Phillies (51-61) vs Cubs (49-63)
Philadelphia Phillies (51-61) vs Chicago Cubs (49-63)
Cole Hamels (4-13, 3.87 ERA) vs Travis Wood (7-8, 3.05 ERA)
Time: 7:05, Citizens Bank Park
TV: Comcast SportsNet
Weather: 81, chance of rain
One night after the offense lashed out for nine runs, the Phillies will attempt to take an early series victory over the lowly Cubs Wednesday night at Citizens Bank Park.
Lefty Cole Hamels will get the ball for the Phillies, coming off his best start of the season. He tossed eight innings of shutout ball against San Francisco, and was able to lower his ERA to under four (3.87) for the first time this year.
Hamels has seen the Cubs six times in his career, and has gone 3-1 with a 2.37 ERA against them. His last start against them was in 2010, when he gave up just a run in seven innings of work.
The Phillies will be facing All-Star Travis Wood, who just had his worst outing of the year. On Friday against the Dodgers he allowed five runs on seven hits and five walks in just 3 1/3 innings. Wood has seen the Phillies twice, and not since 2011. In 2010, the southpaw came close to a perfect game against the Phillies, throwing eight perfect innings before Carlos Ruiz broke it up in the ninth.
Ruiz, in fact, is the only current Phillie to even have more than one hit off Wood in his career, going 2-for-5 with two doubles.
Lineup: M.Young 3B, Frandsen 2B, Rollins SS, Brown LF, Ruf 1B, D.Young RF, Mayberry CF, Kratz C, Hamels P
Gameday Beer: Otter Creek Copper Ale
This medium bodied beer is a very versatile and refreshing brew that goes well with all types of ballpark food, especially stuff off the grill. It’s got a sweet, toasty, crisp taste that is perfect for either a chilly night or hot summer day watching the game. It’s tough to go wrong with a good ale.
