Writer: Kevin Durso

Lee takes mound as Phillies go for second straight win

Kevin Durso Sports Editor

Published20 Apr 2013

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Cliff Lee goes for his third win of the season in Saturday night's game against the Cardinals.

Friday night's game at Citizens Bank Park was certainly a different tune from previous games. After scoring just 10 runs on a six-game road trip and adding just three in Thursday night's loss, the Phillies came one runs shy of tripling Thursday's output and two runs shy of matching the road-trip total in three innings on Friday.

Now they return to the field on Saturday night with their best starter in the early stages this season looking to get close to .500 again and start to right the ship on this season.

Cliff Lee (2-0, 1.52 ERA) takes the mound for the Phillies. After dominantly winning his first two starts, Lee allowed two runs in seven innings to the Reds and took a no-decision. Lee made two starts against the Cardinals in 2012, going 0-1 with a 4.50 ERA. In his career against the Cardinals, Lee is 3-2 with a 2.44 ERA. At Citizens Bank Park, Lee is 17-11 with a 2.58 ERA.

The Phillies will face right-hander Lance Lynn (2-0, 5.40 ERA). Lynn allowed four runs on seven hits in five innings in his last start against the Pirates, but still got the win in the Cardinals' 10-6 victory. Lynn faced the Phillies once in 2012 and in his career so far, allowing four runs on four hits in five innings and taking a no-decision. The start came at Citizens Bank Park.

Here are tonight's game notes and lineups.

Game Notes:

The Phillies may not have been able to score on the road, but they have no problems scoring at Citizens Bank Park. The Phils are averaging 5.5 runs per game at home this season.
The Phillies have won eight of their last 11 regular-season series against the Cardinals. Entering tonight's third game of the four-game series, the teams have split the first two games.
Ryan Howard is out of the lineup for the second straight game. He is one of the few Phillies to have success against Lance Lynn, going 2-for-3 in his career with a home run and two RBI.
Several of the Cardinals have good batting averages off Cliff Lee in small sample sizes, but only two have homered off him. Only Matt Holliday and Ty Wigginton have home runs off Lee.

Phillies lineup