The Phillies try for their third straight win Saturday as they send Cole Hamels to the mound against Jose Fernandez and the struggling Miami Marlins.
Hamels (1-3, 4.78 ERA) will get a rematch with Fernandez a few weeks after tossing six innings of one-run ball with five strikeouts in a 2-1 loss to Miami (8-22). Fernandez(0-2, 4.50) was just a bit sharper, holding the Phillies(14-16) scoreless on two hits over his six innings of work for the win that day.
Hamels is comming off of his first win of the season, pitching for six innings and only allowing one run against the New York Mets, but he struggled with his control in issuing six walks. He has walked 17 batters already this year.
Fernandez, too, has been struggling with his control, issuing 11 free passes in just 24 innings of work. He has been very inefficient, lasting less than six innings in each of his three starts since facing the Phillies on April 13.
Regardless of the starters on the mound, both teams have struggled to score often this season. The Phillies rank 22nd in runs scored entering Saturday's tilt, while Miami is dead last at 30th.
Without slugger Giancarlo Stanton, on the disabled list with a strained hamstring, the Marlins have had an even less threatening lineup, and it has showed as Miami has only scored three runs in the series so far despite facing the Phillies' number four and five starters.
Philadelphia, on the other hand, has managed 11 runs, including five home runs, in two games versus the Marlins to back up strong starts by Kyle Kendrick and Jonathan Pettibone.
Friday night, the Phillies took advantage of three solo home runs in beating Miami 4-1, a day after cruising to a 7-2 victory. In both games, Ryan Howard and Domonic Brown each hit a homer. They both have five for the season, behind Chase Utley's club-leading six. Utley, too, homered in Friday's win.
The Phillies look to tie their season-high win streak of three, which they have managed twice this season, while the Marlins look to get their first win of the month after dropping each of their first three May contests.
Game Notes:
- Michael Young gets a day off today. Freddy Galvis will play third base and bat second.
- This game is a rematch of the Cole Hamels – Jose Fernandez battle in which Hamels lost
- Marlins cleanup hitter Greg Dobbs gets the day off against the tough lefty Hamels.
Phillies Lineup:
- Jimmy Rollins SS
- Freddy Galvis,3B
- Chase Utley 2B
- Ryan Howard 1B
- Delmon Young RF
- Domonic Brown LF
- Carlos Ruiz C
- Ben Revere CF
- Cole Hamels P
Marlins Lineup:
- Donovan Solano 2B
- Chris Valaika 1B
- Placido Polanco 3B
- Justin Ruggiano CF
- Marcell Ozuna RF
- Matt Diaz LF
- Miguel Olivo C
- Adeina Hecchevarria SS
- Jose Fernandez P
First Pitch Forecast: Sunny – 60°
TV: CSN
Radio: 94 WIP, 1210 WPHT
