Friday, April 22, 2011
Posted: 2 p.m.
CSNPhilly.com
Phillies (12-6) at Padres (8-11), 10 p.m. on TCN
Starting Pitchers
Phillies:Cole Hamels (1-1, 4.32)Since getting roughed up in his season debut, Hamels has allowed two runs in 14 innings over his last two starts. The San Diego native is 4-2 with a 2.75 ERA in nine career starts against his hometown team, including a 1.57 ERA in four lifetime starts at Petco Park.
Padres: Clayton Richard (1-0, 4.50)The lefty was hit hard Sunday in Houston, allowing six runs in 5 13 innings. He lost his only career start against the Philsa contest last season in which he allowed four runs (two earned) in 7 23 innings.
Previous games
The Phillies opened their four-game set with the Padres with a 3-0 win on Thursday night. Roy Oswalt pitched six scoreless innings, Ben Francisco and Brian Schneider homered, and Jose Contreras escaped a ninth-inning jam for his fifth save.
Head-to-head
The Phils went 5-2 against the Padres last season, including a three-game sweep at Petco Park last August. The Phillies have won 11 of their last 13 games vs. San Diego, including the opener on Thursday.
Whos hot?
Contreras has five saves in as many chances and has still yet to give up a run in seven appearances (seven innings). Lefty Antonio Basatardo also has been sharp, pitching eight scoreless innings this season. Placido Polanco has hit safely in 15 of 18 games this season, including a two-hit effort on Thursday.
MLB
Storylines
Can Hamels continue his success against his hometown team? ... Will the Phillies' offense ever score more than four runs again? ... Maybe it's time to give Ryan Howard a night off, particularly after he went 0-for-5 with four strikeouts in Thursday's contest. ... How can Jimmy Rollins still have one RBI this season?
Sound off
Who has been the Phillies' best starting pitcher this season?
Related: Oswalt, Phils shut down PadresMinor league report