Saturday, July 2, 2011
Posted: 11:45 a.m.
CSNPhilly.com
Phillies (52-31) at Blue Jays (40-43), 1:07 on CSN
Starting Pitchers
Phillies: Roy Halladay (10-3, 2.40) pitches in Toronto for the first time since he was traded to the Phillies before last season. He spent 12 years with the Blue Jays, compiling a 148-76 record and winning the 2003 Cy Young Award. In Halladays last start, he earned a complete-game victory against the Athletics at Citizens Bank Park, scattering eight hits and allowing just one run. He currently ranks in the top-3 in the National League in ERA, wins and strikeouts.
Blue Jays: Carlos Villanueva (5-1, 3.15) joined Torontos starting rotation in late May and has posted a 4-1 record with a 4.14 ERA in seven starts. He went six innings for the win in his last start in St. Louis, limiting the Cardinals to two runs. The right-hander has a 1.26 ERA in 11 career relief appearances against the Phils, all of them coming as a member of the Milwaukee Brewers.
Previous games
The Phillies took the opener of the series in a back-and-forth, Canada Day affair. Ryan Howards two-RBI single in the ninth inning off of Blue Jays closer Frank Francisco gave the Phils a 7-6 lead, and young lefty Antonio Bastardo closed the door in the ninth inning.
Head-to-head
The Phillies have won five of six from Toronto, including two of three last season, when the series was moved to Philadelphia because of the G-20 Summit.
MLB
Whos hot?
Since June 21, Chase Utley is batting .387 (12-for-31).Howard is coming off two consecutive two-RBI games.
For Toronto, Jose Bautista, the major-league leader in OPS, has hit four home runs in his last 10 games.Rookie leftfielder Eric Thames has multi-hit games in five of his last 10 starts.
Storylines
The stands will be packed for the return of Halladay, a fan favorite and near-national hero in Canada. Halladay has said that he is treating this start like any other, but emotions are sure to be running high on both sides after 12 memorable seasons in Toronto.The Phillies ace will need to pitch deep into the game, as the bullpen remains depleted.Will the inconsistent Phils offense show signs of life for the second straight game?
Sound off
If Halladay makes the Hall of Fame, will he go in as a Phillie or a Blue Jay?