Gameday: Astros (54-69) at Phillies (70-53)
Houston Astros (54-69) at Philadelphia Phillies (69-53)
Brett Myers (8-7, 3.11 ERA) vs. Joe Blanton (5-6, 5.54 ERA)
Time: 7:05, Citizens Bank Park
Weather: Cloudy/Rain, 68
TV: Comcast SportsNet
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Brett Myers makes his return to Philadelphia where he spent his first eight years. He won 73 games and a World Series ring as part of the Phillies during his tenure here, although it was a rather tumultuous one. Boo or cheer Myers tonight? That’s the question.
Some late injury news, Placido Polanco is out the lineup with what Charlie Manuel called a sore elbow. He also said it was no big deal in his pregame chat with reporters. That means the Phillies full starting-8 still won’t be together. They have been together only a 8 times this season.
Tonight, Joe Blanton will look to buck an ugly trend of sub-par first innings. His ERA to begin games is 8.55 (19 ER in 20 IP). As bad as he’s been in the first inning, it’s been even worse later in Blanton’s starts. Between the seventh and eighth innings, Big Joe has tossed just 9 2/3 innings, however, he’s allowed 16 earned runs in that short period. In between, he hasn’t been so bad, but tonight he really needs to prove he can start well and end well during a performance, something seldom seen this year.
What’s slightly odd is, even though Blanton for the most part has struggled, the Phillies are 7-0 in his last seven starts at CBP.
Today’s lineup: Rollins SS, Victorino CF, Utley 2B, Howard 1B, Werth RF, Ibanez LF, Ruiz C, Valdez 3B, Blanton P .
In honor of the old Houston Colt 45’s, taste greatness in some Colt 45 malt liquor. Just kidding, this stuff is garbage, but I’m sure some of us have had it at some point. It tastes like a mix between urine and vinegar, in my humble opinion. Stay away from it, except for tonight when it’s acceptable to go trashing and have a 40 of this nonsense. Enjoy the hell out of it! – By Pat
GO PHILLIES!
