Minnesota @ Philadelphia preview
Citizens Bank Park
Last Meeting ( Jun 19, 2010 ) Minnesota 13, Philadelphia 10
Roy Halladay made an early exit in his last start. The remainder of the Philadelphia Phillies did the same in their last outing.
Halladay and the Phillies (35-31) will try to finish what they start on Sunday in the finale of a three-game series against the American League Central-leading Minnesota Twins (39-29) at Citizens Bank Park.
The 33-year-old right-hander was rocked for a career-high three home runs and trumped by New York Yankees ace CC Sabathia in his last outing on Tuesday. Halladay (8-5, 2.36 ERA) allowed six runs in six innings to drop his fourth game in his last six outings.
As for the Phillies, they saw their modest three-game winning streak come to an end in heartbreaking fashion on Saturday. Unable to preserve a five-run lead in the ninth, Philadelphia's bullpen was as easy to solve as a third-grade math problem.
After American League MVP Joe Mauer and former Phillie Jim Thome sandwiched two-run homers around Denard Span's RBI single to level the contest at 9-9, Delmon Young recorded an RBI single two innings later as the Twins posted a 13-10 triumph.
Philadelphia reliever Danys Baez was saddled with the loss, although veterans Jose Contreras and Brad Lidge weren't singing show tunes either.
The lone positive from Saturday's matinee continued to be the team's hot bats.
Ross Gload's pinch-hit home run with two outs in the 10th extended the contest, but the Phillies failed to capitalize on that momentum.
Ryan Howard belted a two-run homer and Raul Ibanez, Jayson Werth and Wilson Valdez launched solo shots for Philadelphia, which has slugged 11 homers and scored 32 runs in its last four games.
Second baseman Chase Utley, who finished a home run shy of the cycle Saturday, is batting 5-for-10 with seven RBIs in the series.
Trying to keep Philadelphia under wraps is the responsibility of Minnesota veteran Carl Pavano (7-6, 3.92 ERA).
The 34-year-old right-hander overcame two solo homers in his last outing to allow just three runs and five hits in seven innings on Tuesday. He has lasted at least seven innings in nine of his last 10 outings.
Prior to Saturday's game, Phillies catcher Carlos Ruiz admitted feeling dizzy and left Citizens Bank Park. Ruiz is listed as day-to-day, but Brian Schneider will likely start today with Monday being an off-day prior to the team's three-game series against the Cleveland Indians.