Howard Breaks Toe; Season Over

MIAMI — An unfortunate end comes to Ryan Howard’s season.

During yesterday’s game, Ryan Howard dropped the led pipe that he swings in the on-deck circle on his foot, breaking his toe. Manager Charlie Manuel said his season is over.

In 71 games Howard hit .219 with 14 homers and 56 RBIs.

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Wild 1st Sets Tone In Phillies Rout

A victimized RP Josh Edgin looks down while Ryan Howard (background) circles the bases after hitting a 9th inning grandslam. It was Howard’s second 9th inning homer off Edgin in as many days. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Phillies 16, Mets 1
WP – Tyler Cloyd (2-1, 3.86)
LP – Jeremy Hefner (2-7, 5.79)

QUEENS, NY — The Phillies were held to six scoreless innings. Fortunately for them, the other three innings provided a lot of damage.

An eight-run 1st inning and a seven-run 9th propelled the Phillies to a 16-1 pounding of the Mets. The win gave them the sweep, and kept them in pace with St. Louis, who won again earlier in the day.

The Phillies had 21 hits in the game — of those 21 hits, 19 of them were singles. The only extra base hits came from Chase Utley’s double and Ryan Howard’s grand slam.

Howard’s Power Pushes Phillies Past Mets

Phillies 3, Mets 2
WP – Jeremy Horst (2-0, 1.11)
LP – Josh Edgin (3-6, 3.86)
SV – Jonathan Papelbon (36)

QUEENS, NY — Ryan Howard knew it. Josh Edgin knew it. Heck, everyone in the stadium knew it.

Howard’s two-run blast off Edgin in the 9th inning gave the Phillies a 3-2 lead and win, helping them in their chase for the post season.

Howard struggled at the dish, striking out twice before his 9th inning at bat.

“I was struggling, period. There’s no secret about it,” Howard said. “Even throughout the entire game today, I struggled trying to catch up to the fastball. My swing was a little long. I just caught up to a fastball and was able to get a big hit.”

Phillies Climb Out of Cellar With Howard Walk-Off

Phillies 5, Diamondbacks 4
WP – Jonathan Papelbon (3-4, 3.00)
LP – Josh Colmentor (4-3, 4.23)

PHILADELPHIA — The Phillies are in first place in the NL East.

A Ryan Howard RBI single drove in the winning run in the bottom of the 9th, giving the Phillies a comeback 5-4 walk-off win.

Juan Pierre led off the 9th inning with a single and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. Laynce Nix pinch-hit, dropping a single in front of right fielder Justin Upton to put runners on the corners.

After walking Chase Utley to load the bases, Howard ripped a line drive into right to win the game.

Phillies Get A Huge Start Out of Blanton to Beat Dodgers

Phillies 3, Dodgers 2
WP – Joe Blanton (8-8, 4.79)
LP – Nathan Eovaldi (1-6, 4.33)
SV – Jonathan Papelbon (20)

LOS ANGELES — If the Phillies want to make a comeback on a season that appears to be lost, it’ll have to continue through Hollywood.

Joe Blanton got the Phils off to a great start, shutting down the Dodgers for eight innings in their 3-2 win Monday night. It was the third straight win for the Phillies.

Blanton was throwing his best stuff at the Dodgers, pitching eight brilliant innings. He allowed two run on six hits while striking out six for his eighth win of the season.

Series Preview: vs Atlanta Braves

PHI: 37-47, 5th in NL East; ATL: 43-39, 3rd in NL East

When: July 6-8
Where: Citizens Bank Park (Philadelphia, PA)

Probable Pitchers
Friday: Kyle Kendrick (2-8, 5.35) vs Tim Hudson (6-4, 3.87)
Saturday: Joe Blanton (7-7, 4.85) vs Tommy Hanson (9-5, 3.70)
Sunday: Vance Worley (4-5, 3.46) vs Jair Jurrjens (2-2, 5.19)

Broadcast Info
Friday, 7:05, CSN
Saturday, 7:15, FOX
Sunday, 1:35, PHL 17
All Games on 94.1 FM

Ryan Howard Will Be Activated Friday

Excited to be back in Philly tomorrow.

— Ryan Howard (@ryanhoward) July 6, 2012

 

PHILADELPHIA — The Phillies will be getting back their star slugger.

Ryan Howard tweeted that he will be back in Philadelphia tomorrow. General manager Ruben Amaro said Howard will likely start against the Braves Friday night.

It will be the first time all season the line up featured both Howard and Chase Utley in it.

Amaro: Ryan Howard Could Return to Phils By Weekend

PHILADELPHIA — Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro was on Daily News Live earlier today and he talked about a few things.

The one thing that stood out the most was the status of Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard. Howard, who is with AAA Lehigh and starting at first base tonight, could return to the Phillies by the weekend.

Manager Charlie Manuel commented that after tonight’s game, Howard’s healing Achilles will be re-evaluated and he could potential rejoin the Phillies.

Amaro didn’t rule out the possibility of it either.

“I guess it’s possible,” Amaro said. “But we’ll see how he feels the next day or so.”

Howard has hit .471 (8-for-17) with a home run, two doubles with nine RBIs while walking three times and striking out three times in six rehab games with Low A Lakewood and Lehigh.

Amaro also commented that Howard has been moving well on his feet and that the left-handed slugger feels that he is ready to return to the Phillies.

Howard Looks Good In First Rehab Start

Phillies 1B Ryan Howard rehabbing in Lakewood on Thursday, June 28. (Rudy C. Jones/MiLB.com)

LAKEWOOD, NJ — Lost in the excitement of Chase Utley’s return in a Phillies uniform is the first big step taken by the Big Piece in Lakewood.

Ryan Howard was good in his first start with the Single-A BlueClaws, driving in three runs in their 7-6 win over West Virginia.

Howard went 2-for-4, driving in three-runs as the designated hitter. Howard’s biggest at-bat came in the 9th inning for Lakewood, who rallied from a 6-0 hole to win.

With the bases loaded, Howard hit a towering fly ball that was deep enough to score the run from third and pull the BlueClaws within one. Next hitter, hot-hitting Chris Duffy, ripped a two-run single that won the game for Lakewood.

“My focus was to get one run home and let ‘Big Duff’ take care of the rest,” Howard said. “I told him before he even went up there, I said, ‘Hey, be ready to win this game, man.’ I just went up there and did my thing, and he came through.”

Howard and Duffy drove in all seven of Lakewood’s runs.

Howard Begins Rehab Tonight

Phillies 1B Ryan Howard. (Yong Kim/Inquirer Staff)

The good news keeps rolling in on the injury front for the Phillies.

A day after Chase Utley’s triumphant return in which he homered and went 3-for-5, Ryan Howard will begin an official rehab assignment with low Single-A Lakewood. He will be the designated hitter.

With Howard beginning an official rehab, he will be back in a Phillies uniform no later than July 18, which is just after the All-Star Break.

Beautifully written by Bob Brookover:

Ryan Howard said he might not be 100 percent at any point this season.

He promised, however, to give 100 percent of 85 percent at all times when he returns to the Phillies lineup.

That is indeed better than what the Phillies have in their line up, with the exception of a red-hot Carlos Ruiz. It is also better than the five different players to play first base this season: