Looking for Split
Philadelphia, PA – New left fielder Raul Ibanez is fitting in perfectly with the Philadelphia Phillies’ home run-powered offense.
After leading the team to a comeback win, Ibanez and the Phillies look for a split in their four-game series against the San Diego Padres in Monday’s finale at Citizens Bank Ballpark.
Oddsmakers from online sportsbook Sportsbook.com have made the Phillies -150 moneyline favorites for Monday’s game against the Padres. Current MLB Public Betting Information shows that 62% of more than 126 bets for this game have been placed on the Phillies -150.
Philadelphia (5-6) lost the first two games of its series against San Diego (9-4) and appeared to be on the verge of dropping another Sunday before rallying to win 5-4.
Trailing 4-0 after five innings, Chase Utley hit a two-run homer in the sixth, Jimmy Rollins had a solo shot in the eighth and Ibanez won the game with a two-run home run in the ninth off Edwin Moreno.
Padres manager Bud Black had to use Moreno in the ninth because closer Heath Bell had worked three consecutive days.
"A couple of late homers in the game hurt us,” Black said.
The Phillies, who led the NL with 214 home runs last season, have seven homers in this series after hitting eight in their first eight games.
Ibanez’s home run was his fifth of the season and the first game-ending homer with his new team.
"I thought it was out off the bat but I was worried it wouldn’t stay straight and fair," said Ibanez, who signed a free-agent deal with the Phillies in the offseason. "I’m just glad it did.”
Ibanez has been red hot lately, batting .483 (14-for-29) with four home runs, seven RBIs and nine runs during a seven-game hitting streak. He has also homered in his only career at-bat against Padres scheduled starter Kevin Correia (0-1, 4.09 ERA).
Philadelphia counters with Jamie Moyer (1-1, 6.55), who is coming off an emotional outing.
Last Monday, Moyer took the mound with a heavy heart after the team learned longtime broadcaster Harry Kalas died shortly before the game. Moyer, who grew up listening to Kalas announce Phillies games, allowed four runs and eight hits in six innings of a 9-8 win over Washington.
"He was a great broadcaster; I consider him a friend," the 46-year-old left-hander told the team’s official Web site.
Moyer went 1-1 with a 2.92 ERA in two starts against the Padres last season and is 8-7 with a 4.24 ERA in 18 starts against them in his 23-year career. He has not had much luck against San Diego in Philadelphia, though, posting a 9.00 ERA in losing both of his starts against the Padres at Citizens Bank Park.
San Diego had a three-game winning streak end Sunday.
The Padres, who had scored eight runs in each of their previous four games, had plenty of opportunities to plate runs Sunday but went just 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position.
Adrian Gonzalez hit his fifth homer of the season Sunday for San Diego, which lost for just the second time in 10 games
Gonzalez is batting .378 (14-for-37) with six home runs and 10 RBIs in nine games at Citizen Bank Park since 2007, and is 5-for-15 with three homers lifetime against Moyer.
Correia is 1-1 with a 4.60 ERA in eight games – one start – lifetime against the Phillies, but has not pitched against them since 2007. In his only start against Philadelphia on Aug. 10, 2003, the right-hander gave up one run and seven hits in six innings of a 5-2 win for San Francisco.
Correia, in his first season with San Diego after six with the Giants, gave up two runs and five hits in five innings of a 7-2 loss to the New York Mets on Wednesday.
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Posted: 4/19/09 11:15PM ET
