CLEARWATER, Fla. (AP) -Joe Blanton bases his progress in spring training on more than just the scoreline.

Blanton gave up gave up two runs on five hits in 4 2-3 innings of the Philadelphia Phillies' 6-5 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday, but was pleased with the outing.

``I look at spring training, personally, on trying to get your routine down, in between starts, on working out, to where you're feeling good on the day you pitch, where you're not tired but you're getting plenty of work in,' Blanton said. ``I don't expect to come out the first day of spring training and be completely ready. But if I make gradual progressions, I've had a successful spring.'

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After Brian Bixler hit a one-out RBI single to put the Pirates up 2-0 in the second, Blanton retired 10 of the next 11 batters he faced.

``Joe was very good,' said Phillies pitching coach Rich Dubee, who filled in for Charlie Manuel in the postgame press conference. ``His first two innings were so-so but his last three I thought he threw the ball exceptionally well. He's fun to watch. He pitches with great tempo, pounds the strike zone and he used all his pitches today.'

But the World Series champion Phillies fell to 4-9 this spring after rallying from a 3-0 deficit. Jeff Salazar hit a three-run homer off Blaine Neal with on out in the top of the ninth inning to hand Philadelphia its fifth straight loss.

Dubee wasn't bothered by the record.

``What were we last year, 11-18?' Dubee said. ``We haven't been good the last four years. I don't like losing, but I think Charlie would say, we're going about it the right way and we're building momentum for Opening Day, that's what we're looking for.'

Trailing 3-0, the Phillies scored five times in the bottom of the sixth to take control of the game. Ryan Howard hit his fifth home run of the spring - a three-run line drive off Daniel McCutchen - to fuel the rally.

While the late-inning bullpen faltered, Reliever Ryan Madson, who signed a three-year, $12 million contract extension two months ago, struck out three of the four batters he faced in a scoreless seventh inning.