The Phillies bats woke up for Sunday's and Monday's games against the Miami Marlins and Atlanta Braves. However, the bats went absolutely silent on Wednesday night, as the Phillies were shut out 9-0. Braves starter Shelby Miller needed just 99 pitches (or 11 pitches an inning) to get all 27 outs himself.
Chad Billingsley got knocked around a little bit in his return, giving up six runs (five earned) in five innings of work. A missed double play by third baseman Cody Asche could have limited the bleeding, but Billingsley hung in there after a four-run fourth inning and pitched a scoreless fifth inning before departing with 77 total pitches.
Starting Pitching Matchup:
| Philadelphia Phillies | Atlanta Braves | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RHP | Jerome Williams | RHP | Mike Foltynewich | ||
| (2-1, 4.08 ERA) | (1-0, 3.60 ERA) | ||||
Jerome Williams makes his fifth start for the Phillies today. Williams has been about what a fifth starter is supposed to be in the early going. Aside from his lone loss to the New York Mets, Williams has mostly kept the Phillies in games. Williams has gone five innings or more in every start, allowing more than three runs only once.
On the hill for the Braves is starter Mike Foltynewich. Foltynewich came over to the Braves this past offseason as part of the trade for catcher/outfielder Evan Gattis. Foltynewich appeared in 16 games with the Houston Astros last season in relief, but the Braves ranked Foltynewich as their number two prospect in their system.
Foltynewich began 2015 at AAA Gwinnett, and was recalled to start May 1 against the Cincinnati Reds. Foltynewich went five innings against Cincinnati, allowing two earned runs and earning himself the win. Foltynewich was 0-3 at AAA Gwinnett with a 2.08 before being recalled.
Starting Lineups:
| Philadelphia Phillies (10-17) | Atlanta Braves (12-14) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Player | Bats | Position | Player | Bats | ||
| 1 | RF | Ben Revere | L | 1 | RF | Nick Markakis | L |
| 2 | SS | Freddy Galvis | S | 2 | SS | Andrelton Simmons | R |
| 3 | 3B | Cody Asche | L | 3 | 1B | Freddie Freeman | L |
| 4 | 1B | Ryan Howard | L | 4 | LF | Kelly Johnson | L |
| 5 | LF | Darin Ruf | R | 5 | 3B | Alberto Callaspo | R |
| 6 | CF | Odubel Herrera | L | 6 | C | Christian Bethancourt | R |
| 7 | 2B | Cesar Hernandez | S | 7 | 2B | Jace Peterson | L |
| 8 | C | Cameron Rupp | R | 8 | CF | Cameron Maybin | R |
| 9 | P | Jerome Williams | R | 9 | P | Mike Foltynewich | R |
The Phillies lineup will be without second baseman Chase Utley once again. With the day off tomorrow, Utley will have three days to clear his head, and hopefully begin to hit once again. Cesar Hernandez will make his fourth start in a row, his second in a row at second base. Hernandez continues to reach base. Last night Hernandez had one of the Phillies' three hits and walk.
The Phillies lineup will be the same, minus the substitution of backup catcher Cameron Rupp for Carlos Ruiz. Ruiz was hitless last night, but the Phillies simply may wish to give the aging Ruiz an extended break, with the day off tomorrow.
The Braves lineup will have a different look to it tonight. A.J. Pierzynski, who served as cleanup hitter for the first two games of the series, will have the day off in favor of Christian Bethancourt. Bethancourt was to be the Braves starting catcher in 2015, but the Braves' declining offense has had manager Fredi Gonzalez pencil the veteran Pierzynski into the lineup a little more frequently.
Kelly Johnson, who played last night at third base, will move to left field. Alberto Callaspo will man third base tonight. Johnson and Callaspo have been filling in for the injured Chris Johnson. Outside of the middle of the lineup, the rest of the lineup will remain the same.
Broadcast Information:
- First-pitch: 7:10 pm EST
- TV: CSN
- Radio: 94 WIP, 1210 WPHT, SBP 1480 (Sp.)
What's Next:
The Phillies will take Thursday off before heading back home to Citizens Bank Park to face the Mets for three. The Phillies will likely pitch and Cole Hamels, Aaron Harang, and Chad Billingsley, with Jerome Williams pitching on Monday against Pittsburgh. The Phillies have yet to specify the rotation, but Sean O'Sullivan could return to pitch Tuesday.
Frank Klose is founder of Philliedelphia.com. Follow him on Twitter at @Philliedelphia
