I was very impressed with the Phillies series in San Francisco these past three days. Taking the first two with runs that backed up great outings from their starting pitchers and even tying yesterday's game in the ninth showed me that the Phillies aren't giving up. Even if Roy Halladay won't be back until late-July, early-August, I don't think this team will fluster very badly. There are a lot of problems, but what they need right now is to get back to the basics of playing baseball to win. They will look to continue to improve tonight as they open up a three-game series with the Arizona D-Backs. Cole Hamels (1-4, 4.34 ERA) will take on Patrick Corbin (4-0, 1.80 ERA) in the series opener this evening at 9:40 PM ET.
Cole Hamels has pitched effectively in his last five starts, but his numbers lack the proof. Through his last five starts Hamels has allowed 9 earned runs on 21 hits through 35 innings pitched, but he is 1-2 in those outings because of the lack of run support he has received. Hamels' last go around came against Miami on Saturday and allowed two earned runs through eight innings. Despite allowing the two runs, Hamels was handed the loss as Jose Fernandez held the Phillies in check – allowing just one hit. Hamels is looking to get back on the winning track and lead the Phillies closer to .500 tonight against Arizona. In his career against the D-backs, Hamels is 4-1 with a 3.47 ERA (18 ER in 46 2/3 IP).
Patrick Corbin has been nothing short of fantastic this season. The 23-year-old lefthander has gone at least six innings or more and has allowed two or fewer runs in all six of his starts. Allowing just eight earned runs over 40 innings, Corbin's ERA is among the lowest in baseball. In his last outing, a seven-inning bout against San Diego, Corbin allowed an earned run on five hits while striking out seven. Corbin walked three batters as well, but allowed none of those to score. Corbin has never faced the Phillies in his career and will make his first start against them tonight as he aims to give the D-Backs their 20th win of the year.
Game Notes:
- Since 2008, the Phillies have posted a .635 winning percentage (106-61) against the National League West — the best of any team in the NL — and have won at least 19 games in each of those five seasons.
- Cody Ross is hitting a career .379 (11-for-29) with five homers and a .725 slugging percentage against Cole Hamels.
- The Phillies are three games below .500 at 16-19.
- Ryan Howard is back in the lineup after a day off.
Phillies lineup:
- Jimmy Rollins SS
- Chase Utley 2B
- Michael Young 3B
- Ryan Howard 1B
- Delmon Young RF
- Dom Brown LF
- Carlos Ruiz C
- Ben Revere CF
- Cole Hamels P.
D-backs lineup:
- A.J. Pollock CF
- Didi Gregorius SS
- Paul Goldschmidt 1B
- Cody Ross LF
- Miguel Montero C
- Martin Prado 3B
- Gerrardo Parra RF
- Cliff Pennington 2B
- Patrick Corbin P.
First Pitch Forecast: Partly Cloudy – 81° – 10% PoP
TV: CSN, MLB Network
Radio: 94 WIP, 1210 WPHT.
Let's Go Fightins!
Erik Seybold is the Mystic Blog Lord of Journalistic Activities at Philliedelphia. Follow him on Twitter.
