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Cubs-Phillies Preview

Jul 22, 2009 - 4:37 AM By MATT BEARDMORE STATS Writer

Chicago (47-44) at Philadelphia (52-38), 1:05 p.m. EDT

Riding their first 10-game winning streak in nearly 18 years, the Philadelphia Phillies look to continue their recent surge with a left-hander who's consistently been winning games for longer than that.

Jamie Moyer, 46, tries to win his sixth consecutive start Wednesday afternoon at Citizens Bank Park, where the NL East-leading Phillies go for their first three-game sweep of the Chicago Cubs in more than a decade.

All-Star right-fielder Jayson Werth hit a two-out, three-run homer off Jeff Samardzija on Tuesday night as Philadelphia won 4-1 in 13 innings.

"It was a hanger and I was able to stay through it," Werth said. "I was just trying to have a good at-bat. I didn't need a homer. A single would've won it."

The Phillies (53-38) last won 10 straight during a 13-game winning streak July 30-Aug. 12, 1991.

Philadelphia, also riding a seven-game home winning streak, will try to sweep the Cubs for the first time since July 2-4, 1999, with Moyer going for another victory over his former team. Moyer, who went 26-34 with a 4.48 ERA in 79 starts for Chicago from 1986-88, is 3-0 with a 4.19 ERA in six career starts against the Cubs.

A win would give Moyer (9-6, 5.58 ERA) his fourth straight 10-win season and 15th in his 23-year career.

Moyer, who notched his 250th victory May 31, is 5-0 with a 3.68 ERA in his last five outings. In Thursday's 4-0 victory at Florida, Moyer took a perfect game into the fifth inning and allowed one hit over seven innings.

"Moyer amazes me," Phillies manager Charlie Manuel told the teams' official Web site.

Chicago (47-45) counters with right-hander Carlos Zambrano (6-4, 3.36) as it closes its seven-game trip. In Friday's 3-1 win at Washington, Zambrano yielded an unearned run during a 40-pitch first inning but settled down to last five innings for the victory.

"In the first inning, I was a little shaky," Zambrano said after walking four during a 113-pitch performance. "My back was also a little tight today, but nothing to worry about. After that, I was able to come back and do my job."

Zambrano also went 1 for 2 on Friday with a two-run double as he improved his batting average to .238.

"In the National League, you have to be able to pitch and you have to be able to contribute to your own cause," he said.

Zambrano, who has won consecutive starts, is 3-3 with a 3.38 ERA in seven starts against Philadelphia.

Jimmy Rollins is batting .176 (3 for 17) lifetime against Zambrano, but the Phillies shortstop extended his hitting streak to seven with a leadoff single in the first and added a solo homer in the third.

The Cubs have been held to two runs in their last two games after scoring 26 during a four-game winning streak.

"We're challenged offensively," manager Lou Piniella said. "You don't score runs, you don't win no matter how good you pitch. I'll tell you what. We might need a couple of hitters at the (trade) deadline."

Milton Bradley, who grounded out in the 11th inning Tuesday as a pinch-hitter, is expected back in the Cubs' lineup for the first time since Saturday. He is 7 for 20 with two homers lifetime versus Moyer.