By Matt Rappa, Sports Talk Philly editor 
PHILADELPHIA — The Philadelphia Phillies (33-61) and veteran RHP Jeremy Hellickson will look for their fourth consecutive victory in the second of the three-game series against LHP Brent Suter and the Milwaukee Brewers (52-47) Saturday evening at Citizens Bank Park.
The Phillies took the series opener, 6-1, behind seven strong innings by RHP Aaron Nola, who matched his career high of nine strikeouts. Shortstop Freddy Galvis provided the Phillies an early 2-0 lead with a first inning home run, his 11th. First baseman Tommy Joseph's two-RBI double in the sixth put the game out of reach, with Nola in a stretch of striking out eight of his last nine batters faced.
In relief, right-hander Pat Neshek picked up his 40th scoreless appearance out of 42 overall, while RHP Hector Neris closed the door in the ninth, en route to the Phillies' 33rd win this season.
The Phillies will go for their 8th series win on Saturday, having gone 7-22-2 in 31 series thus far.
Starting Pitching Matchup:
| Milwaukee Brewers (52-47) | Philadelphia Phillies (33-61) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LHP | Brent Suter | RHP | Jeremy Hellickson | ||
| (1-1, 3.09 ERA) | (6-5, 4.44 ERA) | ||||
Suter Career vs. PHI: N/A
Suter, 27, will make his seventh career start and first appearance overall against the Phillies. The Chicago, Illinois native debuted on August 19 of last season and has made appearances both as a starter and reliever through 25 career games. Suter was recalled from Triple-A Colorado Springs on June 21 to serve as bullpen depth, replacing injured reliever RHP Wily Peralta (right calf strain). He currently is the fill-in in the starting rotation for injured RHP Chase Anderson (left oblique strain).
Prior to his recall, the southpaw had previously made one start this season, the opening game of the Brewers' June 13 double header at Busch Stadium. Suter has made three July starts since, combining for a 2.12 ERA and 15-4 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 17 innings.
Season Splits, By Month:
- April: 5 G, 0 GS, 0-0, 4.91 ERA, 7 1/3 IP, 5 SO, 4 BB, .321/.424/.393
- May: 0 G
- June: 3 G, 1 GS, 0-1, 3.52 ERA, 7 2/3 IP, 7 SO, 2 BB, .226/.273/.419
- July: 3 G, 3 GS, 1-0, 2.12 ERA, 17 IP, 15 SO, 4 BB, .254/.294/.317
Hellickson Career vs. MIL: 3-1, 2.89 ERA, 5 G, 5 GS, 28 IP, 23 H, 9 R, 9 ER, 3 HR, 12 BB, 22 SO, 1.250 WHIP
Hellickson, 30, has not earned a winning decision at Citizens Bank Park since April 27. The Phillies have fallen in six of the right-hander's last seven starts (4.35 ERA) and in eight of his last 10 (5.31 ERA). In his most recent start, July 16 away against the Brewers, Hellickson earned his first win since May 19 in allowing two runs through five innings.
Saturday's outing could be one of the last for Hellickson in red pinstripes ahead of the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline.
Season Splits, By Month:
- April: 5 GS, 4-0, 1.80 ERA, 30 IP, 11 SO, 3 BB, .194/.228/.287
- May: 6 GS, 1-3, 7.04 ERA, 30 2/3 IP, 13 SO, 12 BB, .292/.363/.608
- June: 5 GS, 0-2, 4.30 ERA, 29 1/3 IP, 21 SO, 10 BB, .286/.346/.509
- July: 3 GS, 1-0, 4.67 ERA, 17 1/3 IP, 14 SO, 3 BB, .246/.279/.585
Starting Lineups:
| Milwaukee Brewers (52-47) | Philadelphia Phillies (33-61) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Player | Bats | Position | Player | Bats | ||
| 1 | 2B | Eric Sogard | L | 1 | 2B | Cesar Hernandez | S |
| 2 | 1B | Eric Thames | L | 2 | SS | Freddy Galvis | S |
| 3 | LF | Ryan Braun | R | 3 | LF | Howie Kendrick | R |
| 4 | 3B | Travis Shaw | L | 4 | 3B | Maikel Franco | R |
| 5 | RF | Domingo Santana | R | 5 | 1B | Tommy Joseph | R |
| 6 | C | Jett Bandy | R | 6 | RF | Nick Williams | L |
| 7 | CF | Brett Phillips | L | 7 | CF | Odubel Herrera | L |
| 8 | SS | Orlando Arcia | R | 8 | C | Cameron Rupp | R |
| 9 | P | Brent Suter | L | 9 | P | Jeremy Hellickson | R |
Broadcast Information:
- First pitch: 7:05 p.m.
- TV: NBC10
- Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP
Game Notes:
- Since July 15, the Phillies' offense is tied with the Baltimore Orioles for having the sixth-highest team batting average, .296. The Phillies' .376 on-base percentage over the same stretch is the fourth-best in baseball, trailing only the Colorado Rockies (.414), Detroit Tigers (.382) and Chicago Cubs (.378).
- Phillies' rookie outfielder Nick Williams has hit safely in six straight games, batting .400/.407/.880 with four runs scored, a pair of doubles, triples and home runs, 10 RBIs, a walk and six strikeouts spanning 27 plate appearances.
- Matching J-Roll
- Williams began his career with a four-game hitting streak, the first Phillie to do so since shortstop Jimmy Rollins in 2000 (six games).
- Williams recorded his first two career triples on July 19 at Marlins Park. He became the first Phillies rookie to triple twice in a game since Rollins on June 24, 2001, also away at the Marlins.
- Matching J-Roll
- The Brewers have fallen in six straight games, outscored 26-12. Their lead in the National League Central division has shrunk to one game, with the reigning World Series champion Cubs on their doorstep, followed by the Pittsburgh Pirates and St. Louis Cardinals at two and 3.5 games back, respectively.
What's Next:
- Sunday, July 23, 2017: vs. Milwaukee Brewers, 1:35 p.m.
- Citizens Bank Park
- RHP Junior Guerra (1-3, 4.77 ERA) vs. RHP Jerad Eickhoff (1-7, 4.83 ERA)
- TV: CSN; Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP
