Cole Hamels Seeks Solid Start In Minnesota; Ben Revere Returns To Target Field

After dropping three out of four to Milwaukee this weekend, the Phillies dropped back below .500. Before the series in Milwaukee, the Phillies had won six straight and had earned a +.500 record for the first time all season. Jonathan Pettibone was tagged for four runs and the Phillies were unable to put a dent in the board until the eighth inning. Losing 9-1, the Phillies fell to 31-33 and will enter tonight's three-game series with Minnesota looking to gain back that ground. Cole Hamels (2-9, 4.56ERA) will take on P.J. Walters (2-1, 3.00 ERA) in game one of this series this evening.

Cole Hamels is coming off of his second win in just thirteen starts this season. Hamels dominated the Marlins last Wednesday, allowing an earned run on four hits through seven innings of work. Hamels struck out a season-high 11 and walked one. After a terrible start against Milwaukee the previous outing, Wednesday's start was a great sign from Hamels, who was able to keep his pitch count low and was able to work out of jams. Hamels has not won consecutive starts since last season and will look to do so tonight as he takes on the Twins. In two career starts against Minnesota, Cole Hamels has a 1-0 record and a 6.23 ERA (9 ER in 13 IP). 

P.J. Walters is coming off of his third start for the Twins this year. On Wednesday, the right hander tossed six innings against Kansas City, allowing three runs (all unearned) on seven hits while striking out two and walking three. Despite the solid start, Walters was handed his first loss of the year. In his last three starts, Walters has allowed 25 hits in 18 innings while striking out nine and walking five. Walters has had one relief appearance against Philadelphia, a losing effort. Despite the loss, Walters has not recorded an out or allowed an earned run against them.

Revere Returns

Tonight Ben Revere will return to the town he called home for two years. After being drafted in 2007 as a first-round pick, Revere made his debut in 2010. All in all Revere played in a total of 254 games in a Twins uniform. He collected 275 hits and scored 127 runs scored in that span. He had his best season in '12 when he hit .294 to go along with a .333 on-base percentage. So far this season, Revere is hitting .244 with a .288 on-base percentage.

 Game Notes:

• Jump on Walters and get runs for Hamels.
• Ryan Doumit has hit safely in 10 of his last 12 games, batting .294 (15-for-51) with three doubles, five home runs and 16 RBIs in that span (seven two-RBI games).
  
• The Phillies have homered in 14 straight games (beginning May 27). This is their longest such streak since homering in 18 straight games in the World Series-winning season of 2008.
  

Phillies lineup: 

1. Michael Young 3B
2. Ben Revere CF
3. Jimmy Rollins SS
4. Ryan Howard 1B
5. Domonic Brown LF
6. Delmon Young DH
7. John Mayberry Jr. RF
8. Freddy Galvis 2B
9. Humberto Quintero C.

Twins lineup:

1. Jamey Carroll 3B
2. Joe Mauer C
3. Ryan Doumit RF
4. Josh Willingham DH
5. Justin Morneau 1B
6. Oswaldo Arcia LF
7. Brian Dozier 2B
8. Clete Thomas CF
9. Pedro Florimon SS.

First Pitch Forecast: Partly Cloudy – 78° – 0% PoP

TV: CSN

Radio: 94 WIP, 1210 WPHT.