Gameday: Phillies (25-15) vs. Cardinals (23-19)
Philadelphia Phillies (25-15) at St. Louis Cardinals (23-19)
Roy Oswalt (3-1, 3.33 ERA) vs. Jaime Garcia (5-0, 1.89 ERA)
Time: 8:35 pm, Busch Stadium
Weather: Clear, 58
TV: WPHL-17
Twitter: Phillies Nation
The Phillies will try to avoid a four game losing streak as they finish up a two game series against the Cardinals. They also finish up an eight game road trip tonight. The Phils can wrap up this road trip at .500 with a win against Cardinals starter Jaime Garcia.
Garcia has been pitching well and will look to earn his NL leading sixth win. The Phillie will send Roy Oswalt to the bump who is just trying to get back on track. This will be Oswalt’s first start since April 26. He spent some time on the disabled list with a lower back strain. Don’t expect him to throw more than 70 pitches tonight.
The Phillies couldn’t have asked for a tougher pitcher to face as they are trying to iron out their offensive struggles. Garcia has a 1.46 ERA in 17 home starts. The other side of this is that the Phillies have only managed six runs and 12 hits during their current three game skid. They haven’t lost four straight since last August.
Placido Polanco is back in the lineup while Raul Ibanez and Shane Victorino are out again. Carlos Ruiz will also sit to start the night.
Somehow the Phillies still lead the National League in hitting (.252) but are slowly sinking in all other offensive categories. Even with Garcia on the mound I feel we may see an offensive outburst tonight from an unlikely source. Any ideas?
PHILLIES LINEUP:
Rollins SS Martinez CF Polanco 3B Howard 1B Mayberry LF Francisco RF Valdez 2B Sardinha C Oswalt P
If you can stomach the thought of Bud beer and tomato juice, or the taste, then by all means get on this. People believe the taste to be so bad that it’s received an F grade overall by BeerAdvocate.com. Still, don’t listen to them, try it for yourself. If you’re a clam/tomato juice fan, then maybe it’s for your. But if you stomach is weak, then I’d stay away. Just go with Bud Light Lime in that case. – By Pat
