Tampa Bay @ Philadelphia preview
Citizens Bank Park
Last Meeting ( Jun 23, 2012 ) Tampa Bay 6, Philadelphia 7
A suspension and a rainout have the Tampa Bay Rays' pitching plans in flux for a day-night doubleheader at Citizens Bank Park, but the Philadelphia Phillies have things set up just they way they want. The Phillies will throw left-handers Cole Hamels and Cliff Lee at the Rays when they wrap up the three-game interleague series. Tampa Bay is 9-14 against left-handed starters this season, compared with 29-18 against right-handers. The Rays will throw ace left-hander David Price in the opener.
The Rays were undecided Saturday on a starter for the nightcap. Alex Cobb, Saturday's original scheduled starter, could be bumped to Monday, in which case Tampa Bay would call up a starter from Triple-A Durham or bring up a reliever to bolster the overtaxed bullpen. Tampa Bay has lost three straight and seven of 10 to slip four behind the New York Yankees in the American League East. Philadelphia has won three of four to begin a 10-game homestand and climb out of the National League East cellar. They are 8 1/2 games back of division leader Washington.
TV: 1:05 p.m. ET, Sun Sports (Tampa), PHL 17 (Philadelphia)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Rays LH David Price (9-4, 3.08 ERA) vs. Phillies LH Cole Hamels (10-3, 3.25 ERA)
Price won for the third time in four outings Tuesday at Washington, holding the Nationals to four runs (three earned) on six hits over seven innings. He has nine quality starts this season, including five of his last seven outings. In his only start against the Phillies, Price was rocked for 10 runs (five earned) in 4 1/3 innings in a loss in 2009.
Hamels rebounded from a rough first inning to put together a strong outing Tuesday against Colorado, allowing two runs on six hits over eight innings for his 10th win. Best of all for Hamels, he didn't allow a homer - he had given up six in his previous four starts and allowed at least four runs in each outing. Hamels' only start against the Rays came in 2006, and he was roughed up for six runs (five earned) in 3 2/3 innings and took the loss.
WALK-OFFS
1. Jim Thome's game-winning home run in the series opener was his 13th walk-off homer, the most in the modern era (since 1900). it was Thome's 609th career homer, tying him with Sammy Sosa for seventh all-time.
2. Rays infielder Jeff Keppinger, who matched a career high with five hits Saturday, is 6-for-12 with three RBIs against Hamels but 2-for-9 against Lee.
3. Phillies manager Charlie Manuel earned his 900th career win Saturday.