Gameday: Phillies (50-59) vs Braves (65-45)
Philadelphia Phillies (50-59) vs Atlanta Braves (65-45)
Cliff Lee (10-4, 3.05 ERA) vs Alex Wood (1-2, 3.52 ERA)
Time: 8:05, Citizens Bank Park
TV: ESPN
Weather: 80, partly cloudy
After losing 5-3 on Friday, the Phillies will look to salvage a game in their three game series against the Braves on Sunday night. With last night’s loss, the Phillies have now lost five straight series since the All-Star Break.
Left-hander Cliff Lee, who has missed a few starts with neck stiffness, will start for the Phillies in the finale. Lee has struggled a bit lately allowing at least four earned runs in each of his last three starts. In his las outing against the Mets, he allowed five runs in seven innings of work. The longball has been a problem for Lee of late, as he has surrendered seven homers in his last two starts. In his career against Atlanta, Lee is 6-4 with a 2.97 ERA
Lee will be opposed by lefty Alex Wood, who has pitched well in his rookie campaign for the Braves. Wood churned out a quality start his last time out against Colorado, allowing just three runs in seven innings. The seven innings was by far his longest outing of the year (previously 4 1/3 innings), and it came in only his third start of the year, as he was pitching out of the bullpen for the most part before Tim Hudson’s injury.
Only Jimmy Rollins, Darin Ruf, Kevin Frandsen and Carlos Ruiz have had an at bat against Wood (Rollins is the only one with two at bats), and Ruf owns the only base hit against the lefty.
Lineup: M. Young 3B, Utley 2B, Rollins SS, Ruf LF, D. Young RF, Frandsen 1B, Mayberry CF, Ruiz C, Lee P
Gameday Beer: Smithwicks Irish Red Ale
Smithwicks has been around forever yet it never gets old. This red ale is one of the most common Irish brews and is perfect if you are in that Irish mood and want something lighter than a Guinness and a bit more than a Harp lager. It might not jump out at you, but you know that you are going to get a consistently solid beer, and a lot of times, that is enough.
