Phillies, Hellickson aim to regain series lead against D-backs

By Matt Rappa, Sports Talk Philly editor

PHOENIX — The Philadelphia Phillies (24-49) and veteran RHP Jeremy Hellickson will look to regain the series lead against RHP Randall Delgado and the Arizona Diamondbacks (47-28) Sunday afternoon at Chase Field.

The Phillies fell 9-2 to the Diamondbacks Saturday evening in the second game of the four-game series, collecting just six hits and leaving eight runners on base on offense. The Phillies' lone pair of runs came via a fourth-inning home run by rookie right-handed starter Ben Lively, the first of his career. Lively is the first Phillies pitcher to homer since RHP Chad Billingsley on May 10, 2015, and the first Phillies rookie pitcher to homer since RHP Tyler Green on Aug. 23, 1995, according to MLB.com.

The blast put the Phillies up 2-1 at the time, however Arizona would go on to score eight runs over the next four innings to pull away with the victory. Lively tossed only 5 1/3 innings and allowed five runs (four earned) — it was his first non-quality start of his career through five outings. Phillies southpaw Hoby Milner made his Major League debut in the defeat, allowing a run on two hits, a walk and a strikeout in one inning of relief.

The Diamondbacks are off to their best 75-game start in franchise history, with 47 wins through 75 games. Their previous high was 46 wins, set in 2001 when the club would go on to win its first and only World Series championship against the New York Yankees in seven games. Arizona has won 10 of its last 12 games and 12 of its last 14 games at home since May 15.

Starting Pitching Matchup:

Hellickson Career vs. ARI: 0-3, 6.75 ERA, 3 G, 3 GS, 16 IP, 18 H, 12 R, 12 ER, 3 HR, 5 BB, 10 SO,  1.438 WHIP

Hellickson — who went 9-12 with a 4.62 ERA in 27 starts with Arizona in 2015 — will make his fourth career start against his former team.

In his most recent start, June 20 against the St. Louis Cardinals, the right-hander allowed only one run — a solo home run — on six hits, two walks and four strikeouts. Hellickson posted a 7.57 ERA in his five starts prior.

Delgado Career vs. PHI: 0-1, 3.29 ERA, 9 G, 3 GS, 27 1/3 IP, 22 H, 11 R, 10 ER, 6 HR, 6 BB, 22 SO, 1.024 WHIP 

Delgado earns a spot start in order to give right-hander Taijuan Walker and the rest of the rotation some extra rest, according to manager Torey Lovullo.

The seven-year veteran has 17 relief appearances and four starts this season, where he is 0-1 with a 3.15 ERA and 1.250 WHIP over 20 innings. Delgado's June 3 start — his only losing decision of 2017 — was on the opposing end of RHP Edinson Volquez's no-hitter at Marlins Park, the sixth in Marlins franchise history.

Starting Lineups:

Broadcast Information:

• First pitch: 4:10 p.m.
• TV: CSN
• Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP

Game Notes:

• Diamondbacks corner infielders Paul Goldschmidt and Jake Lamb are the Major League's top two RBI leaders, with 64 and 62 respectively through 642 combined plate appearances.
• Phillies center fielder Odubel Herrera enters with an eight game hitting streak, a stretch where he is batting .353/.371/.471 with four runs, 12 hits, two RBIs, one walk and eight strikeouts over 34 at-bats. Infielder/outfielder Howie Kendrick and outfielder Aaron Altherr are also riding five and six-game hitting streaks, respectively. Kendrick has been absent from the starting lineup the first two games of the series with hamstring tightness.
• In three career at-bats against Delgado, Phillies third baseman Maikel Franco is batting 1.000/1.000/3.333 with a double, two home runs and two RBIs. Diamondbacks catcher Jeff Mathis is 1-11 lifetime against Hellickson with a double and five strikeouts.

NL East Standings (entering June 25, 2017):

What's Next:

• Monday, June 26, 2017: at Arizona Diamondbacks, 3:40 p.m.
• Chase Field
• RHP Nick Pivetta (1-3, 4.46 ERA) vs. RHP Zack Greinke (8-4, 3.14 ERA)
• TV: CSN; Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP