The way they lost today was tough, but the reality is, the Phillies just finished a 9 game road trip against three good teams at 5-4. If you asked people if they would be happy with 5-4 before it started, everyone would've said yes. They gained a game on Florida, which is what it's all about.
The other reality is things don't get easier. They'll be back home for six games, but it's against two of the best teams in the AL in Boston and Anaheim. Boston isn't particularly good on the road, but they've owned the Phillies in recent years. Anaheim is very good on the road, and they have a very good staff. These two teams are tough, so I think we should be satisfied if they take three.
After that, the Phillies will wind down their interleague schedule by heading out west for Oakland and Texas. Texas is currently a game under .500, so these six games won't be any easier. They can hit the ball, and the Phillies should get in three slugfests with them. At 37-31, the A's present their own challenges.
To start off July, the Phillies will play three more games in Atlanta, and even though they swept the last meeting, you can count on a tough stretch. This brings them home to a ten game homestand to close out the first half. St. Louis and Arizona have good records, and you can throw away records when the Phillies meet the Mets.
This is obviously a tough stretch of games. It might be frustrating for fans when they're not winning 2 of 3 every time and putting up pretty winning percentages, but these aren't easy games and series to win. The Phillies just need to hold their ground for now and make their move in August and September.
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