Jimmy Rollins Can Tie Phillies Hit Record Tonight With One Hit As Phillies Take On Cubs

Photo: Philliedelphia/Steve Trapani

Tonight could be the night for Jimmy Rollins to futher cement himself in Phillies history.  With one more hit, Rollins will tie former Phillies third baseman Mike Schmidt on the all-time Phillies career hit list with 2,234.   A second hit tonight, of course, would make Rollins the all-time Phillies career leader.  All eyes will be on South Philadelphia for this one.  

Roberto Hernandez (2-4, 4.35) will take the mound for the Phillies.  Hernandez has been up and down this season, moreso on the down side.  In Hernandez's last start against the Cincinnati Reds, Hernandez went just four innings, allowing four runs.  The Phillies bullpen would give up two more runs and the Phillies would fall short, 6-5.  Hernandez must be efficient with pitches and go deeper into the game to give the Phillies a chance to win.

The Cubs are countering with righthander Jake Arieta (1-1, 2.50).   Arieta has made seven starts for the Cubs thus far this season, since joining the Cubs at the beginning of May.  Arieta is coming off a start against the Miami Marlins in which he pitched six shutout innings in a game that the Cubs would go on to lose 4-3.   Arieta has not gone deeper than six innings in the game.

Game Notes: 

• The Cubs are 26-38 on the season, giving them the worst record in the National League.  If the Phillies hope to get out of the National League East basement, they will have to captialize upon the Cubs as they did with the San Diego Padres.
• Many fans bemoaned the Phillies letting outfielder Nate Schierholtz go after the 2012 season.  Schierholtz, however, is batting just .213 with an OPS of .581
• Since 2002, the Phillies are 54-27 against the Padres and have outscored them by 83 runs.
• Former Marlins catcher John Baker gets the start for the Cubs.  Baker's father, Frank Baker, played in the Phillies system as a catcher in the 1970s, once sharing a room with Keith Moreland at AA Reading.

Phillies Lineup

1. Tony Gywnn, Jr. CF
2. Jimmy Rollins SS
3. Chase Utley 2B
4. Marlon Byrd RF
5. John Mayberry Jr. 1B
6. Domonic Brown LF
7. Carlos Ruiz C
8. Reid Brignac 3B
9. Roberto Hernandez P

Cubs Lineup

1. Chris Coghlan LF
2. Ryan Sweeney CF
3. Anthony Rizzo 1B
4. Starlin Castro SS
5. Luis Valbuena 3B
6. Nate Schierholtz RF
7. John Baker C
8. Darwin Barney 2B
9. Jake Arrieta P

Location: Citizens Bank Park, Philladelphia, Pennsylvania
Weather: 77°F – Overcast – precip. likely, scattered
Game Time: 7:05 PM Eastern