Final
Phillies-Blue Jays Preview
Jun 26, 2010 - 5:11 AMVideo
Philadelphia (38-32) at Toronto (39-34), 4:05 p.m. EDT
In his first game against his former team, Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Roy Halladay handled the Toronto Blue Jays with ease.
While Toronto won't have to worry about facing its longtime ace again anytime soon, Philadelphia's surging offense has been even tougher to overcome lately.
The Phillies look to continue their hot streak at the plate as they go for their season high-tying fifth straight win Saturday against the struggling Blue Jays.
Halladay had no problems against his former club Friday night, limiting Toronto to six hits over seven innings to avoid the first four-start losing streak of his career. The 2003 Cy Young Award winner got plenty of support from his offense as the Phillies (39-32) cruised to a 9-0 victory.
"Once you get a decent lead, you can continue to pitch to contact," Halladay told the Phillies' official website. "And do it when a couple guys get on, you can afford to be aggressive, you're not so cautious trying to avoid them putting the ball in play. It definitely helps. You can go right at guys. It's nice to have that luxury and have that lead."
Philadelphia has been better at providing its pitchers with that kind of support lately. After averaging 2.4 runs and batting .218 while dropping 15 of 21 from May 22-June 15, the Phillies have averaged 7.0 runs and batted .283 while winning seven of nine. They've totaled 28 runs over their last three games, helping them put together their first five-game winning streak since April 9-14.
That doesn't bode well for Toronto, which has lost four of five and been shut out twice in three games.
Though this is technically a home series for Toronto, the Blue Jays (39-35) don't have the fans on their side. The series is being played at Philadelphia's Citizens Bank Park because of the G20 Summit taking place in Toronto. The Blue Jays were booed by the sellout crowd Friday night, finishing with seven hits while getting shut out for the sixth time.
"We don't sleep in our own beds, but we'll deal with it," manager Cito Gaston said. "Besides, we like this ballpark."
Toronto will try to bounce back against Philadelphia starter Cole Hamels (6-5, 3.75 ERA), who hasn't given up more than three earned runs in any of his last nine games, going 4-3 with a 2.91 ERA. The left-hander gave up four runs - three earned - and five hits in seven innings in Philadelphia's 13-10, 11-inning loss to Minnesota last Saturday.
Hamels is 0-1 with a 5.06 ERA in two career starts against the Blue Jays. Toronto, though, has struggled against lefties this season, batting .201 - the worst average in the majors by 26 points.
Toronto's Adam Lind, hitting .115 against lefties this season, is 3 for 6 with a homer against Hamels.
The Blue Jays will hand the ball to Shaun Marcum (6-3, 3.24). The right-hander held San Francisco to two runs - one earned - and four hits while striking out eight in five innings Sunday. He didn't get a decision in Toronto's 9-6 defeat.
Marcum is 1-0 with a 5.14 ERA in two games against the Phillies and 5-1 with a 3.26 ERA in nine career interleague starts.
- Blue Jays 5, Phillies 1 - FINAL
PHILADELPHIA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Rollins ss 4 0 1 0 0 1 0 .291
S Victorino cf 4 0 0 0 0 1 1 .243
C Utley 2b 4 0 2 0 0 0 0 .276
R Howard dh 3 1 1 1 1 0 2 .293
J Werth rf 4 0 0 0 0 3 2 .293
R Ibanez lf 4 0 0 0 0 1 0 .241
R Gl
Jun 26 6:54 PM - ML
AT TORONTO - SCORING UPDATE
SOLO HOME RUN BY RYAN HOWARD (15) TO CENTER WITH 1 OUT IN
THE 6TH OFF SHAUN MARCUM.
CURRENT SCORE: PHILADELPHIA 1, TORONTO 5
DUE UP FOR PHILADELPHIA: J WERTH (.296, 0-FOR-2)
Phillies 1, Blue Jays 5 Top 6, 0 OutsJun 26 5:56 PM - ML
AT TORONTO - SCORING UPDATE
TWO-RUN HOME RUN BY ALEX GONZALEZ (14) TO LEFT WITH 1 OUT IN
THE 4TH OFF COLE HAMELS SCORED FRED LEWIS.
CURRENT SCORE: PHILADELPHIA 0, TORONTO 5
DUE UP FOR TORONTO: J BAUTISTA (.231, 0-FOR-2)
Phillies 0, Blue Jays 5 Bot 4, 0 OutsJun 26 5:34 PM - ML
AT TORONTO - SCORING UPDATE
SOLO HOME RUN BY AARON HILL (11) TO LEFT WITH 2 OUT IN THE
3RD OFF COLE HAMELS.
CURRENT SCORE: PHILADELPHIA 0, TORONTO 3
DUE UP FOR TORONTO: L OVERBAY (.236, 1-FOR-1)
Phillies 0, Blue Jays 3 Bot 3, 0 OutsJun 26 5:13 PM - ML
AT TORONTO - SCORING UPDATE
TWO-RUN HOME RUN BY JOHN BUCK (13) TO LEFT WITH 1 OUT IN THE
2ND OFF COLE HAMELS SCORED LYLE OVERBAY.
CURRENT SCORE: PHILADELPHIA 0, TORONTO 2
DUE UP FOR TORONTO: J HOFFPAUIR (.154, 0 HR, 0 RBI)
Phillies 0, Blue Jays 2 Bot 2, 0 OutsJun 26 4:45 PM
Related News
- Rise and Phight: 12/26/2023 Dec 26
- Merry Christmas Dec 25
- John Middleton’s A Christmas Carol: Part Two Dec 25
- Happy Birthday Rickey Henderson Dec 25
- Hall of Fame Poll: David Wright Dec 24
- John Middleton’s A Christmas Carol: Part one Dec 24
- Hall of Fame Poll: Billy Wagner Dec 23
- Off Topic: What is the worst Christmas song? Dec 23
- TGP writer interview: Brian McQuilkin Dec 23
- Weekend open thread Dec 23
- Today in Blue Jays History: Brandon Morrow Trade Dec 22
- Matt Strahm would pitch on the moon if you asked him to Dec 22