D. Young rediscovers hitting stroke on road trip

PHILADELPHIA -- When the Phillies kicked off a 10-game road trip 11 days ago, Delmon Young was hitting .220. As the team returned home Friday, the right fielder owned a .273 average.

Young hit .486 (17-for-37) with one home run and nine RBIs in his last nine games. Young had just 31 hits in his first 44 games with the Phillies, but manager Charlie Manuel was patient with him, and it paid off on the trip.

"I knew that if he found his swing and started hitting the ball consistently, he could put up some numbers," Manuel said. "Delmon Young, if he can become the player we think he can, the second half of the season, he'll have some chances to knock in some runs."

The highlight of Young's recent streak came in a 16-1 win against the Dodgers last Friday. Young collected three hits and drove in a career-high six runs. He's had three or more hits in three of his last nine games.