Phils-D-Backs game notes: Hamels vs. Saunders

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Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Posted: 11 a.m.

CSNPhilly.com

Phillies (15-8) at Diamondbacks (10-12), 3:40 p.m., TCN

Starting Pitchers
Phillies: Cole Hamels. After his horrendous first start against the Mets, he has allowed only two runs in his last 22 innings. Hamels is 2-1 with a 3.69 ERA against the Diamondbacks in five starts, but allowed seven runs in a 7-4 loss against Arizona the last time he pitched there on April 23, 2010.

Diamondbacks: Joe Saunders. Saunders is 0-2 with a 4.98 ERA, but hasn't received much run support from his team. The Diamondbacks have scored three or fewer runs in three of his four starts.

Previous games
The Diamondbacks won the first two games of the series, beating Cliff Lee and Roy Oswalt.

Head-to-head
Coming into the series, the Phils had won seven of the previous nine games against the D-Backs and had outscored them 57-30.

Whos hot?
Ryan Howard had three hits and an RBI on Tuesday and is a .314 career hitter at Chase Field.

Diamondbacks third baseman Ryan Roberts went 2 for 4 with a home run on Tuesday and is batting .333 with five homers and 15 RBIs for the year.

Storylines
The Phillies are trying to avoid the first series sweep of the season.

Sound off
Raul Ibanez is 8 for 23 lifetime with two home runs against Saunders, but is in the middle of an 0 for 22 slump and is batting .171. Will this be the game he breaks out?

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