Marlins Getting Closer
A victory Sunday would give the Marlins their second straight series win over the Phillies.
The Philadelphia Phillies are still alone atop the NL East, but things have gotten a lot tighter.
The Phillies look to bounce back from a loss to the charging Florida
Marlins and try to remain in first when the teams wrap up their
three-game series Sunday.
Philadelphia lost for the second time in its last seven games, while
Florida has won seven of its last 10.
A victory Sunday would give the Marlins their second straight series win over the Phillies.
Oddsmakers from SBG Global
have made Philadelphia -140 money line favorites (MLB Odds) for tonight’s game, the over/under has
been set at 8.5 total runs (Matchup). Current public betting information shows that 90% of bets for this game have been placed on Philadelphia -140 (View MLB Bet Percentages).
Philadelphia (53-45) lost 9-5 to
Florida on Saturday, allowing the third-place Marlins (51-46) to pull
within 1 1/2 games of first place in the East. The second-place New
York Mets remain a game back in the division. Philadelphia opens a
three-game series at New York on Tuesday.
On Saturday, the
Phillies had a chance to tie the score in the ninth, but Pat Burrell,
who homered twice earlier, grounded out to end the game with the bases
loaded.
Philadelphia lost for the second time in its last seven
games, while Florida has won seven of its last 10. A victory Sunday
would give the Marlins their second straight series win over the
Phillies.
"We’ve got a chance to win the series," Florida manager
Fredi Gonzalez told his team’s official Web site. "That’s what we want
to do the rest of the way – win series."
The Marlins, who lead
the majors with 138 homers, hit three on Saturday. All-Star second
baseman Dan Uggla hit his 24th home run of the season, and first since
June 20.
"The Marlins are aggressive,” Phillies manager Charlie
Manuel said. "They hunt fastballs to hit. And when you make a mistake,
they hit it.”
Manuel gives the ball to Cole Hamels (9-6, 3.15 ERA) in the series finale.
The
Phillies have won 11 of Hamels’ last 15 starts, but two of those losses
were to Florida. Hamels is 0-1 with a 5.93 ERA in two starts versus the
Marlins in 2008.
Hamels has been pitching well lately, though,
going 1-1 with a 1.99 ERA and 23 strikeouts over 22 2-3 innings in his
three starts this month. Last Sunday, the left-hander allowed two runs
while scattering a season-high 11 hits in seven innings of a 6-3 win
over Arizona, although he did not factor in the decision.
"I think I have a lot to improve on in the second half,” Hamels said. "That’s what the second half is all about.”
The Marlins counter with Josh Johnson (0-0, 5.40), who makes his second start since returning from injury.
Last season, Johnson threw just 15 2-3 innings and allowed 17 runs – 13 earned – before undergoing Tommy John surgery on Aug. 3.
After
rehabbing for nearly a year, the 24-year-old right-hander made his
season debut July 10, and allowed three runs and six hits with six
strikeouts in five innings of a 5-4, 11-inning win over the Los Angeles
Dodgers.
"It’s been a long time coming. I felt great out there,
and that was the main thing I wanted to get out of this," said Johnson,
who threw 88 pitches. "My control is what I focused on in my rehab
starts – pounding the zone and not walking anybody.”
Johnson is 1-1 with a 5.52 ERA in four career games – two starts – versus Philadelphia.
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