Gameday: Phillies (34-38) vs Rays (38-32)
Game 1: Cole Hamels (10-3, 3.25) vs. David Price (9-4, 3.08)
Game 2: Cliff Lee (0-3, 3.48 ERA) vs. Alex Cobb (3-3, 3.82 ERA)
TIME: 1:05, 6:35; Citizens Bank Park
TV: PHL 17
Weather: 80’s, partly cloudy
Media: Twitter and Facebook
If you like pitching, you will be in for a treat today. The Phillies and Rays will play a day/night double header, and the four starting pitchers all have ERA’s under 3.83. Cole Hamels will get the start in the first game, and he will face off against David Price. In the second game, Cliff Lee will take the mound, and he will oppose Alex Cobb.
As mentioned before, the Rays have really struggled this year against left-handed starters. They have a 9-14 record against them, and are set to face two the best left handed starters in the majors in Hamels and Lee.
Hamels was named World Series MVP in 2008 when he went 1-0 with a 2.77 ERA in two starts against the Rays. He hasn’t faced Tampa Bay since, but Jeff Keppinger, who was 5-5 yesterday, is 6-12 lifetime vs Hamels with 3 RBI.
In his last and only start against the Phillies, David Price allowed a career high 10 runs (only five earned). However, he is 3-0 in his last four road starts, including a 7 IP, 3 ER performance against the Washington Nationals.
Lineup:
Game 1: Rollins SS, Victorino CF, Pence RF, Ruiz C, Wigginton 1B, Mayberry LF, Luna 3B, Martinez 2B, Hamels P
Game 2: Rollins, SS, Pierre, LF, Victorino, CF, Pence, RF, Polanco, 3B, Mayberry, 1B, Schneider, C, Martinez, 2B, Lee, P
Tonight we have a gentle offering by Victory. This classic German Witbier is supremely drinkable on any evening, especially a rainy one like today. The flavor is comprised by wheat malt and yeast with notes of orange zest, coriander, and clove. Essentially, it’s another more sophisticated version of Blue Moon, if you fancy those. If you can find some fresh shellfish, like a bushel of crabs, have that with it. – By Brian
GO PHILLIES!
