Ryan Howard Injury Update: Phillies 1B To Return Friday

Ryan Howard will return to the Philadelphia Phillies on Friday and is expected to be activated for the series opener against the Atlanta Braves once he is approved by a team doctor. The first baseman announced the news from his Twitter account.

Excited to be back in Philly tomorrow.

— Ryan Howard (@ryanhoward) July 6, 2012

Howard has missed the entire 2012 season so far after rupturing Achilles tendon last season. He has been on a rehab assignment with Triple-A Lehigh Valley, going 8-for-17 with a home run, a double, three walks and three strikeouts.

After his final game of rehab with Lehigh Valley, Howard said that he felt he was ready to return.

"I'm Major League ready," Howard said. "I've been there already, but being back up there to play -- I feel like it's pretty close."

Stick with this StoryStream for updates and news on Ryan Howard. For all things Phillies, check out The Good Phight.

Phillies Vs. Mets Final Score: Philadelphia Loses 6-5 Off David Wright Walkoff Single

David Wright hit a walkoff single to right field off Jonathan Papelbon (2-3) to give the New York Mets a 6-5 win over the Philadelphia Phillies in Game 3 of the three-game series at Citi Field on Thursday night. Papelbon earned the loss and his second blown save of the season after giving three hits and a walk for two earned runs in the ninth inning.

The Mets came into the bottom of the ninth down 5-4. Ike Davis led off the inning with a double, but the Phillies seemed to be in decent shape after Papelbon retired Josh Thole on a sacrifice to third, and struck out Kirk Nieuwenhuis. He proceeded to walk the bases loaded, however. Jordany Valdespin advanced on a hit-by-pitch before stealing second. Ruben Tejada worked the at-bat to 3-2 before taking first base.

Daniel Murphy batted in the tying run on an infield single to Papelbon, who struggled to corral the ball as Murphy legged it out along the first-base path and Ronny Cedeno crossed home plate. Then Wright made his way to the plate to notch his eighth career walkoff and finish his night 3-for-5.

Cole Hamels pitched seven innings, giving up four earned runs off seven hits and a walk while striking out seven. His numbers would have been fine, if not for the two home runs he relinquished. Scott Hairston put the Mets on the board with a solo shot in the second inning. Wright hit a two run blast to left in the fifth to give the Mets their first lead of the night.

The loss spoiled a spectacular night at the plate for Jimmy Rollins. The shortstop went 3-for-3 with two walks, and fell a home run short of hitting for the cycle. His sixth inning triple scored Cole Hamels, tying the game at 4-4. He ran in another run on the next at-bat off a Juan Pierre sacrifice to the pitcher, giving the Phillies a 5-4 lead.

R.A. Dickey struggled for the Mets. He gave up five earned runs off 11 hits and a walk while striking out seven in seven innings. The Phillies went just 4-for-13 with runners in scoring position, however, making things easier on New York's All-Star pitcher.

Stick with this StoryStream for updates and news on Ryan Howard. For all things Phillies, check out The Good Phight.

Ryan Howard Injury Update: Phillies 1B Could Possibly Return This Weekend, Says GM Ruben Amaro

Philadelphia Phillies Injured first baseman Ryan Howard could make a return to the lineup this weekend, according to general manager Ruben Amaro.

When asked if Howard could return this wekeend, Amaro said, "It's a possibility. I don't know that it's going to happen, but it's certainly a possibility." (via CSN Philly)

Howard has been on a rehab assignment with Triple-A Lehigh Valley. Between all of his rehab outings, Howard is 8-17 with a home run, a double, three walks and three strikeouts in six games. Howard has missed the entire 2012 MLB season while recovering from a ruptured Achilles at the end of last season.

Amaro said about Howard's mobility since the injury, "He's not a speedster and he'll probably be a little slower than he was before. He's moving OK. He's had a tiny hitch in his giddy-up I guess, but when he's running full speed he looks pretty smooth."

Stick with this StoryStream for updates and news on Ryan Howard. For all things Phillies, check out The Good Phight.

Phillies Vs. Mets Preview: Can Philadelphia Get Around R.A. Dickey?

The Philadelphia Phillies wrap up a three-game set with the New York Mets on Thursday night. Cliff Lee picked up his first win of the season on Wednesday to tie the series at one game apiece. A win on Thursday would give Philadelphia the series with one series left to go before the All-Star break.

On the mound for Philadelphia is Cole Hamels, whose name has been a hot topic on the rumor mill. The left-hander owns a 10-4 record with a 3.08 ERA this season and is striking out exactly one batter per inning, with 111 strikeouts and 111 innings pitched.

Opposing Hamels is none other than R.A. Dickey, easily an early Cy Young favorite and likely All-Star starter. The man who put the knuckleball back on the map has won eight of his last 10 starts, including his last outing, eight shutout innings against the Dodgers.

The starts at 7:10 p.m. at Citi Field and can be seen locally on CSN.

For more on the Phillies, please be sure to check out our blog The Good Phight and SB Nation Philly for all the latest news and updates.

Phillies Vs. Mets Final Score: Cliff Lee Gets First Victory Of 2012 As Philadelphia Wins, 9-2

The Philadelphia Phillies defeated the New York Mets, 9-2, on Wednesday at Citi Field. The Phillies bounced back from an 11-1 loss in the opening game of the three-game set on Tuesday.

Cliff Lee finally picked up his first win of the 2012 season on July 4. In eight innings of work, Lee gave up seven hits but only two earned runs and one walk. Lee also struck out nine batters. Jonathan Papelbon closed out the ninth inning with nine pitches, allowing no hits. Chris Young took the loss for the Mets after going seven innings and giving up five hits and three earned runs. The Phillies hammered the Mets' bullpen for six runs over the final two innings.

The Mets led 2-0 through five innings on a solo shot by Scott Hairston and an RBI single from David Wright. The Phillies answered with three runs in the seventh on back-to-back home runs. Chase Utley hit a two run shot before Carlos Ruiz followed it up with a solo homer. Jimmy Rollins started the scoring in the eighth with a ground rule double. Carlos Ruiz scored Rollins with an RBI single. Hunter Pence's infield single scored Ty Wigginton. In the ninth inning, Rollins drove in another run by grounding into a fielder's choice. Wiggnton's two-run shot finished the scoring.

The Phillies will be looking to build on the momentum of Lee's first win on Thursday when they finish their three games at Citi Field with the Mets at 7:10 p.m.

For more on the Phillies, please be sure to check out our blog The Good Phight and SB Nation Philly for all the latest news and updates.

Phillies Vs. Mets: Game Time, TV Schedule And More

The Philadelphia Phillies need to turn things around in a rapid fashion. After being blown out by the New York Mets on Tuesday night 11-1, Charlie Manuel's club has to rebound with authority.

Bizarre could be one adjective to describe this year for the Phillies, and definitely for their starting pitcher today, Cliff Lee. One of the best hurlers in the league, Lee is still amazingly without a win on the campaign.

Lee has made 13 starts and while his ERA is average at 4.13, it's an absolute stunner to still see a goose egg in his win column. The lefty has pitched three times against the Mets in 2012, with the Phillies going 1-2. However, the last time Philadelphia won in a game started by Lee was on May 30, when it defeated New York.

On the other side, Chris Young will toe the rubber for the Mets. Young has been excellent for the Amazins' thus far, sporting a 2-1 record with a 3.30 ERA. At 6-foot-11, Young appears to throw harder than he actually does (his fastball tops out in the mid-80's) because of his long arm and high release point.

The Phillies will need to figure Young out and perhaps get Lee his first win of the year if they want to avoid losing another series.

TV: CSN

Time: 1:10 p.m. ET

For more on the Phillies, please be sure to check out our blog The Good Phight and SB Nation Philly for all the latest news and updates.

Phillies Vs. Mets Final Score: Philadelphia Falls, 11-1, In Series Opener Tuesday

The Philadelphia Phillies fell 11-1 to the New York Mets on Tuesday night in the opening game of the three game series at Citi Field. The Phillies were lit up on the mound. In just four innings, Vance Worley (4-5) gave up six earned runs off 10 hits with one walk and three strikeouts. The Mets' Jonathon Niese (7-3) pitched a gem, giving up just one earned run and three hits in eight innings of work.

The Phillies' offense started and ended with Carlos Ruiz' solo home run to left center in the second inning. The blast, Ruiz' 12th of the season, tied the game at 1-1 momentarily. Then the Mets' hit parade began.

Daniel Murphy went 4-for-5 at the plate with four RBIs. It was his second four-hit game of the season. Ruben Tejada and Josh Thole had three hits each. David Wright went just 1-for-5, but he blasted a three-run home run in the sixth inning to give the Mets a 9-1 lead. The homer came on a 3-2 pitch with two outs on Brian Sanches' first batter faced in relief of Raul Valdes.

Game 2 of the series is set for 1:10 p.m. ET on Wednesday. Cliff Lee (0-5, 4.31 ERA) will go for his first win of the season against the Mets' Chris Young (2-1, 3.30).

For more on the Phillies, please be sure to check out our blog The Good Phight and SB Nation Philly for all the latest news and updates.

Roy Halladay Injury Update: Phillies Pitcher Throws Extended Bullpen Session

Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Roy Halladay continues to progress in his recovery. He threw 56 pitches during an extended bullpen session on Tuesday. Halladay also stopped and started to simulate game rest in between innings during the session.

Phillies pitching coach Rich Dubee agrees with Halladay's own assessment that he could return shortly after the MLB All-Star break. Dubee said about Halladay's ability after a return, "I don't know where he'll be when he gets back. I hope he's close to what he used to be, yeah. But the signs are leading that he's doing very well." (via Philly.com)

Halladay has been out since he left a start against the St. Louis Cardinals on May 27 with a latissimus dorsi strain. Halladay is 4-5 with a 3.98 ERA this season.

For more on the Phillies, please be sure to check out our blog The Good Phight and SB Nation Philly for all the latest news and updates.

Phillies Vs. Mets Preview: Philadelphia Opens 3-Game Set In New York