GaryMrMets
08-22-2005, 07:00 PM
Phillies-Giants Preview
.c The Associated Press
GAME: Philadelphia Phillies (67-58) at San Francisco Giants (54-69).
TIME: Monday, 10:15 p.m. EDT.
The Philadelphia Phillies go into their longest road trip of the season atop the NL wild-card race as they begin a three-game series against the San Francisco Giants.
Philadelphia is opening a 12-game, 14-day road trip that includes stops on both coasts. After visiting San Francisco and Arizona this week, the Phillies travel to face the New York Mets and Washington next week as they try to protect their wild-card lead.
``This is the longest road trip of the year and biggest road trip for us,'' outfielder Jason Michaels said. ``We have games against the Mets and Nationals, and no other division in baseball has every team in it like we do.''
The Phillies have plenty of teams on their heels in the chase for the wild card. Houston is one-half game back, Florida is one game out, Washington is 1 1/2 games behind and the Mets are three back.
``Every game now is important, and I don't know any other way to say it, but every game is like a playoff game now,'' catcher Todd Pratt said. ``But we're still battling for the division, with the wild card still there, too.''
Philadelphia has moved within 3 1/2 games of first-place Atlanta in the NL East by going 22-14 since the All-Star break, including a 4-3 win over Pittsburgh on Sunday. Michaels scored on Bobby Abreu's tiebreaking double in the seventh inning and closer Billy Wagner survived a shaky ninth inning for his 30th save.
``When I have the opportunity to change the game, I'm going to try and do it,'' Abreu said.
The Phillies hope slumping leadoff hitter Jimmy Rollins will get going on the road trip. Rollins was hitless in four at-bats Sunday and is batting .159 (13-for-82) over his last 19 games.
Rollins was a major catalyst in Philadelphia's three-game home sweep of San Francisco from May 31-June 2, hitting .500 (7-for-14) with four RBIs. The Oakland native has hit just .212 (11-for-52) in 12 career games at SBC Park.
San Francisco stopped a three-game skid with a 4-2 win at St. Louis on Sunday. Jason Schmidt pitched seven scoreless innings and Edgardo Alfonzo's two-run single capped a three-run fourth inning for the Giants.
Alfonzo, though, has been in a major slump. The third baseman is batting .154 (4-for-26) with no extra-base hits over his last seven games.
STANDINGS: Phillies - 2nd place, 3 1/2 GB, NL East. Giants - 4th place, 7 GB, NL West.
PHILLIES PROBABLE STARTER: Jon Lieber (12-10, 4.85 ERA). Lieber is 3-0 with a 2.84 ERA over his last three starts. The right-hander allowed two runs and three hits over six innings last Wednesday in a 3-2 victory over Washington. Lieber beat the Giants on June 2 as he gave up four runs and eight hits over six innings in a 6-5 victory, improving to 6-4 lifetime against them.
GIANTS PROBABLE STARTER: Noah Lowry (9-11, 4.03 ERA). Lowry is 3-0 with a 0.79 ERA over his last three outings. The 24-year-old left-hander surrendered two runs and seven hits over 8 1-3 innings in a 3-2 win at Cincinnati on Wednesday. Lowry's only career start against the Phillies came on Aug. 14, 2004, when he gave up six runs and nine hits over 4 2-3 innings and did not receive a decision in a 7-6 win at Citizens Bank Park.
OFFENSIVE LEADERS: Phillies - Chase Utley, .297 avg.; Pat Burrell, 24 HRs and 90 RBIs; Abreu, 84 runs; Rollins, 26 SBs. Giants - Ray Durham, .299 avg.; Pedro Feliz, 18 HRs, 71 RBIs and 62 runs; Omar Vizquel, 19 SBs.
SEASON SERIES: Phillies, 3-0.
STREAKS AND NOTES: Phillies - Philadelphia is 22-15 against left-handed starters this season. ... LF Burrell has hit eight of his 24 homers on the road. ... RF Abreu is batting .364 (8-for-22) with five RBIs over the last seven games. Giants - RHP Tyler Walker was placed on the 15-day disabled list Sunday due to shoulder inflammation. ... 3B Alfonzo has not drawn a walk in 15 straight games. ... 2B Durham is batting .393 (11-for-28) against RHP Lieber.
ROAD/HOME RECORDS: Phillies - 27-30 on the road; Giants - 25-33 at home.
INJURIES: Phillies - 1B Jim Thome (elbow), 15-day DL; LHP Randy Wolf (elbow), 60-day DL. Giants - RHP Scott Munter (elbow), 15-day DL; RHP Walker (shoulder), 15-day DL; LF Barry Bonds (knee), 60-day DL.
08/22/05 06:45 EDT
Copyright 2003 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. All active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.
.c The Associated Press
GAME: Philadelphia Phillies (67-58) at San Francisco Giants (54-69).
TIME: Monday, 10:15 p.m. EDT.
The Philadelphia Phillies go into their longest road trip of the season atop the NL wild-card race as they begin a three-game series against the San Francisco Giants.
Philadelphia is opening a 12-game, 14-day road trip that includes stops on both coasts. After visiting San Francisco and Arizona this week, the Phillies travel to face the New York Mets and Washington next week as they try to protect their wild-card lead.
``This is the longest road trip of the year and biggest road trip for us,'' outfielder Jason Michaels said. ``We have games against the Mets and Nationals, and no other division in baseball has every team in it like we do.''
The Phillies have plenty of teams on their heels in the chase for the wild card. Houston is one-half game back, Florida is one game out, Washington is 1 1/2 games behind and the Mets are three back.
``Every game now is important, and I don't know any other way to say it, but every game is like a playoff game now,'' catcher Todd Pratt said. ``But we're still battling for the division, with the wild card still there, too.''
Philadelphia has moved within 3 1/2 games of first-place Atlanta in the NL East by going 22-14 since the All-Star break, including a 4-3 win over Pittsburgh on Sunday. Michaels scored on Bobby Abreu's tiebreaking double in the seventh inning and closer Billy Wagner survived a shaky ninth inning for his 30th save.
``When I have the opportunity to change the game, I'm going to try and do it,'' Abreu said.
The Phillies hope slumping leadoff hitter Jimmy Rollins will get going on the road trip. Rollins was hitless in four at-bats Sunday and is batting .159 (13-for-82) over his last 19 games.
Rollins was a major catalyst in Philadelphia's three-game home sweep of San Francisco from May 31-June 2, hitting .500 (7-for-14) with four RBIs. The Oakland native has hit just .212 (11-for-52) in 12 career games at SBC Park.
San Francisco stopped a three-game skid with a 4-2 win at St. Louis on Sunday. Jason Schmidt pitched seven scoreless innings and Edgardo Alfonzo's two-run single capped a three-run fourth inning for the Giants.
Alfonzo, though, has been in a major slump. The third baseman is batting .154 (4-for-26) with no extra-base hits over his last seven games.
STANDINGS: Phillies - 2nd place, 3 1/2 GB, NL East. Giants - 4th place, 7 GB, NL West.
PHILLIES PROBABLE STARTER: Jon Lieber (12-10, 4.85 ERA). Lieber is 3-0 with a 2.84 ERA over his last three starts. The right-hander allowed two runs and three hits over six innings last Wednesday in a 3-2 victory over Washington. Lieber beat the Giants on June 2 as he gave up four runs and eight hits over six innings in a 6-5 victory, improving to 6-4 lifetime against them.
GIANTS PROBABLE STARTER: Noah Lowry (9-11, 4.03 ERA). Lowry is 3-0 with a 0.79 ERA over his last three outings. The 24-year-old left-hander surrendered two runs and seven hits over 8 1-3 innings in a 3-2 win at Cincinnati on Wednesday. Lowry's only career start against the Phillies came on Aug. 14, 2004, when he gave up six runs and nine hits over 4 2-3 innings and did not receive a decision in a 7-6 win at Citizens Bank Park.
OFFENSIVE LEADERS: Phillies - Chase Utley, .297 avg.; Pat Burrell, 24 HRs and 90 RBIs; Abreu, 84 runs; Rollins, 26 SBs. Giants - Ray Durham, .299 avg.; Pedro Feliz, 18 HRs, 71 RBIs and 62 runs; Omar Vizquel, 19 SBs.
SEASON SERIES: Phillies, 3-0.
STREAKS AND NOTES: Phillies - Philadelphia is 22-15 against left-handed starters this season. ... LF Burrell has hit eight of his 24 homers on the road. ... RF Abreu is batting .364 (8-for-22) with five RBIs over the last seven games. Giants - RHP Tyler Walker was placed on the 15-day disabled list Sunday due to shoulder inflammation. ... 3B Alfonzo has not drawn a walk in 15 straight games. ... 2B Durham is batting .393 (11-for-28) against RHP Lieber.
ROAD/HOME RECORDS: Phillies - 27-30 on the road; Giants - 25-33 at home.
INJURIES: Phillies - 1B Jim Thome (elbow), 15-day DL; LHP Randy Wolf (elbow), 60-day DL. Giants - RHP Scott Munter (elbow), 15-day DL; RHP Walker (shoulder), 15-day DL; LF Barry Bonds (knee), 60-day DL.
08/22/05 06:45 EDT
Copyright 2003 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. All active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.