By Matt Rappa, Sports Talk Philly editor 
The National League East-leading Philadelphia Phillies (48-37) will aim for their sixth straight win — and 14th series win — in Saturday's matinee against RHP Jameson Taillon and the Pittsburgh Pirates (40-47) at PNC Park. Right-hander Jake Arrieta will make his 17th start of the season, and eighth on the road.
The Phillies routed the Pirates, 17-5, in Friday's series opener, despite starter Nick Pivetta lasting just 2 2/3 innings. The Phillies offense produced seven extra-base hits, walked 10 times, and went 9-20 with runners in scoring position. Returning from the disabled list, Edubray Ramos (right shoulder impingement) improved to 3-0, while Tommy Hunter recorded his 16th hold. Phillies shortstop Scott Kingery produced a career single-game high, four hits, raising his average to .235. The game lasted four hours and 30 minutes, which set Phillies and Pirates franchise records — as well as tied the National League record — for the longest nine-inning game all-time.
A win on Saturday would put the Phillies 12 games over .500, as well as secure the club's first series win at PNC Park since July 2-4, 2013. The Phillies will play 10 games over nine days in four different cities, leading up to the All-Star break down in the nation's capital.
Starting Pitching Matchup:
| Philadelphia Phillies (48-37) | Pittsburgh Pirates (40-47) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RHP | Jake Arrieta | RHP | Jameson Taillon | ||
| (5-6, 3.54 ERA) | (5-6, 4.05 ERA) | ||||
RHP Jake Arrieta, Age: 32
- 2018 vs. PIT: 1-0, 0.00 ERA, 1 G, 1 GS, 7 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 10 SO, 0.429 WHIP
- Career vs. PIT: 11-6, 3.01 ERA, 21 G, 21 GS, 128 2/3 IP, 91 H, 47 R, 43 ER, 14 HR, 34 BB, 124 SO, 0.972 WHIP
- Career at PNC Park: 4-4, 4.11 ERA, 10 G, 10 GS, 57 IP, 50 H, 29 R, 26 ER, 9 HR, 15 BB, 51 SO, 1.140 WHIP
RHP Jameson Taillon, Age: 26
- 2018 vs. PHI: 0-1, 27.00 ERA, 1 G, 1 GS, 1 2/3 IP, 4 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 1 HR, 2 BB, 3 SO, 3.600 WHIP
- Career vs. PHI: 1-1, 5.68 ERA, 3 G, 3 GS, 12 2/3 IP, 15 H, 9 R, 8 ER, 3 HR, 4 BB, 19 SO, 1.500 WHIP
- Career at PNC Park: 8-10, 4.08 ERA, 34 G, 34 GS, 187 2/3 IP, 191 H, 86 R, 85 ER, 20 HR, 46 BB, 172 SO, 1.263 WHIP
Starting Lineups:
| Philadelphia Phillies (48-37) | Pittsburgh Pirates (40-47) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Player | Bats | Position | Player | Bats | ||
| 1 | 2B | Cesar Hernandez | S | 1 | 1B | Josh Bell | S |
| 2 | LF | Rhys Hoskins | R | 2 | CF | Starling Marte | R |
| 3 | CF | Odubel Herrera | L | 3 | RF | Gregory Polanco | L |
| 4 | 1B | Carlos Santana | S | 4 | 3B | Colin Moran | L |
| 5 | RF | Nick Williams | L | 5 | C | Elias Diaz | R |
| 6 | SS | Scott Kingery | R | 6 | LF | Corey Dickerson | L |
| 7 | C | Jorge Alfaro | R | 7 | 2B | Josh Harrison | R |
| 8 | 3B | Maikel Franco | R | 8 | SS | Jordy Mercer | R |
| 9 | P | Jake Arrieta | R | 9 | P | Jameson Taillon | R |
Broadcast Information:
- First pitch: 4:05 p.m.
- TV: NBCSP
- Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP
Game Notes:
- Over their last 10 games, the Phillies are 7-3, while outscoring opponents 47-43. The Braves, however, are 4-6, outscored 50-48.
- According to NBC Sports Philadelphia's Corey Seidman, Friday's opener was the first Phillies game without a 1-2-3 inning from either side since June 5, 2016, and the first MLB game overall since August 22, 2017 (Texas Rangers-Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim).
- Phillies catcher Andrew Knapp has a seven-game hit streak. Over this stretch, the Roseville, California, native is slashing .417/.462/1.000 with three singles, three doubles, one triple, three home runs, eight RBI, one walk and seven strikeouts spanning 26 plate appearances. Knapp has an extra-base hit in a career-best four straight games, since June 29.
- The Phillies have won five straight games against the Pirates for the first time since June 5, 2011, to April 5, 2012. The Phillies are 19-35 (.352) all-time at PNC Park since the venue opened in 2001.
- Lifetime against Taillon, Phillies center fielder Odubel Herrera is 4-7 with a home run, three RBI and two strikeouts (.571/.571/1.000). Herrera needs one more home run and six more RBI to set career highs in the respective batting categories.
What's Next:
Sunday, July 8, 2018: at Pittsburgh Pirates, 1:35 p.m.
- PNC Park, Pittsburgh, Pa.
- RHP Drew Anderson (Triple-A: 5-3, 4.15 ERA) vs. RHP Nick Kingham (2-4, 4.70 ERA)
- TV: NBCSP; Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP
