Aaron Cook Makes Fourth Start Of Spring As Phillies Host Pirates

Photo: Philliedelphia/Frank Klose.

Cliff Lee and the Phillies fell to the Yankees last night, 6-2. Cliff was hit pretty hard pretty early in last night's affair, allowing five runs (two of which were earned) over 2 2/3 innings. The victim and to sloppy defense as well as a contributor, Lee and the Phillies tallied five errors all night. It seemed that Cliff was struggling with his command and the strikes he was throwing were getting hit. It's not the kind of start that you would want to have following Roy Halladay's disasterous start Tuesday afternoon.

Today, Aaron Cook (0-0, 3.38 ERA) will make his fourth start of the spring as he and the Fightins take on the Pittsburgh Pirates. In Cook's last appearance, a two-inning outing against Tampa Bay on Friday, the right-hander allowed just one hit and a walk while striking out one. His last start came five days prior, against the Blue Jays. In that start, Cook was tagged for four runs (three earned) on seven hits over four innings. Cook surrendered a home run while striking out one.

Opposing Cook and the Phils will be Kyle McPherson (0-1, 9.39 ERA). The 25-year-old right-hander is making his fourth start of the spring, and his first ever against the Phillies. In his last outing, a losing effort against Baltimore on Friday, McPherson was tagged for four earned runs on six hits over three innings of work. Despite McPherson struggling with his control as he hit a batter, he still managed to strike out three. McPherson has allowed eight earned runs in 5 2/3 innings between his past two starts. 

Game Notes: 

• Chase Utley will be playing in his third straight game for the first time this spring.
• Roy Halladay threw a bullpen session this morning and seemed to be working on a lot of mechanics.
• Freddy Galvis (.310/.548/.889) will lead off in today's lineup.

Phillies Lineup:

1. Freddy Galvis SS
2. Michael Young 3B
3. Chase Utley 2B
4. Ryan Howard 1B
5. Domonic Brown RF
6. Darin Ruf DH
7. Laynce Nix LF
8. Erik Kratz C
9. Ender Inciarte CF

Aaron Cook will start today's game.

Pirates Lineup:

1. Alex Presley LF
2. Jose Tabata RF
3. Andrew McCutchen CF
4. Brad Hawpe 1B
5. Neil Walker 2B
6. Brandon Inge 3B
7. Clint Barmes SS
8. Michael McKenry C
9. Kyle McPherson P

Kyle McPherson will start today's game.

TV: The Comcast Network, MLBNetwork (Delayed)
Radio:  None

Erik Seybold is a writer for Philliedelphia. Follow him on Twitter @ErikSeyboldPHI.