Cole Hamels Looks to Lead the Phillies to Six in a Row

After winning their fifth game in a row, the Phillies (34-38) are on quite a roll winning nine of their last 11 games. Last night, it was A.J. Burnett (5-6 3.89 ERA) who came up huge for the Phillies. Burnett pitched a complete game of one run ball, and added a 400-foot double that led to a RBI and a run scored to his cause. Phillies went on to win the game over the Cardinals (39-35) 5-1. This afternoon the Phillies play game three versus the Cardinals looking for the series win and the Phillies have just the man to do it on the hill. Ace Cole Hamels (2-3 2.78 ERA) has been on quite a roll not giving up a run in his last three starts versus the Reds, the Padres, and the Braves. Hamels will have a challenge as he will try to out duel Cardinals’ ace Adam Wainwright (9-3 2.15 ERA). Wainwright has been having himself a career year. Like Hamels, Wainwright had not given up a run in his last start versus the Rays. Wainwright might give the Phillies offense some trouble only giving up more than two run twice all season, most recently on May 30^th versus the Giants where he gave up seven runs on eight hits going a season low 4.1 innings.

Game Notes:

• Yesterday, Cliff Lee threw his second bullpen session. Lee threw a mix of 30 fastballs and change ups. Lee is on record of saying that he doesn’t want to return until he can throw 80 to 100 pitches in a game.
• In Hamels four starts in June, he has an ERA of 0.30 in 29.6 innings.
• Phillies are only 3.5 games out of first place in the NL East, after being seven games out on June 8^th
• Jimmy Rollins extended his hitting streak to 14 games; longest since 2007 MVP season
• Phillies current hitters are 18 for 106 (.170) against Adam Wainwright in their careers
• Ben Revere missing his fifth start in a row with swollen knee

Phillies Lineup:

1. Jimmy Rollins SS
2. Carlos Ruiz C
3. Chase Utley 2B
4. Ryan Howard 1B
5. Marlon Byrd RF
6. Domonic Brown LF
7. John Mayberry Jr. CF
8. Cody Asche 3B
9. Cole Hamels P

Cardinals Lineup:

1. Matt Carpnter 3B
2. Allen Craig RF
3. Matt Holliday LF
4. Yadier Molina C
5. Jhonny Peralta SS
6. Matt Adams 1B
7. Petter Bourjos CF
8. Mark Ellis 2B
9. Adam Wainwright P

First Pitch: 4:10 PM ET

Location: Busch Stadium, St. Louis, MO

Weather: 92^o F with strong tstorms this evening

TV: CSN

Radio: 1210 WPHT, 94 WIP

Andrew Shipotofsky is a writer for Philliedelphia. Follow him on Twitter @AShipotofsky