Vance Worley (1-1, 2.37) vs Josh Collmenter (0-1, 10.22)
Time: 9:40 PM, Chase Field
TV: Comcast Sportsnet
Weather: Clear, 91
Media: Twitter and Facebook
Hunter Pence is back in the lineup, indicating that his left shoulder/arm injury isn’t too severe. He had an MRI which showed no structural damage. He was unable to lift his arm above his head yesterday, but told the media today that when he woke up, he was fine. Also of note: This is the first time this season Freddy Galvis has been held out of the lineup for the Phils
The Phillies try to bounce back from a good old-fashioned beat-down tonight when they take on the Arizona Diamondbacks in the middle game of a three-game set.
Here’s the good news: After pitching (if that’s what you want to call it) for the Phils last night, it is all but a guarantee that we will not see Kyle Kendrick on the mound tonight.
Here’s the bad news: The Phillies still have a lineup chock full of guys who swing early in the count and who aren’t hitting for a lot of power right now.
Backing the lineup for the Phils tonight will be the intrepid Vance Worley, who makes his fourth start of the season. There are many among us–myself included–who cautioned that the high expectations accompanying Worley’s 2011 rookie season needed to be tempered because he was bound to come back to earth this season. But so far in 2012, Worley has made his doubters look downright silly. He’s coming off his best start of the season (and possibly his career), a game in which he stymied the Mets, holding them scoreless over seven innings, while notching a career-high 11 strikeouts. Worley has faced the Diamondbacks just once in his career and has never pitched at Chase Field.
The Diamondbacks counter with Josh Collmenter. Collmenter has struggled in the early going, allowing at least four earned runs, while failing to make it beyond the sixth inning in any of his first three starts. He’s primarily a fastball pitcher who has been leaving the ball out over the plate of late. Historically, this would be the ideal pitcher for the Phillies to get right against, but I wouldn’t count on any fireworks with the way this lineup has been hitting. In one career start against the Phils, Collmenter went 7.2 innings while allowing just 2 earned runs.
Lineup: Pierre LF, Orr 2B, Rollins SS, Pence RF, Victorino CF, Wigginton 3B, Nix 1B, Schneider C, Worley P
On Friday night, I ventured into the city to try a new seafood place. While looking over the menu, I noticed that they had Dogfish Head’s 90 Minute IPA on tap, and instantly I knew what I’d be drinking for the rest of the night. For fans of IPAs, it doesn’t get much better than the 90 minute. It’s a rich beer with a complex flavor that goes down easy, which is good, because if tonight’s game is anything like last night’s, you may need more than a few to get you through it. – By Ryan
GO PHILLIES
