Gameday: Phillies (1-0) at Pirates (0-1)
Cliff Lee vs. Jeff Karstens
Time: 7:05, PNC Park
TV: CSN, MLB Network
Weather: Sunny. Mild. 63
Media: Twitter and Facebook
Even with the win on Thursday the Phillies are still below .500 playing the ‘we forgot how to get to the playoffs’ Pirates in Pittsburgh since their run of division titles started.
They will try and continue their winning ways as Cliff Lee makes only his second start at PNC Park. Lee had an OK Spring going 1-2 with a 2.45 ERA in six starts. The left hander has had some good success against the Pirates in the past and says he is where he needs to be to go deep into the game. Overall, Lee is 1-0 with over 14 innings pitched against Pittsburgh.
Charlie Manuel has decided that Game 2 of the season should see the second different line up card. Lance Nix will get the start at first base tonight against the right hander Jeff Karstens. Nix is my pick to hit the first home run of the season for the Phillies. We will see if that works out this weekend; hopefully tonight. Karstens twice went seven innings last year against the Phillies allowing a combined four runs.
Jimmy Rollins is again hitting in the three hole behind Shane Victorino and Placido Polanco. Rollins still has the ability to hit 20 home runs in a season and Manuel is obviously comfortable depending on some RBI output from his shortstop.
Lineup: Victorino CF, Polanco 3B, Rollins SS, Pence RF, Nix 1B, Mayberry LF, Ruiz C, Galvis 2B, Lee P
This is a beer I just started drinking. I not traditionally been a fan of darker ale type brews but this one is delicious. It comes off a bit fruity at first but flavors of caramel and chocolate mix in towards the end. It has slowly become one of the most popular dark ales in the Northeast. Not to mention down here in Virginia Beach. Enjoy a cold one and watch the Phillies win!
GO PHILLIES!
