Phillies “take to road” against Blue Jays
TV: 
, MLB.tv
First pitch: 7:10 pm
Radio: 1210 AM, MLB.com
Pitching probables: Johnny Cueto (7-2, 3.97 ERA) vs. Kyle Kendrick (4-2, 4.71 ERA)
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If the Phillies can carry anything away form their “road” games against Toronto, let it be those lucky bats. The Phillies put 21 runs on the scoreboard this weekend against the Toronto Blue Jays on the heels of sweeping the Cleveland Indians at Citizens Bank Park. Now the team takes to the road (for real) for three games in Cincinnati.
The Reds enter this three game series leading the National League’s Central division, with a half game lead over the St. Louis Cardinals. How have the Reds made a somewhat surprising run to the top of the NL Central? Offense. The Reds have the fifth best batting average (.273/Phillies 16th with .259) and home run total (89/11th with 74), the sixth most runs batted in (357/11th with 332) and the fourth most hits (708/23rd with 640) in the majors.
With such a high powered offense it would seem that the Phillies will need to be prepared to match the Reds run for run as Kyle Kendrick gets the start on the mound for the Phillies tonight’s series opener. Kendrick was hit hard his last time out by Cleveland but has shown some promising efforts this season, including against the Braves and Yankees so who is to say he will not come out dealing against another division leader?
Kendrick is 3-0 in his career against the Reds but has a 6.61 ERA in 16.1 innings pitched.
The Reds look to have the upper hand on the mound tonight though as Johnny Cueto toes the rubber for Cincinnati. Cueto has gone 2-1 in his last three starts, wiht the lone loss coming in a 1-0 pitcher’s duel at Seattle against Cliff Lee. That game was only the second time since May 5 that Cueto failed to go at least six full innings. Cueto was flat out awesome in May, going 4-0 and allowing just six earned runs in 34.0 innings pitched.
As impressive as Cueto has been, his career numbers against the Phillies are on the opposite end of the spectrum. In two career starts Cueto has an astronomical 15.26 ERA and a 1.96 WHIP. The Phillies banged Cueto up pretty bad last year at Citizens Bank Park, chasing him after just two-thirds of an inning as the Phillies pounded him for nine runs en route to a 22-1 victory.
Can the Phillies keep their offensive machine in good working condition? This Cincinnati series looks to be a tough one, but coming out of it with a pair of victories is most certainly not out of the question.
Phillies record: 40-33
Reds Record: 42-34
NL East standings (record, games behind, team)
1. 44-32, -GB Braves
2. 43-32, 0.5 Mets
3. 40-33, 2.5 PHILLIES
3. 35-40, 8.5 Marlins
5. 33-43, 11.0 Nationals
Season Series: First meeting
6.28 – @ Cincinnati
6.29 – @ Cincinnati
6.30 – @ Cincinnati
Original Story:
http://machorow.us/2010/06/28/preview...
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