Philadelphia @ Cincinnati preview
Great American Ball Park
Last Meeting ( Aug 31, 2011 ) Philadelphia 3, Cincinnati 0
THE STORY: Rookie Vance Worley certainly has been a welcome sight for the Philadelphia Phillies. After all, the last 12 times that the 23-year-old has taken the mound, the Phillies have won. All told, Worley hasn't lost in more than three months and he'll look to keep the good times rolling as Philadelphia attempts to complete a four-game sweep of the host Cincinnati Reds on Thursday. The Reds scored two runs in the series opener and have been shut out in consecutive games to render the Great American Ball Park eerily silent. The Phillies have won six of the seven meetings between the clubs in 2011 and 29 of their last 41 outings over the last six seasons.
TV: 12:35 p.m. ET, CS Philadelphia, FS Ohio (Cincinnati)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Phillies RH Vance Worley (9-1, 2.65 ERA) vs. Reds RH Mike Leake (11-8, 4.04).
Worley yielded only one run on five hits in seven innings as the Phillies cruised to a 9-4 triumph over the New York Mets on Aug. 23. The victory was his seventh in a row and avenged his only loss of the season to the Mets on May 29. Worley has faced Cincinnati once this season, permitting three runs on six hits with a season-tying four walks in a no-decision May 24. Leake has pitched well at Great American Ball Park this season, posting an 8-4 mark while winning his last three starts in front of the home folks. Leake, the eighth overall pick of the 2009 draft, has failed to gain a decision in two career outings against Philadelphia. He does have a bloated 6.91 ERA while permitting 11 runs on 16 hits versus the Phillies.
ABOUT THE PHILLIES (86-46): After belting a solo homer in the sixth inning Tuesday, Hunter Pence repeated the feat in Wednesday's 3-0 triumph. Pence has seven homers since being acquired from the Houston Astros on July 30. In August, Pence is batting .340 with 10 extra-base hits and 16 RBIs in 25 games. Pence, who has a nine-game hitting streak against the Reds, is 5-for-15 with a homer in his career versus Leake. Placido Polanco collected a pair of hits Wednesday and is 2-for-13 in the series. The Phillies bolstered their bench by acquiring outfielder John Bowker from the Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday. Bowker has spent the majority of his time in the minors, but can play left field, right field and first base.
ABOUT THE REDS (67-69): Cincinnati has mustered only 16 hits in the first three games of this series. Brandon Phillips went 0-for-4 to see his 13-game hitting streak come to an end. Paul Janish would settle for one hit - let alone a streak. He went 0-for-3 on Wednesday and is 0 for his last 26. Janish is 0-for-2 in his career versus Worley. The Reds plan to recall catcher Devin Mesoraco, who was the their top pick in the 2007 draft. He is expected to make his major-league debut Thursday. The San Diego Padres claimed Cincinnati outfielder Jeremy Hermida off waivers, opening the roster spot for Mesoraco.
FINAL PITCH: After posting 5-0 marks in both June and August, Philadelphia lefthander Cliff Lee was quick to point out the obvious. “I hope I have a good September and October, too,” Lee said.