Gameday: Phillies (22-23) at Cardinals (25-19)
Posted by Ryan Dinger, Thu, May 24, 2012 07:15 PM | Comments: 62
2012 Gameday, News, Posts
Philadelphia Phillies (22-23) at St Louis Cardinals (25-19)
Joe Blanton (4-4, 3.74) vs. Jake Westbrook (4-3, 2.41)
Time: 8:15, Busch Stadium
TV: PHL 17
Weather: Sunny, 84
Media: Twitter and Facebook
For the first time since they eliminated them from last year’s playoffs, the Phillies will take on the St. Louis Cardinals tonight at Busch Stadium. Seeing the Phillies back in St. Louis will no doubt conjure up images of David Freese and the rally squirrel for Phils fans everywhere. This is not the same Cardinals team that beat the Phillies in game 5 of last year’s NLDS, however. Albert Pujols is now in L.A., Lance Berkman could be calling it a career, and Chris Carpenter has yet to throw a pitch in 2012, dealing with a shoulder issue. Despite their new look, this Cardinals team is in first place, and still a very formidable opponent. A big reason for their success so far this season has been their prolific offense, which ranks at or near the top of the N.L. in just about every offensive statistic.
Tonight, Joe Blanton will be tasked with shutting down that offense. 2012 has been very solid for Blanton so far, though he is coming off his worst start of the season, one in which he allowed seven runs (six earned) to the Red Sox over 4.1 innings. For his career, Blanton has faced the Red Birds six times (five starts), posting a 3-2 record and an ERA of 3.03–something that bodes well for the Phils tonight as they try to get back to .500. Another positive sign for the Phillies is the fact that Blanton has pitched better on the road this season, posting a road ERA (3.48) that is almost a half run less than his home ERA (3.90). However, his only two losses against the Cardinals came in his last two starts against them. He’ll look to end that skid tonight.
Veteran right-hander Jake Westbrook will take the ball for the Cardinals, and has pitched quite well this season. For his career, he’s faced the Phils three times, going 1-1 with a 3.52 ERA. Current Phillies hitters are hitting .269 against him in a combined 93 at-bats. Several players in tonight’s lineup have had a ton of success against Westbrook, including Polanco (.321), Pence (.583), and Wigginton (.333). Interestingly, no player on the active roster has ever homered against Westbrook. Jimmy Rollins returns from paternity leave and has been inserted at the top of the batting order.
Lineup: Rollins SS, Polanco 3B, Pence RF, Ruiz C, Victorino CF, Wigginton 1B, Mayberry LF, Galvis 2B, Blanton P
Your gameday beer: Saranac Summer Ale
What better way to quench your thirst during the summer-like day we’re moving into than with Saranac’s Summer Ale? With hints of honey and lemon, the Summer Ale is not too bitter in taste and goes down rather smoothly. Have it with a summer salad and some barbecue chicken. – By Ryan
GO PHILLIES!
Posts: 314 Ian Riccaboni
And Polly gets the party started!
Posted: 08:18 PM on May 24, 2012
Posts: 1979 Tracey
Just got home from work to a pleasant surprise!
Posted: 08:29 PM on May 24, 2012
Posts: 0 bacardipr05
Wheres the punch line Tracey? Thought you was going to say the wife left me and took the kids…
Posted: 08:33 PM on May 24, 2012
Posts: 1979 Tracey
hehehe. No punch line here. But looking at the score, I’m a little nervous. How many times have we seen them blow a 4-run lead in the first?
Posted: 08:34 PM on May 24, 2012
Posts: 0 schmenkman
Twice?
Posted: 08:43 PM on May 24, 2012
Posts: 0 c schreiber
Welcome back..haven’t heard from you lately
Posted: 09:08 PM on May 24, 2012
Posts: 531 schmenkman
Thanks (been spending my free time writing over at the good phight).
Your guy Middlebrooks is still looking good.
Posted: 11:40 PM on May 24, 2012
Posts: 1979 Tracey
Ugh. Pence really needs some remedial fielding training
Posted: 08:41 PM on May 24, 2012
Posts: 1979 Tracey
WOW!!! What a catch!
Posted: 08:43 PM on May 24, 2012
Posts: 0 bacardipr05
Keep tacking on the runs..Thats the way to go…
Posted: 08:53 PM on May 24, 2012
Posts: 1979 Tracey
Wow! Nice to see some aggressive ball pay off!
Posted: 08:53 PM on May 24, 2012
Posts: 1979 Tracey
Blanton is dealing tonight!
Posted: 08:59 PM on May 24, 2012
Posts: 0 bacardipr05
Blanton seems to be cruising i can see the confidence like i got this….lets just hope he keeps it up
Posted: 09:00 PM on May 24, 2012
Posts: 0 Jeff Dowder
Domonic Brown is playing CF in AAA tonight…
@PigsRadio: “Phillies prospect OF Domonic Brown is playing CF for IronPigs tonight — 1st time since 2008 (when he played 69 G in CF for Low-A Lakewood).”
Posted: 09:04 PM on May 24, 2012
Posts: 1979 Tracey
Blanton is dealing tonight!oh
Posted: 09:14 PM on May 24, 2012
Posts: 1979 Tracey
Blantonoh good grief…
Posted: 09:15 PM on May 24, 2012
Posts: 0 bacardipr05
Spoke to soon…Cholly get the bullpen up now…Blanton just self-destructed…
Posted: 09:15 PM on May 24, 2012
Posts: 0 c schreiber
You spoke to soon and put the hex on Blanton, Tracey.
Posted: 09:18 PM on May 24, 2012
Posts: 0 c schreiber
You threw it out to the universe at 8:34 and had to ask about giving it back didn’t you Tracey.
Posted: 09:20 PM on May 24, 2012
Posts: 1979 Tracey
well it’s about effing time
Posted: 09:21 PM on May 24, 2012
Posts: 0 Jeff
Blanton dealing? Worst pitcher in baseball history. Outside of kk
Posted: 09:24 PM on May 24, 2012
Posts: 0 Phil-is
Pholly is looking good. Blanton….not so much.
Posted: 09:27 PM on May 24, 2012
Posts: 0 Jeff
6-0 lead and they will lose.
Posted: 09:33 PM on May 24, 2012
Posts: 0 Jeff
Ty sucks more then Dipsy
Posted: 09:38 PM on May 24, 2012
Posts: 1429 Pat Gallen
I love Jeff.
Posted: 09:57 PM on May 24, 2012
Posts: 314 Ian Riccaboni
Me too! Welcome back Jeff!
Posted: 10:01 PM on May 24, 2012
Posts: 0 c schreiber
Has anyone noticed, other than me, that all the P’s hits but one were ground balls thru the infield and the Cards are the ones with the line drive hits and Homers. Just saying.
Posted: 10:06 PM on May 24, 2012
Posts: 0 Jeff
Thanx Pat. Love you. Why take Joe out now cholly. He is good for
Another 7 runs. How do you leave that piece of crap in. 6-0 lead
Are you kidding me
Posted: 10:11 PM on May 24, 2012
Posts: 0 c schreiber
Way to go Tracey..
Posted: 10:11 PM on May 24, 2012
Posts: 0 Andrew from Waldorf
Hate to seem like I only come here when its going bad.
But really?
holy cow.
Joe needs to get one those big midwestern cheeseburgers.
The pen being this bad. tought for the old man to fo alot.
Posted: 10:12 PM on May 24, 2012
Posts: 0 Phil-is
Wow….thanks Joe. You’re hopeless! You were in far too long.
Posted: 10:13 PM on May 24, 2012
Posts: 0 c schreiber
Schmenkman, by the way how’s that Will “Middling” Middlebrooks doing with the Red Sox??
Posted: 10:13 PM on May 24, 2012
Posts: 0 Andrew from Waldorf
I am taking a nap.
Jeff wake me when its the 8th inning
Posted: 10:14 PM on May 24, 2012
Posts: 504 \"Big Ed\" Delahanty
I knew it would only be a short time before Nlanton $h!t the bed on the lead. How can we unload this guy. Never been a fan of him from the start and always thought he sucked. On a positive note, we scored 7 runs!
Posted: 10:17 PM on May 24, 2012
Posts: 0 Greg G
Fat Joe is worthless… I noticed as well as Phils hits are bleeders and Cards smoke the ball
Posted: 10:17 PM on May 24, 2012
Posts: 0 AZHokie22
Love how these fair weather negative nancy Phuls fans have ruined their own blog
Posted: 10:17 PM on May 24, 2012
Posts: 504 \"Big Ed\" Delahanty
Freddy!!!! He’s got more RBIs than Rollins! Fontenot is becoming a nice pick-up for the team. Way to bail out fat joe, boys! Go Phils!
Posted: 10:34 PM on May 24, 2012
Posts: 0 brooks
Its Qualls.. buckle your seatbelts!
Posted: 10:34 PM on May 24, 2012
Posts: 0 brooks
2 full innings from Chad? Comon Cholly – you had to know better than that.
Posted: 10:53 PM on May 24, 2012
Posts: 504 \"Big Ed\" Delahanty
@brooks: You called it about Qualls giving up the home run balls! C’mon Phils!
Posted: 10:55 PM on May 24, 2012
Posts: 0 brooks
Part of what I really like about tonight (its not over of course) is that there are only 2 extra base hits by the Phils AND, there are quite a few 2 out hits with RISP. A nice change if only the pitching can hold up.
The Cards have 6 extra base hits including 2 (so far) hrs.
Posted: 10:55 PM on May 24, 2012
Posts: 0 brooks
Sorry, 3 hrs.
Its Freaky Diekey!
Posted: 10:56 PM on May 24, 2012
Posts: 1931 Brooks
Much better.. a nail in the coffin? Freaky to start the 8th – I hope he can make it – some Paps action in the 9th?
Posted: 11:04 PM on May 24, 2012
Posts: 1931 Brooks
16 hits and 10 runs.. that is a lot of offense! They HAVE to hold onto this lead
Posted: 11:07 PM on May 24, 2012
Posts: 0 Jeff
When the pitching is great we can’t score. Amazing.
Jimmy the baby gap will make an out on the first pitch.
Hope baby jimmy drew gap is not watching
Posted: 11:08 PM on May 24, 2012
Posts: 0 Jeff
Thank you jimmy for not disappointing. Gap
Posted: 11:11 PM on May 24, 2012
Posts: 0 c schreiber
Garvis has 21 RBIs and Rollins 7…….just saying
Posted: 11:13 PM on May 24, 2012
Posts: 0 charlie
Cholly is an idiot. He left the fat ass bp pitcher in too long. If u want a shut down inning don’t call on fat ass.
Posted: 11:17 PM on May 24, 2012
Posts: 1931 Brooks
Ab! Just get a grounder! Get us out of this
Posted: 11:18 PM on May 24, 2012
Posts: 0 schmenkman
Fun fact: Rollins swings at the first pitch 17% of the time (15th lowest out of 89 NL qualifiers).
Posted: 11:21 PM on May 24, 2012
Posts: 1931 Brooks
SOB
Posted: 11:22 PM on May 24, 2012
Posts: 0 Jeff
Glad to see our 50 million dollar man to come to face holiday
Posted: 11:24 PM on May 24, 2012
Posts: 0 charlie
Can we have someone pitch a shutdown inning on this shitty relief staff
Posted: 11:25 PM on May 24, 2012
Posts: 1931 Brooks
What a mess!
Posted: 11:25 PM on May 24, 2012