=== Philadelphia Phillies Team Report - August 18 ===

(My Sportsbook) - The Philadelphia Phillies head to four cities for their longest road trip of the season, 13 games in 13 days, that will take them through the end of August. It's all part of a 27-game stretch in 27 days and it begins Tuesday night with the opener of a three- game series against the Milwaukee Brewers.

Heading into Tuesday's action, the Phillies, winners of five straight games, hold a half-game lead on the Florida Marlins for the NL wild card spot.

The Phillies are coming off a three-game sweep of the St. Louis Cardinals, including a 6-4 victory Sunday night. Jim Thome and Pat Burrell each hit two- run homers in the third inning. Thome has homered five times in his last five games.

Amaury Telemaco threw seven impressive innings, retiring the final 14 batters he faced. He allowed just two runs on four hits, struck out seven without walking a batter. The 29-year-old righthander picked up his first major league win since June 6, 2001, when he threw a complete game against the Mets.

Rightfielder Bobby Abreu finished the six-game homestand by going 11-for-23.

Reliever Dan Plesac has not been scored upon in his last 25 games, a span of 17 innings.

Centerfielder Marlon Byrd is in a 4-for-41 slump over his last 10 games.

Kevin Millwood will pitch Tuesday night for the Phillies. The righthander is 2-1 over his last four outings and is coming off a victory over the Brewers last Wednesday, when he surrendered six hits and three runs in seven innings.

Millwood is 4-3 with a 5.23 ERA in 11 career games against the Brewers.

The Phillies have dropped eight of their last 10 games on the road and are 30-28 outside Veterans Stadium this season.