Phillies Notes: Phillies starters on a roll

DENVER - The Phillies' starting pitching staff entered Tuesday with the 24th-best ERA in Major League Baseball. But it's no coincidence that a recent string of strong performances has coincided with the team's best baseball of the season.

Coming into Tuesday night's game against the Colorado Rockies, Phillies starters had allowed only seven runs over their last 391/3 innings. Each game of the Phillies' winning streak, which entered Tuesday at six games, had seen their starter allow two runs or fewer.

Two of those outings were from ace Cole Hamels, who in his last three starts has lowered his ERA from 4.14 to 3.24. Aaron Harang came into his Tuesday start on the heels of eight scoreless innings against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

"I think I said it down in spring [training], once one starts rolling, we're going to pass the baton," said Jerome Williams, who threw five solid innings in his last start. "Lately we've been passing the baton. Just getting those earned runs down and keeping guys in ball games."

Despite the recent surge, the Phillies' starting staff still entered Tuesday with a combined 4.53 ERA. It has performed much better at home (3.16 ERA in 22 starts) than on the road (6.38 in 18 starts entering Tuesday).

Eight pitchers have started for the Phillies so far this year. Their depth has tested, the latest examples being recent injuries to Chad Billingsley (shoulder strain) and David Buchanan (sprained ankle).

Early run support over the last week has helped the Phillies' starters. The offense, while still worst in the majors in runs scored, hit .298 over the six games leading to Tuesday's contest.

"They've set good tones," Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg said of the starting pitchers. "They've showed improvement with their outings."

During this past weekend's series against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Citizens Bank Park, three young Phillies fans behind the home dugout offered a gift to Odubel Herrera. It was a small, brown stuffed bull, playing off Herrera's nickname of "El Torito," meaning "the little bull."

It has since found a home during games atop a watercooler in the Phillies' dugout, even this week at Coors Field. Carlos Ruiz packed it with him on the trip, Herrera said.

"As soon as we had it, we started playing better," infielder Andres Blanco noted before the game.

Ben Revere came into Tuesday hitting .330 over his last 22 games. . . . Phillippe Aumont was named the Phillies' minor-league pitcher of the week. The inconsistent reliever turned starter has allowed four earned runs over 27 innings since joining the triple-A rotation.

- Jake Kaplan