Tough month continues for Williams

DENVER -- The end of May cannot come fast enough for Phillies right-hander Jerome Williams.

Williams allowed five runs in five innings in Thursday's 7-3 loss to the Rockies at Coors Field. Williams is 1-3 with a 7.03 ERA in five starts this month, which is the sixth-highest ERA in baseball in May among pitchers with four or more starts.

Williams has not pitched more than five innings in any of those starts.

"I'd say pitching behind in the count," Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg said about Williams' month-long struggles. "Not working ahead. Trying to be too fine on the corners and falling behind. That's resulted in some walks and also some good hitting counts for the hitters."

Williams is 3-4 with a 5.44 ERA overall, which is the 11th-highest ERA in baseball.

"I don't know," Williams said about his struggles. "I think I was making some quality pitches. Kind of just trying to find the strike zone. If I was behind in the count, I'm trying to do my job, you know? Trying to get back in the count. I think I had three walks today. That's unacceptable."

Williams had walked nine batters in 43 innings before walking three Thursday.

The Phillies took a 1-0 lead in the third inning when two of Williams' walks contributed to three runs in the bottom half of the inning to hand the Rockies a 3-1 lead. The inning started when Williams hit Charlie Blackmon with a 2-2 pitch.

"That kind of hurt, hurt real bad," Williams said. "Just trying to make some quality pitches down in the zone and I walked a couple guys. I tried to limit the damage right there. I've just got to get better at that and find the zone like I normally do."

The Phillies tied the game in the fifth when Chase Utley tripled and scored on Darin Ruf's sacrifice fly to right field, and Ryan Howard homered to left field. But Williams allowed a two-run home run to Michael McKenry to make it 5-3.

"I think I threw a good pitch there," Williams said. "I don't know what else to say."