Phillies Today: Doc Aims For NL Leading 15th Win

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So we lost one, who cares? We still won 9 straight baseball games and we still have the best record in baseball.

Tonight, Roy Halladay (14-4, 2.55 ERA) will aim for his 15th win of the season as he opens up game one of a three game set versus the Los Angeles Dodgers of Los Angeles. Roy has been nothing but Cy Young material, as usual, thus far this season. In his last start, in his hometown Denver, Doc threw 7 innings, giving up 5 runs on 8 hits, while striking out 7 Rockies to earn his 14th W. Eight Phillies crossed the plate that day to back up Roy, and tonight they’re hoping to do the same. He will take on the Dodgers, who have fallen down to the bottom of the gutter in the NL West. In 31 innings pitched against the Dodgers, Roy is 3-1, with a 2.03 ERA.

On the hill, opposing Roy, will be Hiroki Kuroda (7-13, 2.96 ERA) who has been the Dodgers’ second best pitcher this season, behind Clayton Kershaw. In his last start, it looked like he proved that L.A. was the place he wanted to be. In that game he threw 7 scoreless innings, gave up 4 hits, and struck out 8 Padres to earn a W. He has pitched pretty well against the Phillies in his career, going 2-1 with a scant 0.84 ERA against them. In five career starts, he’s allowed 3 earned runs in 32 IP, and the Phillies are hitting just .107 against him.

Don’t let the numbers scare you, though. The Phillies have been hitting very well since Hunter Pence joined the crew. The Phillies’ bats have been hot. During their 9-game winning streak they hit .293 with 38 extra-base hits and a .523 slugging percentage. Charlie is bringing out the big guns in his lineup tonight.

With Placido Polanco being sent back to Philly yesterday for an MRI on his hip, Michael Martinez will fill in for him until further notice.

Also, Shane Victorino’s actions in Friday’s brawl resulted in a three-game suspension…he was the only one suspended. He is appealing this verdict with MLB. Learn more about that shite HERE.

First Pitch @ 10:10 PM ET.

Tonight’s Lineup:

1. J Roll SS
2. Victorino CF
3. Chutts 2B
4. Howard 1B
5. Pence RF
6. Rauuuuul LF
7. Chooch C
8. Mini-Mart 3B
9. Halladay P.

Let’s Go Phillies!

Side note: On Shane Victorino being suspended for 3 games and everybody else being fined-that is complete bullshit and I mean that to the fullest extent. Eli Whiteside clearly made contact with Placido Polanco before Shane Victorino ever jumped in on the brawl. Bud Selig has his head up his ass. He is just pissed that Shane took CC deep in the ’08 NLDS and helped beat his precious Brewers down. Suck a fat one Bud. Free Pete Rose.