Phillies Notes: Frustrated Revere tries to stay positive

WASHINGTON - Someone scribbled "Y.O.Y.O." with a green marker on the whiteboard in the Phillies clubhouse before the game Saturday against the Nationals.

There was no designated time for the Phillies players to be in the batting cages before the afternoon contest. "You're on your own," the message meant. Ben Revere, struggling through the worst season-starting slump of his career, grabbed three bats and made his way to the cages.

The leftfielder was out of the lineup for a third straight game. He had five hits in 37 at-bats. Revere, 26, has hit 14 line drives, which is one more than the number of ground balls he has slapped this season. It is a much better rate than last season, when Revere hit ground balls almost three times more often than he hit line drives.

"This is probably the first time in my career in April that I've hit the ball this hard. I just have nothing to show for it," Revere said after spending 30 minutes in the batting cage. "Hopefully, I can get the hits going."

Revere said he worked in the batting cages with hitting coach Steve Henderson. Nothing major, Revere said. It was more, he said, to get his mind right.

"It's staying positive," Revere said. "This game is a pain. You go out four times, and you get no hits. It's a pain. A couple guys have come up to me and said, 'I can see it in your eyes that you're frustrated.' It's frustrating, but you just have to stay positive. It's a long season."

Revere came off the bench in the seventh inning as a pinch-runner for Ryan Howard, who had reached on a walk. Revere's value was clear, even when he's not in the lineup. He stole second, moved to third on a fly ball, and ran home on contact when Grady Sizemore hit a ball hard to first. He slid safely into home for what proved to be the winning run.

"He got three bags on his speed," manager Ryne Sandberg said. "That was huge. That was a big part of the game, taking the lead."

Saturday was the first time in Howard's career that he batted seventh for a third straight game. He went 0 for 2 with a walk and a strikeout. His batting average dropped to .167.

Luis Garcia and Ken Giles pitched scoreless innings of relief. Neither pitcher has allowed an earned run this season. . . . Chase Utley made a diving stop up the middle and threw to first to end the seventh and preserve the lead. . . . Domonic Brown went 0 for 4 and played right field for triple-A Lehigh Valley as he rehabilitates from a left Achilles injury.

- Matt Breen