2010 Multi-Ad Reading Phillies #1 Domonic Brown

Braves 6, Phillies 3 (11 Innings)

Game 82 - Tuesday Night, July 6th in Philadelphia

The second half of the Phillies' season started with a lack of offensive punch and a defeat at the hands of the 1st place Braves. Through the first 10 innings, the team managed just 2 hits - a 2-run home run from Raul Ibañez in the 1st and a Ryan Howard triple in the 7th. The next three batters after Howard's triple were retired in order and the team missed yet another opportunity to score. Braves starter Jair Jurrjens and 6 relievers all stifled the offense, which is becoming increasingly easier to do.

Cole Hamels pitched 7 innings, allowing 3 runs on 8 hits while striking out 8. He was cruising to victory before a 7th inning home run to Martin Prado gave the Braves a 3-2 lead. The bullpen managed to wriggle its way out of a few tough spots before the inexperienced David Herndon and Mike Zagurski coughed up 3 unanswered runs in the top of the 11th. Billy Wagner pitched a scoreless bottom of the 11th for his 18th save. The Phils go for the series win tonight.

Bring Him Up: Top prospect Domonic Brown continues to impress at the AAA level. Brown was ranked as the 15th best prospect in baseball by Baseball America prior to the 2010 season. So far this year, in 78 games between AA Reading and AAA Lehigh Valley, Brown is hitting .332 with 19 home runs, 59 RBI and a 1.019 OPS. He's been playing right field this year although he played some center field earlier in his minor league career. Why not call him up? He could rotate around the outfield, spelling all three of the current punchless starters. Todd Zolecki asked GM Ruben Amaro, Jr. the same question recently:

Q: Domonic Brown has only been in Triple-A for 12 games, but has played very well.  Could you see him helping you this season?
A: Could he help us?  Possibly.  But again it's only been 12 games.  You said it yourself.  But he's making a good impression.  The players dictate their progress.  He's dictating it.

At the very least, he'd provide a little bit of needed spark to a line-up (and a team) that has stumbled through the last few months looking like zombies.