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Utley aims to continue dominance of Redding

Jul 30, 2008 - 10:12 AM Philadelphia (57-49) at Washington (38-68) 7:10 pm. EDT

WASHINGTON (Ticker) -- Chase Utley is one of the few members of the Phillies to have success against Tim Redding and the All-Star second baseman aims to continue his dominance of the Washington Nationals' ace and help Phildelaphia notch its fourth straight win on Wednesday.

An MVP candidate the first two months of the season, Utley hit his first home run in more than two weeks on Tuesday to lead the Phillies to a 2-1 victory. It was the first home run since July 7 for the slugging second baseman, who suffered through a 1-for-29 slump in mid-June.

Utley may be heating up again, as he is 6-for-16 in his last four games. Facing Redding will only help, since Utley is 5-for-11 with a homer against the Nationals' ace. Utley's gaudy stats have not helped the Phillies beat Redding this season though.

Redding (7-5, 3.98 ERA), who is coming off his first complete game, has tossed 13 1/3 scoreless innings in two wins over Philadelphia. The 30-year-old was a hard-loser on Thursday when he allowed one run and seven hits in eight innings of a 1-0 setback to San Francisco.

The Phillies will look to breakthrough against Redding and keep pace with the New York Mets (58-49), who they trail by one-half game in the National League East.

Philadelphia sends Jamie Moyer (9-6, 3.76) to the hill. Moyer is looking to win his third straight decision. On Thursday, the 45-year-old lefthander held the Mets to one run and two hits, but did not factor in the decision in a 3-1 loss.