• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers
• Game Tracker

Never-say-die Phils hope to break the brooms out on Brewers

Jul 25, 2012 - 12:07 PM (Sports Network) - You wouldn't know the Philadelphia Phillies were 11 games under .500 by the way they've fought back in their series with the Milwaukee Brewers.

On Wednesday, the Phillies try to win their fourth straight game and complete a three-game sweep of the Brewers in the process in the series finale at Citizens Bank Park.

The Phillies have fallen behind in each of the first two contests, but have managed 11 runs in the seventh inning or later, scoring four in the ninth on Monday to win for the first time in 43 games this season when trailing after eight innings.

On Tuesday, the Phils did it again, but this time didn't wait until the ninth, as they crossed the plate six times in the eighth en route to a 7-6 come-from- behind win.

Hunter Pence's bloop RBI single put them ahead, then Jonathan Papelbon tossed a perfect ninth to secure Philadelphia's third straight victory in their final at-bat.

"We see that identity," Pence said. "As soon as everyone kind of came together, the pieces of the puzzle came together and we're working as a unit right now. It feels good."

Phillies starter Cliff Lee allowed six runs on 12 hits over seven-plus innings. Michael Schwimer (1-1) pitched a scoreless inning of relief to pick up the win.

Zack Greinke, Aramis Ramirez, Carlos Gomez and Ryan Braun all homered for the Brewers, who have lost a season-high five straight games.

Greinke, pitching on 10 days' rest, gave up just one run on three hits in seven innings for the Brewers. He was at only 87 pitches when Milwaukee pulled him prior to the eighth. Greinke, who had retired 14 straight batters when he was taken out of the game, was making his first appearance since July 13, the last of three straight starts for the Brewers.

"I pushed him and it didn't work very well," Brewers manager Ron Roenicke said of Greinke. "I would not feel good again if I pushed him again, put him out there for the eighth inning, and two or three days from now when he throws his bullpen, he comes up and says 'I don't feel right again.' I can't do that."

Then, as if Philadelphia didn't have enough to celebrate, word broke over night that the Phillies were closing in on a monster 6-yer, $140 million extension for lefty Cole Hamels.

Getting the call for Philadelphia today will be righty Vance Worley, who is 5-6 with a 3.82 ERA. Worley struck out seven and retired 13 of the first 14 batters he faced on Friday against San Francisco, before allowing eight of the final 13 batters to reach. He eventually served up a grand slam and allowed six runs in six innings to absorb the loss.

"I missed my spots," Worley said. "I got hurt on the one pitch, really. I felt strong. Everything was coming out the way I wanted it. I just missed."

Worley lost to the Brewers last season in his only other start against them.

Milwaukee, meanwhile, will counter with righty Marco Estrada, who is still searching for his first win of the season. Estrada lost to Cincinnati his last time out on Friday, as he surrendered three runs and seven hits in seven innings to fall to 0-4 on the year to go along with a 4.10 ERA.

"I've got to focus a little better in the later innings," Estrada said.

This will be Estrada's first start versus the Phillies, but he has faced them six times out of the bullpen and has yielded four earned runs in 6 1/3 innings without recording a decision.

Milwaukee won two of three during its last visit to Philadelphia in April of 2011.