Blanton gives up two-run homer to Church

BRADENTON, Fla. (AP) - March 6, 2010

Hart was scheduled to pitch two innings, but left the game after tossing 38 pitches in the top of the first inning. The right-hander gave up two runs on one hit and four walks.

"I didn't really command the ball, didn't make the adjustments," Hart said. "I got my pitch count up and was out of there."

Hart's control was erratic. Many of his pitches to left-handed sluggers Ryan Howard and Chase Utley sailed high and several inches outside the strike zone.

"Those guys put together some good at-bats, considering I wasn't locating stuff," Hart said. "They made me work and throw a lot of pitches. It's good to face a lineup like that right away."

Dewayne Wise led off the game with a triple to center and scored on a wild pitch. Hart then walked the bases loaded, but the Phillies got just one run out of it when Raul Ibanez grounded into a double play.

Phillies right-hander Joe Blanton gave up three runs on four hits in the first inning. Jeff Clement had a run-scoring double and Church hit a two-run homer, his first of the spring.

Blanton wasn't surprised the Pirates made a lot of contact. He's working on pitch placement, starting the ball over the plate and working outward.

"If I'm trying to hit corners right out of the gate, I'm way over here and over there and I have a lot more adjustments to make," Blanton said. "I want results in the season. I'd rather have a good ERA in the season than a good ERA in spring training."

Notes: Phillies reliever J.C. Romero, recovering from elbow surgery, threw a bullpen session Saturday. ... Phillies center fielder Shane Victorino (shoulder) did not make the trip, and has yet to play in a spring training game. ... Pirates infielder Ramon Vazquez, who had offseason knee surgery, played in his first game this spring. Vazquez started at second base and made a great diving stop of Raul Ibanez's hard grounder in the first inning. ... Pirates outfielder Andrew McCutchen's mother, Petrina, sang the national anthem before the game.

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