Hot Howard Can't Carry Phillies In 8-4 Loss

Ryan Howard continued his torrid spring tear, but the Phillies lost to the Reds, 8-4, in Clearwater.

The big man hit his fourth Grapefruit League home run as part of a 2-for-3 day. Jason Donald had a three-hit day, raising his Grapefruit average to .320. Geoff Jenkins added a homer, his second of spring play.

Cole Hamels made his second start of the spring, giving up two runs in 2.2 innings. He also recorded his first strikeouts of the spring — three total. Andrew Carpenter pitched a productive 2.1 innings, giving up a run. Justin Lehr was saddled with the lion’s share of runs, giving up four in his frame.

In good news, Chris Coste got an at bat. He went 0-for-1 in his first spring action. Todd Zolecki is reporting he, Brad Lidge, Pedro Feliz and Chad Durbin could all see significant action as early as Wednesday.

Tim Malcolm

Tim first found the Phillies as a little infant at Veteran’s Stadium, cheering on a Juan Samuel game-winning home run in his very first game. With the pinstripes in his blood, he witnessed Terry Mulholland’s 1990 no-hitter, “Steve Carlton Night” at the Vet, game three of the 1993 World Series, countless games during the charmed 2008 championship season and various road excursions. Since November 2007 Tim’s been writing about them daily at Phillies Nation, becoming one of the world’s most popular Phillies scribes. You can catch him on Twitter and Facebook, as well. When he’s not talking about the Phils he’s relaxing with a St. Bernardus ABT 12 or one of his many favored brews.