The Phillies (26-36) look build on their 5-2 win last night in game two of their series against San Diego (28-36) tonight at 7:05pm. Behind a strong outing from AJ Burnett and a three-run homer from Marlon Byrd, the Phils started their home stand on a high note, even though it was only their second win in the month of June. Although seeing this team go on a run is unlikely, the division isn't completely out of reach. Philadelphia finds themselves in the cellar of the NL East, but has plenty of time to make up a 7.5 game deficit if they begin playing better and more consistently. Hey, we can hope, right?
The Phillies will look for another strong outing from lefty, Cole Hamels (2-3, 3.49), who is coming off of an extremely impressive start against the Reds his last time out. Cole has gone seven innings or more in his last six starts, holding teams to under two runs in four of those six. He is 2-1 with a 2.11 ERA in those six. In his most recent start, against the Reds, he scattered five hits over seven innings while striking out seven in an 8-0 Phillies win. Hamels, a native of San Diego, is 8-2 with a 2.39 ERA in 14 career starts against the Padres. Current Friars hitters have a combined .241 average against the Phils ace, with Cameron Maybin having the most success. In 26 at-bats against Cole, the Padres center fielder is hitting .346 with three doubles and a triple. He has also struck out seven times. Chris Denorfia and Seth Smith have both taken Hamels deep in their respective careers. While Cole has gone deep in his last six starts, he has thrown 125 pitches in back-to-back outings, so Ryne Sandberg needs to be careful that he doesn't overwork Hamels.
The Padres will counter with Tyson Ross (6-5, 3.22), who unlike Hamels, is coming off of his worst outing of the season. He gave up five runs in just 5.1 innings of work in a 6-0 San Diego loss to the Nationals. In May, the Padres righty went 3-1 with a 2.08 ERA. In Ross' only start against the Phillies, he allowed six runs and didn't make it out of the first inning. That was last September in a 10-5 Phils win. That was the worst outing of his career. The 27-year-old right-hander has struck out seven or more batters in four of his last seven starts and has put 77 hitters down via the strike out in 81 innings this season. Marlon Byrd is the only Phillie to have more than two at-bats against Ross, tallying only one hit. Carlos Ruiz has a hit in his only at-bat against Ross and it was a two-RBI double.
Game Notes:
- In an article from CSNPhilly.com, John Finger updates the injuries of Mike Adams, Cliff Lee and Cody Asche. While Lee and Adams are a ways away from returning, Asche is beginning to participate in simulated games and could begin a rehab assignment as early as Friday. Lee did some light tossing for the first time since May 19th and Adams will have a cortisone injection in the coming days.
- Only Giancarlo Stanton, Jose Bautista and Yasiel Puig have driven in more runs than Marlon Byrd when it comes to MLB right fielders this season.
- The Phillies are 10-7 this season against the NL West and 16-29 against everyone else.
Phillies Lineup
- Ben Revere CF
- Jimmy Rollins SS
- Chase Utley 2B
- Ryan Howard 1B
- Marlon Byrd RF
- Domonic Brown LF
- Carlos Ruiz C
- Reid Brignac 3B
- Cole Hamels P
Padres Lineup
- Chris Denorfia RF
- Everth Cabrera SS
- Carlos Quentin LF
- Chase Headley 3B
- Tommy Medica 1B
- Rene Rivera C
- Cameron Maybin CF
- Jace Peterson 2B
- Tyson Ross P
Location: Citizens Bank Park, Philladelphia, Pennsylvania
Weather: 69°F – Overcast – 0% PoP
Game Time: 7:05 PM Eastern
Brandon Apter, Publishing Editor of Philliedelphia.com
