Jonathan Pettibone Looks To Recover After Bad Outing As Phils Take On Dillon Gee, Mets

The Phillies were unable to defeat a minor-league team last night and opened up this three-game series with the Mets with a 4-3 loss. Cole Hamels was given a three-run lead, but he was unable to keep it as he allowed four earned runs through six innings. Due to the inability to keep the three-run lead Hamels took his MLB-leading 11th loss of the season. He is followed by the one and only Joe Blanton, who has 10 losses this season. This afternoon the Phils will look to get even with the Mets and prevent them from taking their fourth series win out of the last five meetings at Citizens Bank Park. Jonathan Pettibone (3-3, 4.40 ERA) will take on Dillon Gee (5-7, 4.56 ERA) today at 4:05 PM.

Jonathan Pettibone is coming off of the worst start of his career. One week ago, Pettibone gave up seven earned runs through three innings in Colorado and took his 3rd loss of the season. The right hander was knocked around and gave up a career-high 10 hits in a career-low three innings. Pettibone has struggled his past two times out. In just 8 1/3 innings, Pettibone has allowed 10 earned runs and has lost both of those starts. He will look to rebound against the Mets, the team he notched his first career win against back on April 27th. In that outing Pettibone pitched five innings, allowing three earned on seven hits. 

Dillon Gee is coming off of a super tough-luck loss on Monday against the Braves. Gee was working on a complete game through 8 1/3 innings before surrendering a two-run walk off home run to Freddie Freeman. Gee had struck out six batters and allowed just five hits throughout the night. In his last three starts, the right hander has been superb, owning a 1.64 (4 ER in 22 IP) along with a 2-1 record. Today will be Gee's second start against the Phils this year, back on April 26th he was hit for four earned on seven hits through six innings in a losing effort. Over his career Gee owns a 2-3 record with a 7.49 ERA against the Fightins.

Game Notes: 

• Chase Utley went 0-5 in his return last night. 
• With last night's loss the Phillies are 5-2 against the Mets this season and have outscored New York, 38-22
• Michael Young is hitting .444 (12-for-27) against the Mets this season.

Phillies lineup:

1. Jimmy Rollins SS
2. Chase Utley 2B
3. Michael Young 3B
4. Ryan Howard 1B
5. Domonic Brown LF
6. John Mayberry RF
7. Ben Revere CF
8. Carlos Ruiz C
9. Jonathan Pettibone P

Mets lineup:

1. Eric Young CF 
2. Jordany Valdespin 2B 
3. David Wright 3B 
4. Marlon Byrd RF 
5. Daniel Murphy 1B 
6. John Buck C 
7. Kirk Nieuwenhuis LF 
8. Omar Quintanilla SS 
9. Dillon Gee RHP

First Pitch Forecast: Sunny – 86° – 10% PoP

TV: CSN
Radio: 94 WIP, 1210 WPHT

Erik Seybold is a writer for Philliedelphia. Follow him on Twitter.