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Phillies-Cubs Preview

Aug 11, 2009 - 5:45 AM By JEFF MEZYDLO STATS Senior Writer

Philadelphia (61-48) at Chicago (58-51), 8:05 p.m. EDT

A rough end to a disappointing weekend prompted Philadelphia Phillies manager Charlie Manuel to take matters into his own hands in an attempt to jump-start his struggling club. Whether it works remains to be seen.

The NL East-leading Phillies try to avoid a fourth straight loss Tuesday night at Wrigley Field in the opener of a three-game series against the Chicago Cubs.

Philadelphia (61-48) was swept in a three-game home set by Florida over the weekend, concluding with a 12-3 loss Sunday. The Phillies have a 3 1/2-game lead over the second-place Marlins in the East, but are 3-8 since winning 19 of their previous 22.

After the Phillies allowed 19 hits and committed three errors Sunday, Manuel addressed his players in a rare team meeting.

"I hope my message was sent," said Manuel, whose team is averaging 2.9 runs over the last 11 games. "I was upset how we played. We definitely can be much better than that. We are better than that."

Facing Chicago (58-52) could help Philadelphia regroup. The Phillies took two of three from the Cubs at home from July 20-22, and have won four of the last five meetings between the teams.

The Cubs have also lost four of five overall, including consecutive 11-5 losses at Colorado to conclude a 4-6 road trip.

"We have to shake (the Rockies) series off," center fielder Shane Victorino told the Phillies' official Web site. "I'm not worried about it right now. There's no state of panic here."

Manuel announced three-time Cy Young Award winner Pedro Martinez will make his Philadelphia debut on Wednesday, but star rookie J.A. Happ (8-2, 2.74 ERA) will open the set after recording his second complete-game shutout.

Happ, who was born some 100 miles from Chicago in central Illinois and attended nearby Northwestern, cemented his spot in the Phillies' rotation down the stretch by allowing four hits and striking out a career-high 10 while throwing 127 pitches in a 7-0 win over Colorado on Wednesday.

The left-hander, who's never faced the Cubs, also went the distance in a 10-0 win over Toronto on June 27.

"He's got the stuff to stay in the rotation," Phillies catcher Carlos Ruiz said.

Pedro Felix hit a two-run homer and Ryan Howard added an RBI on Sunday for the Phillies, who have lost four of their last five road games.

Howard, who was 5 for 8 with three doubles in his previous two contests, is 2 for 12 against the Cubs this season and 1 for 7 lifetime versus Chicago starter Rich Harden (7-7, 4.41).

The right-hander is 1-0 with a 0.90 ERA in three career starts against the Phillies. He allowed one run and four hits in seven innings at Philadelphia on July 21, but the Cubs lost 4-1 in 13 innings.

Harden gave three up runs while walking four in six innings of a 4-0 loss at Cincinnati on Wednesday, suffering his first defeat since July 10. He's 2-1 with a 1.80 ERA in his last five outings.

Geovany Soto homered and Milton Bradley singled in Monday's loss for Chicago, which is three games back in both the NL Central and wild-card races. Bradley is batting .400 in his last 11 games.

The Cubs may be helped by a return to Wrigley, where they are 33-19 and have won eight of 10.

It's uncertain if Chicago slugger Aramis Ramirez will be in the lineup after missing the last two games with shoulder soreness. Manager Lou Piniella said Ramirez will see the team doctor Tuesday.