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Phils getting runners on, not knocking them in

PHILADELPHIA -- The Phillies entered Saturday's game against Kansas City with 30 runners left on base, which ranked ninth in baseball. They ranked 12th with 12 runners left in scoring position.

Bad sign: They aren't knocking those runners in. They are hitting .200 with runners in scoring position, which is 20th in baseball.

Good sign: They are getting runners on, which is the first step. Their .311 on-base percentage is 12th in baseball and sixth in the National League.

"Sooner or later, we will [knock them in]," Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said. "I don't want to go out here every day and leave guys on base. There are times when we will definitely address it. But also, that's part of the game. They have to be out there for us to knock them in. So being out there for us is the first thing. Now the second thing is to knock them in. It will come and go. When you are playing real good, you will knock them in. When things aren't going so good, more likely than not you will be leaving them out there."

Todd Zolecki is a reporter for MLB.com.
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