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Phillies Notes: Offense came to life during road trip

PITTSBURGH - The offense showed up during the Phillies' road trip that ended with a 6-4 win Thursday over the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Phillies outfielders Delmon Young and Ben Revere. (Gene J. Puskar/AP)
Phillies outfielders Delmon Young and Ben Revere. (Gene J. Puskar/AP)Read more

PITTSBURGH - The offense showed up during the Phillies' road trip that ended with a 6-4 win Thursday over the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Over a 10-game stretch, the Phillies averaged 5.5 runs per game and hit .306 as a team. They also reached double-digit runs in a game for the first time this season during their only win in Los Angeles.

Predictably, manager Charlie Manuel was not entirely satisfied.

"I think it was misleading, because that game we had 16 runs, we had 21 hits," Manuel said. "We've been hitting better and scoring more runs, but we still have chances to knock in runs [and don't do it]."

What bothered the manager most on Thursday was when Chase Utley led off with a triple in the ninth inning and was stranded by Jimmy Rollins, Ryan Howard, and John Mayberry Jr.

"When we have a man on third with nobody out, we have to score," Manuel said. "I don't care what the score is. If we're winning a hundred to nothing we still have to score."

With two more hits Thursday, Delmon Young had the best individual road trip, hitting .486 (17 for 35) with a home run and nine RBIs. He raised his overall average from .220 to .273.

"I feel like I always did," Young said. "Things just aren't going right to the second baseman, shortstop, or centerfielder, so I'm excited for that. I think I'm more tired because I'm on the bases more instead of resting up in the dugout."

Manuel said he thinks Young is starting to fit in.

"He's just getting his timing down," the manager said. "He's getting to play. He's getting sharper. He feels more relaxed. He feels at home on our team. I like Delmon Young. I like his makeup. I can really kid with him. I can get on him. I want him to hit."

Ben Revere, 3 for 5 with two RBIs Thursday, also had a strong trip, hitting .394 (13 for 33) and raising his overall average to .290.

Aumont's struggles

Despite his difficulty in throwing strikes and getting batters out, reliever Phillippe Aumont will continue to get a chance to pitch in the big leagues, general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said Thursday.

"Pitching is confidence," Amaro said. "Right now, he is probably feeling like he is not performing at the level of success he thinks he should have. Right now, he's going to continue to get the opportunity to pitch, but he has to perform or he's not going to keep getting that opportunity."

Aumont, 24, pitched well in 18 games for the Phillies last season, but he has had command issues this year that continued when he was demoted to triple-A Lehigh Valley in late May. A rash of injuries in the bullpen brought him back to the big leagues, but he has continued to struggle.

After being charged with two runs and getting one out in Wednesday night's loss to the Pirates, Aumont talked about being tired, a strange explanation for a relief pitcher.

"I had a little biceps [fatigue]," he said. "Just really tired and dehydrated. The heat got to me a little bit. I warmed up good, then when I got out there I hit a wall - started sweating more than usual. It was a tough night."

Amaro has said he is looking for outside bullpen help, but he also will consider bringing up bullpen arms from Lehigh Valley regardless of the role they have had for the IronPigs.

"Some guys there have thrown OK," he said. "Cesar Jimenez, Zach Miner. We've been sliding guys into different roles just to see what they can do."

Miner and B.J. Rosenberg have been moved out of the starting rotation and into the bullpen.