The Phillies have a day off today before opening a 3 game series with the NL West leading San Diego Padres beginning Tuesday, July 4th.

The Phils however can take some satisfaction with some good signs which showed themselves in their offense which finally awakened in an 11-6 win over the Toronto Blue Jays in their series final.

The game was back and forth through 3 innings with the Blue Jays going up 2-0 after 1 inning, the Phils coming back with 2 to tie in their 2nd, Toronto scoring 1 in their half of the 2nd as starter Aaron Fultz (1-0) was chased (after 1 2/3 innings) and the Phils coming right back with their third run in the top of the 3rd on 1st Baseman Ryan Howard’s (28 HRs — league lead, 69 RBIs, .284 BA) opposite field solo shot.

The Phils took the lead on Blue Jays starting and losing pitcher A.J Burnett (1-2)with 2 runs in the 4th on a 2 run double by rightfielder Bobby Abreu (8 HRs, 57 RBIs, .290 BA) who went 3 for 5 for the game with 4 RBIs and 2 in the 5th on RBI doubles by catcher Chris Coste (.294 BA) and Jimmy Rollins (9 HRs).

Sandwiched in between the Phils pair of duces in the 4th and the 5th, the Blue Jays scored 1 in the bottom of the 4th; 7-4 Phillies.

Toronto tied the game in the 6th on an RBI single by Reed Johnson (.379 BA) following Eric Hinske’s (.295 BA) triple to make the score 7-5.

The Phils then scored 3 more runs in the 7th and a run in the 9th on 2nd baseman Chase Utley’s (16 HRs, 49 RBIs, .300 BA) solo homer to left field.  Utley was also 3 for 5 on the game.  Toronto scored 1 run in the bottom of the 9th,but by then the Phils had placed the game out of reach with Tom Gordon (2-3, 2.12 ERA, S21) finishing the game.  Geoff Geary (5-0), who relieved Fultz and pitched 3 1/3 innings giving up 1 run, was credited with the win.

For the full recap, play-by-play and box scores on Sunday’s game, click here.

In the opener with San Diego on Tuesday, Phils rookie lefthander Cole Hamels tries again for his 2nd win against Clay Hensley (5-6) for the Padres.

For the scores, recaps and box scores of all of today’s and Tuesday’s  games in both leagues, click here and here.

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This entry was posted on Monday, July 3rd, 2006 at 8:46 am and is filed under Real-Time Baseball News and Commentary. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.