Phillies fall to O's in Oswalt's spring debut

The Phillies' offense was limited to six hits through the first eight innings Wednesday in a 6-5 loss to the Baltimore Orioles at Bright House Field.

It was the third time in four spring games their offense was mostly silent until late. Ryan Howard and John Mayberry Jr. had doubles, with Howard's scoring Raul Ibanez in the bottom of the first inning. But otherwise, Baltimore pitching kept the door shut on the Phils (2-3) most of the way.

Michael Martinez and Mayberry hit back-to-back homers in the ninth inning, the team's second and third round-trippers of the spring, to make the score closer at the end.

Mayberry's 2-for-4 afternoon came on a day he played in right field. Ben Francisco was 0-for-3 from the DH spot and prospect Domonic Brown was given the day off.

Roy Oswalt gave up one run on two hits in his first spring training appearance. He struck out one and walked one in two innings. Philadelphia pitchers surrendered 16 hits overall, with Brad Lidge following Oswalt and giving up three hits and a run.

Righty Vance Worley allowed four hits in his two innings, and righties Justin De Fratus and Brian Bass each gave up three in one-inning stints.

Early in the game, catcher Carlos Ruiz had left camp to be with his wife in Panama after the birth of their son. No timetable was given for Ruiz's return. Second baseman Chase Utley missed his fifth spring game after a weekend MRI showed he has patellar tendinitis in his right knee.

Thursday is the Phillies' first long bus ride of the spring. Cole Hamels returns to the mound to face the Red Sox in Fort Myers, Fla.