Atlanta @ Philadelphia preview
Citizens Bank Park
Last Meeting ( Jul 9, 2011 ) Atlanta 4, Philadelphia 1
THE STORY: The Philadelphia Phillies and Atlanta Braves are certainly putting in overtime in their three-game series this weekend. Raul Ibanez belted a walk-off homer in the 10th inning as the Phillies drew first blood with a 3-2 triumph Friday. On Saturday, Alex Gonzalez ripped an RBI single to highlight a three-run 11th inning as the Braves posted a 4-1 victory. What will these National League East rivals do for an encore? We shall see as Philadelphia All-Star lefthander Cole Hamels and Atlanta veteran sinkerballer Derek Lowe take the mound in Sunday's rubber match.
TV: 1:35 p.m. ET, TBS, PHL 17 (Philadelphia), FS South (Atlanta)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Braves RH Derek Lowe (5-6, 4.21 ERA) vs. Phillies LH Cole Hamels (10-4, 2.40).
After going winless in nine consecutive starts, Lowe has been victorious in his last two trips to the mound. The 38-year-old Michigan native yielded three runs on five hits in 5 1/3 innings Tuesday in an eventual 5-3 win over the Colorado Rockies. Lowe has fared well versus the Phillies in his career, posting an 8-5 mark with a slim 2.99 ERA. He permitted two hits in six scoreless innings in an eventual 5-0 victory over Philadelphia on May 6. After three failed attempts, Hamels finally recorded elusive win No. 10 of the season Tuesday. The 2008 World Series MVP allowed two runs and eight hits in eight innings as the Phillies cruised to a 14-2 triumph over the Florida Marlins. Hamels has posted a 10-6 career mark against the Braves - with one win, one loss and one no-decision against them this season.
ABOUT THE BRAVES (54-37): All-Star third baseman Chipper Jones was placed on the disabled list prior Saturday. Jones has been nursing a torn meniscus in his right knee for the last two months and is expected to be sidelined an additional two-to-three weeks. All-Star Brian McCann homered and Dan Uggla matched him for the team lead with 15 homers after going deep for the third time in five games. Uggla has struggled mightily against Hamels, going 6-for-46 in his career with 14 strikeouts. The Braves have won 10 of 12 to climb within 2 1/2 games of the Phillies for the National League East lead. If Atlanta wins Sunday, it will be 1 1/2 games out for the first time since May 17.
ABOUT THE PHILLIES (56-34): Chase Utley saw his 11-game hitting streak come to an end with an 0-for-4 effort Saturday. Utley has fared well versus Lowe, going 12-for-30 with a pair of homers in his career. Cliff Lee accounted for the team's only run by belting his first career homer in the third inning. The homer was the first by a Phillies pitcher since Chan Ho Park went deep in April 2009. All-Star third baseman Placido Polanco, who has missed five straight games with a balky back, will likely sit out Sunday.
FINAL PITCH: "It kind of slipped through my glove. I thought I had it and I should’ve made the play, but you can’t do anything about it now." - Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard, after failing to make the catch on a popup in foul territory during the 11th inning. Howard dropped the ball, and Alex Gonzalez made him pay with the eventual game-winning RBI single.