After ending their weekend series at home against the Marlins with a 2-2 split and some bad news about Roy Halladay, the Phillies hit the road for a six-game road trip on the West Coast. The Phillies will visit the San Francisco Giants starting tonight to open a three-game set and will then travel to Arizona for a three-game set with the D-Backs before returning home for a five-game homestand. The Phillies were absolutely shut down in the last two games this weekend, collecting just two runs on five hits. In the first two games, the Phillies walloped the Marlins, outscoring them 11-3.
Tonight Cliff Lee (2-2, 3.46 ERA) will take on Madison Bumgarner (3-0, 1.55 ERA) in the opeing game of this three-game series in San Francisco. First pitch is at 10:15 PM ET, so to all of those who are staying up (or will try) tonight good luck.
Cliff Lee is coming off of a losing effort in Cleveland last Wednesday. Lee was tagged for five runs, four of which were earned, on nine hits throughout six innings. Tallying up four strike outs and two walks, Lee was handed his second loss of the season. Lee is looking to get back on track against the Giants, a team he has a very good track record against, and also looking to get some run support, something he hasn't gotten a lot of this season. The Phillies have scored two or fewer runs in four of Lee's six starts this year, including being held scoreless twice. The last time Lee pitched in San Francisco, he tossed 10 scoreless innings, but it resulted in a no-decision and landed Lee on the DL (oblique). In his career against the Giants, Lee is 4-0 with a 0.63 ERA (3 ER In 43 IP).
Madison Bumgarner has been the Giants' best starter this year and his numbers don't lie. Opposing batters are hitting .181 against hime, including .111 (2-for-18) with runners in scoring position. The Giants are 5-1 in his starts and his 3-0 record and 1.55 ERA over six starts has put Bumgarner in control in the NL West. In his last start, Bumgarner tossed seven scoreless in Arizona, scattering just three hits and walking one. Despite the great start, Bumgarner took the no-decision because of the Giants' lack of offense. Bumgarner has taken three-straight no-decisions despite giving up three earned runs over 21 1/3 innings. In his career against Philadelphia, he is 1-1 with a 2.57 ERA (4 ER in 14 IP).
Game Notes:
- SCORE RUNS!
- Both pitchers have great track records against each other's teams, but offense will be key in this one.
- Carlos Ruiz will have the night off. Erik Kratz starts and bats eighth.
- Ben Revere also has tonight off against the lefty Bumgardner. Are we seeing a Mayberry/Revere plattoon in center?
- Angel Pagan is out of the Giants' lineup with a sore hamstring
Phillies lineup:
- Jimmy Rollins SS
- Chase Utley 2B
- Michael Young 3B
- Ryan Howard 1B
- Delmon Young RF
- Domonic Brown LF
- John Mayberry CF
- Erik Kratz C
- Cliff Lee P
Giants lineup:
- Andres Torres CF
- Marco Scutaro 2B
- Pablo Sandoval 3B
- Buster Posey C
- Hunter Pence RF
- Francisco Peguero LF
- Brandon Crawford SS
- Brandon Belt 1B
- Madison Bumgarner P
First Pitch Forecast: Mostly Cloudy – 57° – 10% PoP.
TV: CSN
Radio: 94 WIP, 1210 WPHT
Let's Go Phils!
Erik Seybold is a writer for Philliedelphia. Follow him on Twitter.
