22-year-old Pettibone had a credible debut. Two web gems helped him early in the game but he settled down and kept the Phillies in the game. On top of that, he’ll always remember his first at-bat, a walk which turned into his first run scored, coming on a wild pitch. His family was there, Californians not accustomed to cold Philly Aprils.

From Elias Sports Bureau: the rookie allowed only two runs and struck out six without issuing a walk. Only two other Phillies pitchers have registered at least six strikeouts without allowing a walk in their major-league debut: Charles Hudson on May 31, 1983 (8 SO against the Dodgers) and Carlton Loewer on June 14, 1998 (8 SO against the Cubs).

J-Roll collected his 800th RBI, a sixth-inning single that plated the winning run. The Phillies first two runs came on a wild pitch and a hit-batter. RISP was 2-12, not good numbers.

Papelbon closed it out with a save. He’s now 55-for-55 in April saves.

Another Meaningless Trivia
Using first names, Jonathan started the game and Jonathan closed the game. It that a first in Phillies history that two Jonathans did that?

Baron’s Corner
Utley leads the Phillies with 15 RBI; pinch hitters are second with 10 . . . Phillies are 17-4 vs. the Pirates in the last 21 games at Citizens Bank Park . . . As part of the South Atlanta League All-Star Game festivities scheduled in June at Lakewood’s FirstEnergy Park, a celebrity home run hitting contest will take place on the 17th, the night before the game. Mickey Morandini and Matt Stairs have joined the celebs list. Mitch Williams and Doc Gooden are two others. Tickets are available at http://www.blueclaws.com . . . Happy Birthdays today go to Rheal Cormier, 46 and Carlos Silva, 34.

Comment Corner
Thanks for the comment posted yesterday by Rick Goldstein. He pointed out the first Phillies player on the cover of Sports Illustrated was Ken Walters in 1961 and not Art Mahaffey in 1963, as I had read on another website.

Minor League Report
**Lehigh Valley lost its 10:35 a.m. get-away home game, 8-2. All aboard a bus then for a long trip to Indianapolis and a night game Tuesday. Life in the minors: the IronPigs are in the midst of a crazy string of starting times of 6:15, 12:05, 6:15, 12:05, 5:35 (DH); 1:35, 10:35, 7:05 and 11:05. Sleeping and eating routines are not routine.

**Reading: LH Jess Biddle turned in a real gem at Harrisburg. He retired the first 19 hitters, 14 on strikeouts, before losing a perfect game with a walk and a single. He struck out 16 in 7 innings and as a hitter, stroked 2 doubles in 3 at-bats. Biddle won, 3-2, with Kyle Simon getting his 5th save. He struck out 1. Harrisburg pitchers fanned 15. Of the 32 strikeouts, 23 were swinging.

**Clearwater lost, 2-1, at Lakeland.

**Lakewood was idle.

This Date
April 23, 1961—RHP Art Mahaffey sets a Phillies record with 17 strikeouts in a 6-0 win over the Cubs in the second game of a doubleheader at Connie Mack Stadium. RHP Frank Sullivan blanks the Cubs, 1-0, in the first game. Mahaffey’s record still stands.

For more Phillies phlashback moments, visit http://www.phillies.com/alumni.

Baseball can be so unpredictable.

Friday night, the offense scored eight runs in beating the Cardinals behind Doc. In Cliff’s start the next night, Phillies were shutout for only the 28th time in 741 games at Citizens Bank Park.

Saturday night, Cliff, walked three in one inning after allowing only one in his first three starts. Bigger news: Cliff’s modern-era record (since 1900) of at least 6.0 innings pitched with one walk-or-less was snapped at 20 consecutive starts (7/4/12-4/15/3).  The previous record was 14 straight, done by Christy Mathewson in 1908 and Greg Maddux in 1997 (source: Elias Sports Bureau). 

Sunday night, two runs in the first inning and then the Phillies offense went dormant before erupting in the eighth inning for a come-from-behind win which improved their ESPN Sunday Night Baseball record to 26-18.

Bucs in Town
Fresh from sweeping the Braves, the Pirates come to town Monday for a second straight four-game series against a Central Division enemy. Phillies were 3-4 vs. the Bucs a year ago, 2-2 at home.

Phillies really struggle at PNC Park, 14-24.

Former Phillies on the Pirates? Third base coach Nick Leyva and broadcaster Bob Walk.

Yikes
Dennis Orlandini e-mailed “a totally meaningless trivia note:” When Jonathan Pettibone starts Monday night, he’ll be the first player born in the 1990s to play in a regular season game for the Phillies. His birthday is July 19, 1990.

That makes me feel ancient.

Baron’s Corner
Former Phillies catcher, Gus Triandos, died on March 28 in San Jose, CA. He was 82. Big Gus was the first catcher to catch a no-hitter in each league, Jim Bunning with the Tigers and Phillies . . . From Broad & Pattison.com: On this date in 1963, Art Mahaffey became the first Phillies player to appear on the cover of Sports Illustrated . . . Happy Birthday today: Mickey Morandini, 47.

Minor League Report, Weekend Edition
**Lehigh Valley: rained out Friday, lost a DH on Saturday and a single game Sunday. 4-game series with Buffalo ends with 10:35 a.m. game Monday. IronPigs leave after game for Indianapolis. 3B Cody Asche is riding a 5-game hitting streak, lifting average from .162 to .263.

**Reading: rained out Friday, split a pair on Saturday and lost on Sunday. RH Kyle Simon recorded 4th save on Saturday.

**Clearwater won 2 of 3 games. SS Jose Mojica is riding a 6-game hitting streak, 14-21, boosting his average to .500. OF Aaron Altherr, 4-9 on the weekend, hiking average to .328.

**Lakewood: dropped 2 of 3 to Savannah. 1B Art Charles, 6-12, on the weekend, going from .226 to .277.

Returning to friendly Citizens Bank Park, the Phillies bats showed some life. But, an eighth-inning homer by Beltran handed the Phillies a one-run loss, even though they out-hit the Cardinals, 13-7 (11 singles, two doubles). For Beltran, that’s four homers in his last 11 games at Citizens Bank Park.

For the seventh straight game, the Phillies failed to score in innings one through five. That’s hard to do. Down, 2-0, they tied it in the sixth. Down, 3-2, they tied it in the seventh. In the last of the ninth, the Phillies had runners on second and third with one out but didn’t score. That’s hard to do.

But, once again, they didn’t draw a walk. Their last one was an intentional walk on Sunday, that’s 135 plate appearances. That’s also hard to do. When will it end? The Cardinals had three walks and one scored.

Baron’s Corner
When it comes to reaching out to the community, the Phillies players excel. This weekend, three will be purchasing tickets for groups: Friday–Charlie’s Lineup (Covenant House Pennsylvania); Kendrick’s Krew (Bancroft School) and Saturday–Hamels’ Heroes (Wounded Warrior Project) . . . Don’t forget Sunday’s game is 8:05 and will be on ESPN TV. http://www.phillies.com/alumni has a feature on John Kruk who is now part of the Sunday Night ESPN broadcasting team . . . Happy Birthday: Tommy Hutton, 67, on Saturday; Greg Legg, 53, on Sunday.

Minor League Report
**Lehigh Valley pounded out 18 hits in romping over Pawtucket, 14-5. 3B Cody Ashe, 4-6. Cody Overbeck, 3rd homer, a grand slam. No decision for LA Adam Morgan, 5 innings, 1 hits, 1 run, 4 strikeouts. Needed 100 pitches to get through 5 innings.

**Reading lost, 7-1, at Richmond. 1B Jim Murphy, 3rd HR.

**Clearwater dropped a 5-2 decision to Brevard County. 2B Carlos Alonso had one-third of Clearwater’s nine hits.

**Lakewood nipped Savannah, 3-2. 3B Mitch Walding, singe, 3rd double, RBI.

This Date
April 19, 1900—Phillies win in Boston, 19-17, in 10 innings, the highest scoring opener in NL history. Boston scored nine in the bottom of the ninth to send the game into extra innings.

April 19, 1937–Phillies win a doubleheader beating Boston, 2-1, in 11 innings and 1-0 at Braves Field. It is the only time the Phillies started the season with a twinbill.

April 20, 1989—3B Mike Schmidt’s first-inning double in Pittsburgh off Mike Dunne breaks Richie Ashburn’s club record for career hits (2,217).

April 21, 1898—RHP Bill Duggleby hits a grand slam home run in his first major league plate appearance (2nd inning) in a game in New York.

Comment Corner
Thanks to Dennis Orlandini for his comments about the Phillies Yearbook history. Yes, we considered ending it one time because it just didn’t sell as it had done in the past. But, I didn’t want the end to happen on my watch.

I believe only the Yankees have a longer run in producing Yearbooks. If anybody knows that, post a comment.

Comments are always welcomed, pro and con.

Cheers.

The 2-4 road trip is over. As Charlie Brown would say, “Good riddance.”

Two of the losses came Wednesday, the quickest imaginable. The 0-0 suspended game from Tuesday resumed in the bottom of the ninth. It took the Reds nine minutes to score the winning run. In the regularly scheduled game, the Reds scored five in the second inning on their way to a 11-2 romp.

The offensive numbers are numbing:

**8-39 with runners in scoring position on the trip.

**0 runs scored in innings 1 through 5.

**last four home runs have come from players who were not in the starting lineup.

**starting lineup combined for 3 RBI on the trip; Young had the last one on Sunday.

**Going back to the last home game, April 10, Utley, Brown and Young are the only starters to drive in a run.

Someone once said, you are never as good as you look when you are going good and never as bad as you look when you are going bad.

The offense produced much better in the six home games this season. Well, the next eight games are at Citizens Bank Park.

Baron’s Corner
Series sweep by the Reds over the Phillies was their first since 1996 . . . Last Phillies suspended game was Game 7 of the 2008 World Series. For the regular season, August 9, 1982, at Pittsburgh . . . The 2013 Yearbook will be on sale starting Thursday night. Phillies first Yearbook was published in 1949 . . . Birthdays today: Rico Brogna, 47 and Jim Eisenreich, 54.

Minor League Report
**Lehigh Valley dropped an 8-1 decision at Pawtucket. 1B Darin Ruf, 1st home run, one of three LV hits.

**Reading did not play.

**Clearwater, after crushing Daytona Beach, 15-6, on Tuesday, the table was turned on the Threshers, 13-2. RF Cameron Perkins, 2nd HR.

**Lakewood was held to five hits in losing, 3-1, at Hagerstown.

This Date
April 18, 1979—LF Greg Luzinski becomes the first visiting player to hit a home run into the upper deck in Pittsburgh’s Three Rivers Stadium.

April 18, 1987–3B Mike Schmidt homers at 4:53 p.m. on a 3-0 pitch from Don Robinson in Pittsburgh to become the 14th player in baseball history to reach 500 home runs. Dramatic three-run, game-winning homer in the ninth beats the Pirates, 8-6.

Don’t forget to check http://www.phillies.com/alumni for more phlashback moments.

Déjà vu.

That’s been the story of the offense on this road trip. In the six previous home games, the Phillies scored 33 runs. So far in four road games, eight. Including last night’s 0-0 game suspended in the bottom of the ninth, the offense has yet to score in the first through the fifth innings of any of the five games on this trip.

Starting pitching has been excellent on the trip, including Kyle last night.

Baron’s Corner
Phillies will have the 16th, 53rd, 89th and 96th selections in the first four rounds of the First-Year Player draft that begins on June 6 . . . 14 of the 25 players on the Lehigh Valley roster are home-grown

Minor League Players of the Week
Pitcher- LHP Adam Morgan, Lehigh Valley… In two starts- 1-0, 1.29 ERA (2 ER, 14.0 IP), 9 H, 2 BB, 9 SO for the week… 4/12 vs Syracuse- W, 8 IP, 3 H, 1 BB, 4 SO, his first triple-A win in only his eighth start above single-A… 1-for-3 as a hitter, first-career RBI… Morgan faced 28 batters on the night; recording 22 four-pitch outs … Retired the lead-off hitter in all 8 IP, topping out at 93 on the gun… Honored by the International League as the IL Pitcher of the Week for the week of April 8-14… The 23-year-old lefty was a 3rd round selection in the 2011 draft out of the University of Alabama and signed by Mike Stauffer.

Player- 1B Jim Murphy, Reading… Batted .381 (16-for-42) in 10 G with 8 R, 5 2B, 2 HR and 10 RBI… .545 with RISP (6-for-11)… After a hitless, 0-for-4 Opening Day, Murphy roared back with a nine-game hitting streak which is currently tied for the longest active streak in the Eastern League… At time of print, Murphy is in the lead or tied for the organization lead in runs, hits, total bases (27) and multi-hit games with six… The 27-year-old was a 17th round selection in 2006 out of Washington State University and signed by Dave Ryles.

Minor League Report
**Lehigh Valley: Tommy Joseph, Cody Overbeck and Leandro Castro homered in an 8-6 win at Pawtucket, Jacob Diekman (1-0) in relief; 1st save for Michael Stutes.

**Reading: Albert Cartwright was 3-4, boosting his average to .354, as Reading edged Harrisburg, 4-3, in 10 innings.

**Clearwater: Every player in the lineup had at least two hits as the Threshers pounded out 27 hits in a 15-6 romp over Daytona Beach. SS Jose Mojica led the parade, 5-5.

**Lakewood: Two-game winning streak ended in Hagerstown, 11-2. Mitch Walding had 3 of Lakewood’s nine hits.

Alumni Notes
**Interesting note in Jerry Crasnick’s ESPN.com story about Bobby Abreu: “Abreu needs 13 homers and one stolen base to be a 300-400 man. Barry and Bobby Bonds are the only other players with at least 300 career homers and 400 steals.” The story went on to explain Bobby will play winter ball after the season and then try to hook on with a major league club. Didn’t want to retire right now. Once his career is over, Bobby is a sure bet for the Phillies Wall of Fame.

**Happy Birthday to infielder Solly Hemus, who turns 90 today. Solly played for the Phillies from 1956-58 . . . Birthday wishes, too, to catcher Gary Bennett, 41.

**What happened during the Phillies season 110 years ago? New story appears on http://www.phillies.com/alumni.

Pinch hitters have been more productive than the starting nine. That will change….trust me.

Yet, a baseball game and a few hits isn’t all that important in the aftermatch of the tragedy in Boston. Our prayers and thoughts go to the people in that fine American city.

Catching the Reds when they were riding a five-game losing streak wasn’t good. Cliff pitched great but the offense was perplexing.

Chase came off the bench to tie the game in the top of the eighth, his fifth career home run out of 16 pinch-hits. He’s drive in 17 runs in that role. He’s the third Phillie with five career pinch dingers, joining Gene Freese and Bill Nicholson. I case you are wondering, five have hit six and three have hit seven. Cy Williams’ 9 is the club record.

With three pinch-hit homers so far, the Phillies have a ways to go to match the club record of 11 set in 1958.

Minor League Report
**Lehigh Valley won, 8-3, at Pawtucket, scoring 5 in the 8th and 2 in the 9th. 1B Josh Fields, 4-4, 2 homers, 4 RBI, boosting average to .526.

**Reading was blanked on 3 singles and a double, 4-0, by three Harrisburg pitchers.

**Clearwater lost, 8-1, to Daytona Beach. RF Aaron Altherr, 1-4; leads club with .357 average.

**Lakewood won 2nd in a row after losing 7 straight, 5-1, at Hagerstown. 1B Art Charles, 2nd homer, a 2-trip blast that broke a 1-1 tie in the 7th inning.

This Date
1942–Happy Birthday Jim Lonborg.

April 16, 1953—2B Connie Ryan goes 6-for-6 (four singles, two doubles) in 14-12 loss in Pittsburgh.

April 16, 1959—Dave Philley gets major-league record ninth straight hit as a pinch-hitter (eight in 1958) as Phillies drop 7-3 decision in Milwaukee.

April 16—Oh, no: Burt Hotton of the Cubs pitches a no-hitter against the Phillies in Wrigley Field in 1972 and six years later, Bob Forsch of the Cardinals no-hits the Phillies in St. Louis.

Visit http://www.phillies.com/alumni for more phlashback moments and a feature on John Kruk.

Winning two of three games in a series is a formula for getting to the postseason. The Phillies won their second straight series on Sunday in Miami.

It wasn’t pretty or dominating but it was two of three. They could have won all three and could have lost all three.

After the offense exploded against the Mets in the previous series, the offense fell into a familiar pattern….struggling to score runs. In the Marlins series, the Phillies were a combined 6-30 with runners in scoring position. Two of the hits, at least that’s what I recall, didn’t score a base runner, which makes RISP a little sketchy. Take away those two hits and they were 4-30. Either way, not good.

200 For Doc
Doc certainly seemed to be more like the old Doc on Sunday. Thanks to Lance’s pinch-hit homer in the top of the ninth, Doc picked up the win, the 200th of his career. Only 108 other pitchers have gotten there.

The last pitcher to get his 200th in a Phillies uniform was Steve Carlton, July 23, 1978, a 13-2 decision over the Astros at the Vet. He was the 78th pitcher to reach 200. That win evened his record at 9-9.

Reds Next
Phillies arrived in Cincinnati after Sunday’s afternoon game for three night games against the Reds, who have lost five in a row. Don’t like that.

Phillies have had success at Great American Ballpark. Since it opened in 2003, the Phillies are 22-13. The Reds have no former Phillies on their roster.

Eyes Of The Nation
Along with their normal local and MLB.com coverage, the Phillies will be seen on national television in six of their seven games this week.

The Phillies-Reds series will be covered by ESPN on Monday, MLB Network on Tuesday and ESPN2 on Wednesday. The Phillies-Cardinals series will be aired on MLB Network on Thursday and Saturday, and on ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball to close out the week.

Speaking of ESPN
Paul Hagen has a new “Where are they now?” feature on John Kruk in http://www.phillies.com/alumni. Krukker is now part of ESPN’s Sunday Night broadcasting team which means he’ll be at the Citizens Bank Park on Sunday night. Great photo of the ESPN SNB crew accompanies Hagen’s story.

Baron’s Corner
Birthday wishes go to Pete Rose, 72, on Sunday and Ted Sizemore, 68, today. Sizemore can always remember his birth date since he has to file his income taxes by that date.

Minor League Report
**Lehigh Valley (4-5) won 2 of 3 at Syracuse. LH Adam Morgan picked up his first AAA win on Saturday, 0 runs, 3 this, 1-3 as a hitter with an RBI; faced 28 batters, 22 four-pitch outs . . . RH Ethan Martin got his first AAA win on Sunday.

**Reading (6-4) also won 2 of 3 in first home series (Erie). RH Brody Colvin, first AA win on Sunday. 1B Jim Murphy, hitting .381, belted second home run in that game.

**Clearwater (5-5) lost 2 of 3 at Brevard County.

**Lakewood (2-9) ended a 7-game losing streak with an 8-3 win at Greensboro on Sunday. 1B Art Charles, 3 hits, 3 RBI.

This Date
April 15, 1985
Mike Schmidt plays in his 1,795th game to break the club record held by Richie Ashburn.

April 15, 2004
Four-run eighth inning lifts the Phillies to a 6-4 win over the Reds, their first victory in Citizens Bank Park. LHP Rheal Cormier is the winner; save for Billy Wagner. Homers by 3B David Bell and C Mike Lieberthal.

Phillies left for their road trip to Miami and Cincinnati around 5:30 p.m. Thursday on a Delta charter flight to Florida.

Lannin, Cole and Doc are lined up for the weekend series against the Marlins.

The Phillies bats heated up in the last two games against the Mets, both wins. They have six homers in the last two games after hitting only four in the first seven games. In the last decade, they hit three homers in 169 games (133-36).

Pitching has been the issue for the Phillies. They’ve allowed nine total runs in winning four games and have given up 45 in the five defeats.

The Marlins, on the other hand, haven’t hit in their 1-8 start. They are last with 16 runs scored and third from the bottom in the NL with a .217 average.

Doc, who is scheduled for Sunday’s afternoon game, has struggled in his first two starts. A year ago, he allowed no homers in his first 40 innings. This year, three homers in first 7.1 innings. He’s allowed 12 hits, 12 runs and struck out 12, a strange string of numbers. Career-wise, he’s 7-3 against Florida, 3-1 a year ago.

Marlins Park, which opened a year ago, didn’t welcome the Phillies warmly. They are 4-5 in the new place.

Phillies Alumni on the Marlins include Qualls, Dobbs, Polanco and Pierre.

Minor League Report
Lehigh Valley (2-4) and Reading (4-3) were not scheduled.

Clearwater (3-3) blasted Daytona, 12-2. 3B Maikel Franco headed a four-home run outing by the Threshers with 2 doubles, 1st homer and 3 RBI. Leads club with 10 RBI. RH Perci Garner (1-0) coasted to his first win. The night before, the Threshers scored 14 runs in an 11-inning win at Daytona.

Lakewood (1-7) lost, 6-4, at Greensboro. RF Brian Pointer and 1B Art Charles hit 1st homers. No decision for RH Shane Watson, 3 runs, 6 innings.

This Date
April 12, 1965—Phillies win first NL game played in Houston’s Astrodome, 2-0, over the Colt 45s. LHP Chris Short tosses four-hitter and 3B Dick Allen homers.

April 12, 2004—Cincinnati Reds spoil inaugural opener at Citizens Bank Park with 4-1 win. RF Bobby Abreu hits first homer in new park.

April 13, 1955
Robin Roberts losses no-hitter at Connie Mack Stadium when Alvin Dark singles with one out in the ninth inning. Robbie prevails, 4-2, over the Giants. Richie Ashburn, injured late in spring training, sees club record consecutive game playing streak end at 730 games.

April 13, 1983—Trailing, 9-5, C Bo Diaz hits game-winning grand slam with two out in the last of the ninth off RHP Neil Allen to defeat the Mets, 10-9.

April 13, 2003—Phillies score club-record 13 runs in one inning (4th) en route to a 13-1 romp in Cincinnati.

April 14, 1960—34-year-old Gene Mauch replaces manager Eddie Sawyer, who resigned after 9-4 opening day loss in Cincinnati two days earlier.

Don’t forget to check out http://www.phillies.com/alumni for more phlashback moments.

(Phillies Insider is taking a few days break. Will be back again on Friday).

In the meantime, plenty of books about the Phillies are about to appear on the book shelves and online………….

The Mouth That Roared by Dallas Green and Alan Maimon; foreword by Jayson Stark; Triumph Books; May 1.

Philadelphia’s Top 50 Baseball Players by Rich Westcott; foreword by Dallas Green; University of Nebraska Press; this month.

Shibe Park/Connie Mack Stadium by Rich Westcott; Arcadia Publishing Co.; currently available.

View from the Booth by Chris Wheeler; Camino Press; this month.

This Date In Philadelphia Phillies History by Skip Clayton and Don Bostrom; Camino Press; spring 2013. Originally published in 1978 by Allen Lewis and Larry Shenk; Stein & Day.

The Phillies Experience: A Year-by-Year Chronicle of the Philadelphia Phillies by Tyler Kepner; MVP Books; May 2013.

Game of My Life Philadelphia Phillies by Bob Gordon; Sports Publishing; this month.

Almost A Dynasty: The Rise and Fall of the 1980 Phillies by William Kashatus; University of Pennsylvania Press; this month.

More Than Beards, Bellies and Biceps by Bob Gordon, Tom Burgoyne and Larry Andersen; Sports Publishing; June 2013.

This Date
April 8, 1969—Rookie SS Don Money homers twice and drives in five runs but Phillies lose season opener, 7-6, in 11 innings in Chicago’s Wrigley Field.

April 8, 1970—1B Willie Montanez is acquired from St. Louis Cardinals to replace OF Curt Flood, who refused to report to the Phillies after being traded October 7, 1969.

April 9, 1913—Phillies win first game played in Brooklyn’s Ebbets Field, 1-0, over the Dodgers. RHP Tom Seaton is the winner. He wound up leading the NL in wins (27), innings (322.1), walks (136) and strikeouts (168).

April 9, 1963–A new career is launched as Richie Ashburn joins the Phillies broadcast team of Byrum Saam and Bill Campbell.

April 10, 1971—Phillies win first game played in Veterans Stadium, 4-1, over the Montreal Expos. RHP Jim Bunning is the winner.

For news, notes, features and vintage photos visit http://www.phillies.com/alumni.

After unloading 19 hits over the first two games of the season against the Phillies, Cliff and Pap silenced the Braves bats, allowing two hits in winning, 2-0, on Wednesday night.

While the Braves have handled Cole and Doc recently, it is a different story with Cliff. In his last 23 innings against the Braves, covering three starts, he’s allowed one run.
A year ago, Cliff’s first win came in his 13th start, which was on July 4. Guess he’s ahead of that pace.

The Royals are one of six American League clubs on the Phillies schedule, created by the new 15-teams in each league. This means the Phillies will play 20 different teams, the most ever.

The Phillies have played the fewest interleague games against the Royals and Angels, six games each. Phillies and Royals are 3-3, 1-2 in KC.

Modell’s Sports Goods home opener is 4:05 on Friday afternoon. Following the weekend set with the Royals, the Mets come to town for three night games starting on Monday.

Baron’s Corner
J-Roll played in his 1,795th game, moving ahead of Richie Ashburn into second place on the Phillies all-time list. He’s 609 games behind the leader, Mike Schmidt . . . Phillies took a Delta charter back home . . . Royals played an afternoon game in Chicago and were in bed before the Phillies charter left Atlanta . . . Bruce Chen is the lone Phillies Alumnus on the Royals . . . Kids Opening Night on Saturday, with a Turkey Hill Replica Gold Glove Trophy for all children 14 and under. J-Roll will receive his Gold Glove pre-game Saturday . . . Sunday afternoon is Ryan Howard IBEW Whiffle Bat and Ball Set for kids, again 14 and under . . . Tickets are available for all six home games, standing room only for Friday’s opener.

Minor League Report
**Lehigh Valley was thumped by Syracuse, 11-2. Tyler Cloyd started, 7 runs (6 earned) in 3 innings. He allowed 5 runs once out of 22 AAA starts a year ago. IronPigs had 6 hits, 3 coming in the 9th . . . Jonathan Pettibone starts Friday night.

**Reading was held to 3 hits in losing, 9-0, at New Hampshire. Dave Buchanan gave up 6 runs in 4.2 innings . . . Jesse Biddle starts Friday night.

**Clearwater lost, 4-2, at Dunedin, getting 5 hits. Hoby Milner was charged with 3 runs in 4.1 innings . . . Perci Garner in Clearwater’s home opener Friday vs. Dunedin.

**Lakewood was defeated by Kannapolis, 9-2. Jordan Guth, 6 runs (3 earned) in 3 innings. Attendance was 6,585 . . . Joshua Warner starts game 2 Friday.

This Date
April 5, 1957
Phillies trade five players and $75,000 to acquire SS Chico Fernandez from Brooklyn Dodgers.

April 5, 2012 
Phillies beat the Pirates, 1-0, in Pittsburgh. Roy Halladay is first Phillies pitcher to win back-to-back season openers since Art Mahaffey (1962-63). It was the third 1-0 opening day win in franchise history.

More daily historic moments can be found on http://www.phillies.com/alumni. Check ‘em out.