Energized Phils begin series with pesky Nats
Posted: Fri Sep 28 10:56 AM
(Sports Network) - After weeks of grinding out wins and getting help from other clubs, the Philadelphia Phillies have finally caught up with the New York Mets atop the NL East standings. Tonight they will host the Washington Nationals in the first of three straight games at Citizens Bank Park.
The Phillies were seven games behind the Mets in mid-September, but have played exceptional baseball since with wins in 11 of the last 14 games, including two straight over the Atlanta Braves.
Ryan Howard and Pat Burrell each hit two-run home runs and rookie Kyle Kendrick pitched six solid innings, as the Phillies recorded a 6-4 victory over Atlanta in Thursday's series finale. Kendrick gave up three runs on six hits for the Phillies, who haven't reached the playoffs since losing to Toronto in the 1993 World Series.
Brett Myers escaped trouble in the ninth for his 21st save of the season.
Cole Hamels will get the start for the surging Phillies in Friday's opener versus the Nationals and is 14-5 with a 3.54 ERA in 27 starts this season. Hamels is unbeaten over his last seven trips to the mound (3-0) and did not factor in the outcome of a 5-3 loss to Washington last Sunday.
Hamels allowed two hits and run in five innings at RFK Stadium, and is now 3-2 with a 3.12 earned run average in eight career starts against the Nationals.
Washington has been playing the role of spoiler as of late, having won four in a row with a three-game sweep of the Mets at Shea Stadium. In Wednesday's 9-6 win over New York, Ryan Church knocked in four runs and stroked a two-run double for insurance in the ninth inning to help erase a five-run deficit.
Wily Mo Pena drove in two runs and starter Mike Bacsik was rocked for five runs in just 2 1/3 innings. Joel Hanrahan got the win by pitching the next 1 2/3 innings, while Luis Ayala posted the save with a perfect ninth inning.
Taking the mound for Washington Friday will be Tim Redding, who is 3-5 with a 3.53 ERA in 14 starts this season. Redding is winless over his last five starts (0-2) and did not factor in the outcome of a 4-1 loss to Philadelphia last Saturday. He gave up just one run and eight hits in 6 2/3 innings at RFK Stadium.
In five career starts against the Phillies, the right-handed Redding is 2-1 with a 2.84 earned run average.
Philadelphia is 10-5 against the Nationals this season, with a 4-2 record at Citizens Bank Park.
