Hamels yielded five runs and eight hits - three homers - over six innings April 17 against the Padres, but wasn't on the hook for Philadelphia's 8-7 loss.

Kevin Correia (6-7, 4.34) will get the ball for San Diego coming off his team-leading 11th quality start. He gave up one run and three hits over six innings against Colorado on Saturday, but didn't earn a decision in a 3-1 win.

Correia gave up four runs and 10 hits over 4 1-3 innings - including homers to Howard and Chase Utley - in a 5-3 loss to the Phillies on June 1.