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Phillies wrap up losing road trip, eye series win vs. Padres

Aug 17, 2008 - 7:32 AM Philadelphia (65-58) at San Diego (48-75) 8:05 pm EDT

SAN DIEGO (Ticker) -- When the Philadelphia Phillies finished play last Sunday, they held a two-game lead in the National League East and were winners of seven of eight. However, a trip to Southern California has done nothing to keep the good feeling going.

The Phillies attempt to salvage an unsuccessful road trip on Sunday when they face the San Diego Padres.

Philadelphia held a two-game lead over the New York Mets seven days ago after taking two of three from the Braves, sweeping the Nationals in three games and defeating the Cardinals in two of three contests.

That stretch came to a screeching halt when they traveled to Los Angeles, which swept the Phillies in four games. They appeared to be back on track with a win over the Padres on Friday. However, San Diego - one of the league's worst offenses - trounced them, 8-3, on Saturday.

The losing stretch has pushed the Phillies (65-58) two games behind the now first-place Mets (67-56).

The Phillies should be encouraged, though, about their prospects for a win in the finale when they face Cha Seung Baek (4-6, 5.12 ERA). Since being acquired from Seattle in late May, the righthander has yet to win a start in Petco Park, going 0-6 with a 7.04 ERA in eight appearances.

Baek surrendered five runs and seven hits over six innings in another loss at Petco on Tuesday, taking the decision in a 5-2 setback to Milwaukee.

The Phillies will counter with Cole Hamels (9-8, 3.32), who hopes to turn around a seven-game winless slide, the longest of his career. The lefthander, fourth in the National League in strikeouts, fanned seven in Tuesday's 4-3 loss to the Dodgers, not factoring into the decision after allowing two runs and five hits over seven frames.