DENVER - Tommy Joseph entered July battling the first slump of his major-league career. He had just eight hits in his first 70 at-bats since manager Pete Mackanin named him the starting first baseman. It was quite a funk, Joseph said.
But the rookie appears to be showing signs of leaving his funk behind in the first half as the Phillies near the all-star break. He hit a pinch-hit, go-ahead homer in Friday's 5-3 win over the Colorado Rockies and has six hits in his last 12 at-bats. He batted fourth and played first base on Saturday in the third game of the series.