Philadelphia Phillies

“You don’t want to lose every time you come to the ballpark. I believe in this team, that we can win some games. Hopefully I can win one game before the season is over.” Marlins right-hander Edinson Volquez after falling to 0-7 in his first nine starts of the season. He got his first win Monday.

As they go through their rebuilding process, the Phillies weren’t ready to spend big money on the free agent market last winter. They did commit $9 million to outfielder Michael Saun

ders, hoping he could provide offense and help the team’s young hitters.

But in contrast to last year, when a strong first half made him an All-Star for the first time in his career, 30-year-old Saunders has struggled in his first two months with the Phillies. When a 0-for-13 slide dropped his average to .227 and his on-base percentage to .273, Saunders found himself out of the lineup for a day.

“It’s not a punishment, but at this level you have to produce,” manager Pete Mackanin said. “If you want to play, you have to hit.”

The Phillies also committed $10 million to Howie Kendrick, acquired in a trade with the Los Angeles Dodgers, but he played in 10 games before going on the disabled list because of a strained muscle in his side. He began a rehab assignment May 24. They got even less out of Clay

Buchholz, acquired from the Boston Red Sox with a $13.5 mil- lion contract (though the Red Sox are paying some of it). He’s out for the season after shoulder surgery.

uThe Phillies lost 17 of their first 21 games in May, and their 15-29 record was the franchise’s worst 44-game start since 1961.