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Phils send Halladay to hill against Cubs

Jul 18, 2011 - 3:06 PM (Sports Network) - As the Phillies continue to receive lifts from reserves filling in for injured starters, Roy Halladay remains a model of consistency.

Halladay will try to become the National League's second 12-game winner with a seventh straight winning decision as Philadelphia opens up a three-game set tonight with the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field.

The right-handed Halladay hasn't lost since May 15, with the Phillies winning each of his past 10 starts since. He leads the National League with 143 1/3 innings pitched and owns the third-best earned run average in the Senior Circuit at 2.45 to go along with his 11-3 mark.

All of that earned the reigning NL Cy Young Award winner the start at last week's All-Star Game, and Halladay shined with two perfect innings of work.

The 34-year-old did not factor into the decision of his final start before the break, a 3-2 victory over the Braves on July 8. Halladay gave up two runs on six hits over seven innings, striking out seven without a walk and retiring 11 of the final 12 batters faced.

Halladay came into the season 0-3 versus the Cubs, but picked up his first victory over them back on June 10 with seven scoreless innings of six-hit ball. He also struck out nine and lowered his career ERA versus Chicago to 3.24.

Philadelphia leads the majors with a 59-35 record, good enough for a 3 1/2- game edge over Atlanta in the NL East, and picked up a series victory over the Mets on Sunday thanks to an 8-5 win.

Kyle Kendrick, who along with Vance Worley has entered the rotation due to injury, pitched seven solid innings and reserve Michael Martinez hit a three- run homer to finish with a career-best four RBI, helping the Phillies to their eighth victory in 12 games this month.

Martinez and John Mayberry Jr., who had five RBI in Friday's win, have both seen increased playing time due to injuries to Placido Polanco and Shane Victorino.

"They do a good job up top, making sure they keep us motivated," Rollins, who had three hits and a pair of RBI, said of Martinez and John Mayberry. "They're not run away by the big lights, and that's what we need."

Rodrigo Lopez will try to slow down the Phillies in his first appearance of the second half.

The right-hander took a no-decision back on July 8, allowing three runs on eight hits and a walk over six innings at Pittsburgh. He also struck out three in his club's 7-4 loss, giving him a 1-2 mark and 4.02 ERA in 13 games this season, including four starts.

Lopez had twirled seven scoreless frames of two-hit ball in his previous start versus the White Sox on July 3 to pick up a victory and will face the Phillies for the first time this season as a starter.

In two relief outings during a set from June 9-12, one in which the Phillies took three of four at home, Lopez gave up just two hits over three innings. The 35-year-old is 1-1 with a 5.74 ERA in six lifetime meetings against them, with four of those starts.

Chicago will look to rebound tonight following a 7-5 setback to Florida on Sunday. Aramis Ramirez drove in two runs, but reliever Kerry Wood was credited with the loss after allowing three runs in the eighth inning.

The Cubs have lost four of their last five games and sit 13 contests back of first place in the NL Central.

"Hopefully we're going to have guys that keep playing hard because that's really the only chance we have," Cubs outfielder Reed Johnson said.

Randy Wells started the game for Chicago and allowed four runs on eight hits and three walks in six frames.