Marlins-Phillies start baseball's 2nd half

MIAMI, July 15 (UPI) -- Philadelphia reached the All-Star break as baseball's hottest team and the Phillies will try to remain so when play resumes Thursday.

The second half of the season commences with eight games scheduled and the spotlight will be on the Phillies, who are hoping to win their third straight division crown and their second straight World Series title.

Philadelphia returns to the field having won five straight games, the longest current winning streak in the majors. Thanks to its recent run of success, Philadelphia leads second-place Florida by four games in the National League East. The Marlins will host the Phillies in Thursday's highlight attraction.

Only two other division leaders will get back to work Thursday.

The Los Angeles Dodgers, owners of baseball's best record at 56-32 and holders of a seven-game lead in the National League West, will be at home against Houston.

The Los Angeles Angels, 1 1/2 games in front of Texas in the American League West, will be at Oakland.

Other games kicking off the second half of the season find the Chicago Cubs at Washington, the New York Mets at Atlanta, Milwaukee at Cincinnati, Colorado at San Diego and Seattle at Cleveland.

Division leaders Boston, Detroit and St. Louis will not return to action until Friday. Boston leads the AL East by three games over the New York Yankees, Detroit is in front of the Chicago White Sox by 3 1/2 in the AL Central and St. Louis has a 2 1/2-game edge over Milwaukee in the NL Central.