Slumping Phillies eager to hit road

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — When the Philadelphia Phillies return from a much-welcomed road trip, they should consider checking into a hotel.

Being home hasn’t been much fun for the defending World Series champions. They’re 13-22 at Citizens Bank Park following a 1-8 homestand that included consecutive three-game sweeps by Toronto and Baltimore.

But the Phillies still lead the NL East because they’re a major league-best 23-9 on the road.

The difference is surprising for a team that went 7-0 at home in the pressure-packed postseason last October. Players are tired of hearing questions about it, and manager Charlie Manuel has no answers.

“We’ve always loved playing at home,” Manuel said. “I don’t see why it should change.”

Some people have suggested that the Phillies play with less intensity in their usually sold-out ballpark because appreciative fans constantly thank them for winning the World Series and ending the city’s 25-year championship drought.

Is it possible that Philly’s notoriously tough fans have turned softer than those fresh-out-of-the-oven pretzels they love to eat?

Consider: When starter Joe Blanton exited Thursday’s game against the Blue Jays with a 5-4 lead and two runners on in the sixth inning, he got such a loud ovation that he tipped his hat to the crowd.

Blanton’s pitching line was hardly spectacular — four runs and nine hits in 51‚Ñ3 innings. He might have been booed off the mound in other years. But fans have given the Phillies a pass so far this season.

There were signs over the weekend that the faithful are finally getting restless. Ryan Madson was booed after blowing a save Saturday night and the slumping Jimmy Rollins heard jeers after each of his four at-bats in Sunday’s 2-1 loss to the Orioles. It took a second straight June swoon — the Phillies went 3-9 in interleague play this time last year — to get the fans complaining.

“It’s getting ridiculous. I haven’t seen a win yet this year,” said Joe Mascarpetti, a partial season-ticket holder. “At the same time, it’s hard to rip them too much because of what they did for us last year and how much it meant for the whole city.”