Philadelphia — Chuck James probably pitched himself out of the Braves' starting rotation with his poor performance Thursday night, but today that's not even his main concern.

"I've just got learn how to pitch again," said James, who gave up five runs and three homers in four innings of the Braves' 5-0 loss to the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park.

H. RUMPH, JR./AP (ENLARGE)

Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Cole Hamels shutout the Braves.

H. Rumph Jr/AP (ENLARGE)

And Ryan Howard homered.

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"There's a reason why my pitch location is bad, and that's what I'm trying to figure out. I have no idea. It feels like it's the first time I've ever thrown."

Left-hander Cole Hamels tossed a four-hit shutout against a Braves lineup without injured major-league hitting leader Chipper Jones, and Hamels (5-3) was every bit as good as James (six hits, five walks, no strikeouts) was bad.

"Chuck did not have his best command and location and stuff tonight, by any means," said manager Bobby Cox, whose Braves finished another disappointing 2-5 trip to drop their majors-worst road record to 6-16.

James (2-3, 8.22 ERA) won 11 games each of the past two seasons, but he sounds as if his confidence is shattered and he doesn't know how to begin getting his career back in order.

"It's like I'm starting to get on the right track, and then I take three steps back," said James, who was diagnosed with a partial rotator cuff in October but said the shoulder has felt fine since spring training.

The same can't be said for his status on the 25-man roster.

When asked if James would stay in the rotation, Cox said, "We'll see." For the ever-supportive Cox to say that immediately after a game seemed a strong indication that James would be dropped from the rotation.

"They've about got to, I would think," said James, who has allowed 16 hits, 13 runs, 14 walks and five homers in 15 innings over his past three starts.

Jeff Bennett could replace him, unless the Braves change their thinking about prospect Charlie Morton. They've indicated a preference to let Morton stay at Class AAA Richmond a bit longer before bringing him to the big leagues.

James has been back and forth between Richmond and Atlanta three times already this season, and he knows he could be going back. He felt terrible about his second loss on the trip and about taxing the bullpen with another early exit.

"It's tough when you come up and can't help the team do anything," said James, who gave up a Pedro Feliz homer in the second inning, a Ryan Howard homer in the third, and a Shane Victorino two-run homer in the fourth.

He didn't need surgery to repair his rotator-cuff tear, but was told to rest his arm all winter. He was brought along slowly at spring training, where he was anxious to get started because his arm felt so good in early workouts.

Although he pitched well in limited work at Richmond, James has been rocked for five or more runs in three of his five major-league starts, continuing the slide that began last summer.

Since July 31 he has posted a 6.78 ERA in 14 starts, with 22 homers and 25 walks allowed in 67 2/3 innings. In that stretch he has had only two quality starts of six innings or more with three earned runs or fewer.

He's 0-2 with an 8.24 ERA and 11 homers allowed in his past seven road starts.

"He didn't know where the ball was going with some pitches tonight," Cox said. "You better hit your spots here [at hitter-friendly Citizens Bank Park].

"It's something right now [in his delivery]. He's getting his changeup in the middle of the plate too often. He was trying to adjust, and this is a tough place to adjust. Small yard."

James has allowed seven homers in 13 2/3 innings in his past three starts at Philadelphia.

Meanwhile, young Hamels has certainly learned to pitch at the ballpark. Relying on his excellent changeup and accurate fastballs, Hamels struck out six, walked two, and improved to 10-3 with a 2.63 ERA in his past 15 home starts.