Location key for Oswalt, Phillies sluggish at plate

Roy Oswalt had been the lone Phillies’ starter yet to take the mound this spring. Now, all five of baseball’s best rotation have an outing under their belts.

Oswalt allowed a run on two hits and a walk over two innings yesterday in a 6-5 loss to the Orioles. Just like Cliff Lee, the right-hander said he was trying to locate fastballs.

“My biggest thing, my goal every spring training, is to just get your fastball command down first, and then everything works off of that,” Oswalt told reporters.

Cole Hamels is slated to start today’s game against the Boston Red Sox. Oswalt is scheduled to make his regular-season debut April 3 at Citizens Bank Park.

Meanwhile, the Phillies’ offense remains a work in progress. Charlie Manuel started five regulars — Ryan Howard (1-for-3), Raul Ibanez (1-for-3), Jimmy Rollins (0-for-3), Placido Polanco (1-for-2), Shane Victorino (1-for-2) — and they went a combined 4-for-13. John Mayberry started in right field and went 2-for-4 with an RBI. Howard’s double off the wall scored Ibanez in the first inning to give the Phillies a 1-0 lead.