Categories: 2011 GamedayPosts

Gameday: Phillies (25-13) at Braves (22-19)

Philadelphia Phillies (25-13) at Atlanta Braves (22-19)

Roy Halladay, RHP (5-2, 2.05 ERA) vs. Tim Hudson, RHP (4-3, 3.09 ERA)

Time: 1:35, Turner Field
Weather: Cloudy, 64
TV: WPHL
Twitter: Phillies Nation

Today’s rubber match harkens back to old days, when the Phillies threw their sturdily-built, towheaded veteran workhorse out to salvage a series against the hated Braves and their cabal of bionic strike-throwing machines. Of course, Halladay-Hudson ain’t quite the same as Schilling-Maddux, but at least the game’s on TBS, just like the old days. Halladay-Hudson is, of course, the marquee pitching matchup of the afternoon, given that the two are second and tied for third, respectively, on the active pitcher win leaderboard and both are still at the top of their games.Shane Victorino will make like a great deal of families this afternoon and take a break involving a hammy, as the center fielder’s leg injury, which forced out of the game and off his hitting streak yesterday, will keep Pineapple Express on the bench this afternoon. Michael Martinez will make only his third major league start in Victorino’s stead. Martinez has only four major league hits to his credit, but the Phillies have won both of his previous starts, for whatever that’s worth. John Mayberry will spell the slumping Ben Francisco in right field. Francisco has posted a .311 OBP in his last 12 appearances, but in that time has slugged an anemic .088, so with a tough righty on the mound, this seems as good a time as any for him to sit.

Phillies Lineup: Rollins SS, Martinez CF, Polanco 3B, Howard 1B, Ibanez LF, Mayberry RF, Orr 2B, Ruiz C, Halladay P

Your Gameday Beer– Sam Adams Imperial Stout

Today is the 100th anniversary of the Supreme Court Decision Standard Oil Co. of New Jersey v. United States. This decision found Standard Oil to be a monopoly and dissolved the company under the Sherman Antitrust Act, breaking it up into Exxon, Shell, Gulf, Amoco, and the smaller companies we recognize today. So why Sam Adams Imperial Stout to celebrate this momentous day in American commerce and jurisprudence? Because it looks and tastes a lot like crude oil. Enjoy.– By Michael

Michael Baumann

Michael is a graduate student at Temple University who lost his childlike innocence when, at the age of 6, his dad let him stay up for the end of Game 6 of the 1993 World Series. Unsettled by the Phillies’ recent success, he has threatened over the years to leave the team he loves if they don’t start losing again, but has so far been unable to follow through. Michael spent 4 years as an undercover agent in Braves territory at the University of South Carolina, where he covered football and soccer for The Daily Gamecock before moving back up north. He began writing for The Phrontiersman in June 2009 before moving to Phillies Nation in January 2010.