Tonight's lineup: 1st Phillies game ever both pitchers bat 8th

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For the first time in recorded history, both the Phillies and their opponent are batting the starting pitcher eighth.

Phils manager Pete Mackanin has Aaron Nola hitting eighth in Friday's series-opening lineup at Miller Park against the Milwaukee Brewers. The Phils won their last game with the pitcher hitting eighth, so Mackanin is again batting a speedy player ninth with Odubel Herrera leading off.

On Wednesday, the nine-hole hitter, Peter Bourjos, delivered the game-tying and game-winning hits.

Mackanin's rationale is two-fold:

1. When a fast player hits eighth, he isn't able to steal a base when he reaches first with two outs because of the risk that he's thrown out and the pitcher has to lead off the next inning, and

2. It puts someone in front of Herrera that he could potentially drive in. Mackanin was hesitant to lead Herrera off prior to Wednesday because the Phillies have so few run producers in the lineup.

Cesar Hernandez is the man in the nine-spot tonight.

1. Odubel Herrera, CF
2. Freddy Galvis, SS
3. Maikel Franco, 3B
4. Ryan Howard, 1B
5. Cameron Rupp, C
6. David Lough, RF
7. Darin Ruf, LF
8. Aaron Nola, P
9. Cesar Hernandez, 2B

And for the Brewers:

1. Domingo Santana, RF (former Phillies prospect, leads MLB in exit velocity)
2. Scooter Gennett, 2B
3. Ryan Braun, LF (.381 BA, 18 HR, 49 RBI in 55 career games vs. Phils)
4. Jonathan Lucroy, C (2nd-highest OPS among catchers since 2012)
5. Chris Carter, 1B
6. Aaron Hill, 3B (only Brewer who's ever faced Nola)
7. Ramon Flores, CF
8. Zach Davies, P
9. Jonathan Villar, SS (former Phillies prospect)

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