Phillies Return Home Following 5-2 Road Trip

After a 5-2 road trip, the Phillies (34-40) return home five games out of first place, tied for last place with the Mets in the NL East. Although they still sit six games under .500, a sweep of the Braves and a split with the normally powerful Cardinals has to have given the Phils some confidence heading into this upcoming homestand. Yesterday, the Phillies jumped out to a 3-0 lead, but Kyle Kendrick couldn't hold off the Cardinals, sealing St. Louis the 5-3 victory. Now they return to Citizens Bank Park, where the Phils are only 16-21, and will welcome in two divisional foes in Miami and Atlanta for eight games in seven days, with a scheduled double-header for Saturday. Up first is the Marlins (37-38) and the pitching matchup gives us Roberto Hernandez and Nathan Eovaldi. 

Considered somewhat of a low-risk signing in the offseason, Roberto Hernandez (3-5, 4.52) has shown that his starts this month are rather high risk, as the Phils righty has given up 15 earned runs in 21 innings pitched in June, which is good for a 6.43 ERA. Last time out, Hernandez got the win, despite surrendering five runs over six inning to the Braves in a day-game slugfest that ended in the Phils favor, 10-5. Roberto had trouble commanding his pitches, which resulted in five walks. Jarrod Saltalamacchia has seen Hernandez the most on the Marlins with 11 at-bats. He has four hits, three doubles, three walks and two strikeouts. Hernandez last saw the Marlins while he was with Tampa Bay on May 29th of last year. Roberto spun a gem, tossing 8.2 innings, giving up just one unearned run while scattering just three hits. He walked none and put down five hitters via the strikeout in the Rays 3-1 win.

Throwing for the fish will be 24-year-old right-hander, Nathan Eovaldi (4-3, 3.76). In 11 of his first 13 starts, Eovaldi held opponents to three runs or less. In his last two starts, he has given up 11 earned runs in 10.2 innings. The Marlins have not won any of Eovaldi's starts this month, despite him pitching well against the Braves and Cubs on June 1st and 6th. Eovaldi gave up one earned run over 7.2 innings of work earlier this month against Chicago, but his last start, also against the Cubs, was not as good. Nathan gave up five runs in six innings, leading to a 6-1 Miami defeat. The Marlins righty faced the Phillies twice this year, first back in April, and took a no-decision after throwing 6.1 innings and giving up four runs. On May 21st, he pitched six innings and got the win. He gave up three runs, just one earned, in the Marlins 14-5 rout of the Phils. 

Game Notes: 

• Tonight Jimmy Rollins’ prestigious hit milestone will be recognized on-field pregame. Special surprise guests will be on hand to help celebrate Rollins' achievement and all fans receive a Milestone Print. 
• Eovaldi is 2-4 in eight games started against Philadelphia in his career and is sporting an even 4.00 ERA against them. Chase Utley is 6-for-21 against him with three doubles and seven RBI's.
• The Phillies have faced Miami six times this season and hold a 4-2 record against them, but have lost the last two.
• Yesterday, Ethan Martin was optioned to Lehigh Valley (AAA) and BJ Rosenberg was recalled. Martin hadn't thrown since June 7th, so you have to think that an injury may have occured, triggering this move. Over his last 10 games with the Ironpigs, Rosenberg went 2-0 with a 1.64 ERA. He struck out 10 and walked three.
• In addition to the pitcher swap, the Phils released Tyson Gillies, leaving just Phillippe Aumont as the remaining piece out of the trio that came over for Cliff Lee from the Mariners in 2009.
• Phillies first round pick, Aaron Nola, will make his professional debut tonight for Clearwater.

Phillies Lineup

1. Jimmy Rollins SS
2. Carlos Ruiz C
3. Chase Utley 2B
4. Ryan Howard 1B
5. Marlon Byrd RF
6. Cody Asche 3B
7. Domonic Brown LF
8. Ben Revere CF
9. Roberto Hernandez P

Marlins Lineup

1. Jake Marisnick CF
2. Derek Dietrich 2B
3. Giancarlo Stanton RF
4. Casey McGehee 3B
5. Jarrod Saltalamacchia C
6. Marcell Ozuna
7. Garrett Jones 1B
8. Ed Lucas SS
9. Nathan Eovaldi P

Location: Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Weather: 78°  - Partly Cloudy – 0% PoP
Game Time: 7:05pm Eastern

Brandon Apter, Publishing Editor for Philliedelphia.com