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Phillies-Giants Preview

Aug 2, 2009 - 6:02 AM By ANTHONY GIORNALISTA STATS Senior Writer

Philadelphia (59-42) at San Francisco (56-47), 4:05 p.m. EDT

Philadelphia has been stockpiling starting pitchers in an attempt to come close to matching top rotations such as the San Francisco Giants'. Cole Hamels' re-emergence certainly hasn't hurt the Phillies' cause.

After getting shut out, the Phillies hope Hamels can maintain his momentum in the finale of a four-game series with the Giants on Sunday.

Philadelphia (59-43) has lost two of this series' first three games, going 0 for 5 with runners in scoring position in a 7-2 defeat Thursday night and getting dominated by Tim Lincecum two days later in a 2-0 loss.

San Francisco (57-47) improved its major league-best home record to 36-16, benefiting from its usual strong pitching. The Giants lead the majors with a 3.48 ERA.

Though the Phillies have a 4.35 ERA, they've managed to build a six-game lead in the NL East. Philadelphia made an effort to bolster its rotation, acquiring reigning AL Cy Young Award winner Cliff Lee from Cleveland on Wednesday. Lee pitched a four-hitter in a 5-1 win over the Giants on Friday in his NL debut.

Philadelphia also has Pedro Martinez rehabbing in the minors. Martinez, a three-time Cy Young Award winner, signed a $1 million, one-year contract during the All-Star break.

Lee gives the Phillies another top starter to join Hamels (7-5, 4.42 ERA), the MVP of the World Series and NLCS last fall. Hamels has been inconsistent this year, but he's been settling down in recent weeks.

The left-hander is 3-0 with a 3.00 ERA in his last five starts. He earned a win Tuesday night, giving up one run and four hits while striking out nine in eight innings of Philadelphia's 4-3 victory over Arizona.

"Hamels is getting there," Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said. "He's real close."

Hamels is 3-0 with a 4.03 ERA in four starts versus the Giants. He'll match up with another left-hander that has been sharp of late, with San Francisco set to send Barry Zito (6-10, 4.54) to the mound.

Zito is 1-1 with a 1.89 ERA in his last three starts. The left-hander surrendered one run and nine hits in 5 2-3 innings before San Francisco broke a tie to beat Pittsburgh 3-2 on Tuesday night.

Zito is 2-1 with a 3.50 ERA in three starts against the Phillies, who have been struggling at the plate. They've lost three of four - all on the road - scoring two runs or fewer in each of the defeats.

Philadelphia lost its first game in August after going a major league-best 20-7 in July.

San Francisco, meanwhile, went 11-4 with a 2.51 ERA at home last month and doesn't appear to be slowing down.

Brian Wilson pitched the ninth Saturday for his 27th save in 31 chances, giving the Giants a major league-leading 14 shutouts. Wilson has not allowed a run in his last 9 1-3 innings, converting all five of his save opportunities during that stretch.

San Francisco's lineup should get a boost when newcomer Freddy Sanchez makes his debut. He could make his first start at second base Sunday.

Sanchez, batting .296 with six homers and 34 RBIs, was acquired in a trade with Pittsburgh on Wednesday.

"It's been a whirlwind these last few days," Sanchez told the Giants' official Web site. "I'm just kind of excited that I'm home now."