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Phillies go for series sweep against Cubs

May 13, 2007 - 1:40 PM Chicago Cubs (16-18) at Philadelphia (17-19) 1:35 pm EDT

PHILADELPHIA (Ticker) -- After a disappointing start to the season, the Philadelphia Phillies are closing in on .500.

The Phillies will move within one win of evening their record if they can complete a three-game sweep of the Chicago Cubs on Sunday.

After starting the season 3-10, the Phillies have won 14 of 23, including their last three.

Starter Jon Lieber (1-1, 3.33 ERA) will try to extend the Phillies' winning streak to four games. The righthander had his worst start of the season last Saturday, allowing four runs in six innings. In two starts against the Cubs a year ago, Lieber was 1-1 with a 7.00 ERA in nine innings.

The Cubs, who are sliding in the opposite direction with a three-game losing skid, send Ted Lilly (2-2, 2.78) to the mound. The 31-year-old lefthander allowed two runs in seven innings last Sunday in the Cubs' 4-3 loss to the Pirates in 15 innings.

Both squads are hoping to get better relief pitching after the Phillies posted an 11-7 victory Saturday when each team posted six runs in the seventh inning.

Greg Dobbs, Abraham Nunez and Carlos Ruiz finished the game 9-for-11 with eight RBI and six runs for the Phils. Dobbs finished 4-for-4 with two RBI and two runs.

Derrek Lee continued to led the Cubs offense with four hits while Alfonso Soriano extended his career-best hitting streak to 20 games.