Perhaps it's a little too early to forgive Adam Eaton for a forgettable 2007 season.

But the Phillies right-hander has made pretty big strides of late. Granted three starts is small in the grand scheme of a full season, but Eaton has done more than keep his team in games lately.

For the most part, that's all you can hope to ask of Phillies pitchers -- with this offense, just keep you in the game. That's all.

Kyle Kendrick and Jamie Moyer are poster children (okay, Moyer can't be in the same sentence as "children") for that approach. Give up 4 or 5 runs, we'll score 6 or 7 and win the game.

If Adam Eaton just went out and did that, everyone would be thrilled inside Citizens Bank Park.

But Eaton has been better than that -- in his last two starts, he's helped WIN the Phillies games.

Take tonight: Phils can only muster three runs off Reds ace Aaron Harang. No problem - Eaton holds Cincy to one run on three hits in 6-plus innings.

He was pretty much the same pitcher a week ago against Colorado. Eaton held the Rockies to one run on just four hits in six innings.

Two starts ago, he pitched seven innings and gave up three runs in a 4-3 loss to Houston; given the Phillies offense, he was probably deserving of a better fate that day.

Sure three starts is a small sample size... but I also think it takes three starts to say a trend is developing. Eaton is on a hot streak.

Speaking of three start trends, Cole Hamels, who actually has a higher ERA than Eaton since May 1, will look to snap out of a two-game skid and avoid a streak of his own Thursday.

Brett Myers pitches Wednesday.

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The Archive Files

Ken Griffey Jr. comes to town stuck on 599 - and content with his Hall of Fame career.

If you're looking for record-breaking home runs, you should just follow the footsteps of Reds skipper Dusty Baker, the witness to a lot of long ball history, writes Daily Times columnist Jack McCaffery.

Chase Utley collects player of the week honors and then continues his history-making season against the Reds.