Sunday Night Baseball: Phillies at Braves
Philadelphia Phillies at Atlanta Braves (-120, 8)
A key clash in the National League East pennant chase takes center stage when Atlanta hosts Philadelphia at Turner Field Sunday night.
The Braves send surging right-hander Javier Vazquez (10-7 2.90 ERA) to the hill against left-handed Philly phenom J.A. Happ (8-2 2.75 ERA).
Trading places
Braves 1B Andy LaRoche was traded twice at midseason, first from Atlanta to Boston and then back to Atlanta. He played in six games for the Red Sox, batting .263 BA with a homer, two doubles and three RBI.
The Red Sox decided they needed Victor Martinez and were willing to re-ship LaRoche back to Atlanta as part of a three-way deal.
"I feel like I've never left this place," LaRoche told reporters. "For the most part, it just feels like I took a break and came back. I'm never sure anymore.”
LaRoche went on to elaborate, saying "I'm not unpacking yet. But I think with the deadline past, chances are pretty good that I'm staying here."
Francisco treat
When Philly OF Ben Francisco homered to lead off the 12th inning against Cubs closer Kevin Gregg in a 4-3 Philadelphia victory over Chicago Tuesday night, it put more than a smile on manager Charlie Manuel’s face.
Gregg had entered the contest with a 0.79 career ERA against the Phils. Francisco was acquired along with LHP Cliff Lee in a trade with the Indians just prior to the trade deadline last month.
“He can play all three outfield positions, and he can spell any of those guys out there,” Manuel beamed, referring to Raul Ibanez, Shane Victorino and Jayson Werth. “I’m going to try and get him in the lineup when I can.”
Alternative measures
An array of injuries to the Philadelphia pitching staff signaled the acquisitions of Lee and veteran right-hander Pedro Martinez.
Former starters Antonio Bastardo (strained left shoulder) and Brett Myers (torn labrum in right hip), along with relief pitcher J.C. Romero (left forearm strain), all currently reside on the DL.
Neither Bastardo nor Myers figures to rejoin to the starting lineup when they return. Romero’s return this season is uncertain.
Nate the Great
Braves CF Nate McLouth was back in the starting lineup for the series opener Friday.
McLouth has missed four starts and three entire games with a sore left hamstring. He was acquired from Pittsburgh on June 3. His bat is critical to Atlana’s hopes of catching Philadelphia in the NL East.
An All-Star last season, McLouth is on pace for a 20-homer/20-stolen base campaign.
Choose your weapon
Despite rumors of him headed to the bullpen with the recent acquisition of Martinez, Happ remains in Philadelphia’s starting rotation.
The rookie has pitched like a veteran and continues to impress. He threw 100 pitches in six inning of work in a 4-3 win at Chicago Tuesday night.
Happ has cashed in four of his last six team starts, sporting a 2.19 ERA along the way. He has developed an interesting pitching pattern this season.
In his nine road starts, the Phillies are 5-4, going W-L-W-L-W-L-W-L-W, the most recent W being the victory over the Cubs at Wrigley Field.
Vazquez picked up his seventh straight team start win in his most recent effort, an 8-2 win at Los Angeles last Sunday.
He owns a sharp 3.17 ERA in his last seven contests, issuing nine walks against 46 strikeouts in those games.
With the victory over the Dodgers, Vazquez reached double digits in wins for the 10th consecutive season. He also has at least 150 strikeouts for the 10th year in a row.
He has thrown 98 or more pitches in all but two of his 23 starts this season. His 171 strikeouts are the second-most in the NL behind Tim Lincecum's 198 for the Giants. In 155.3 innings of work this season, Vazquez has issued only 35 walks.
While it’s tough to fade a Philadelphia squad that owns the best road mark in the Big Leagues and is 13-3 away on Sundays, look for form to prevail over function Sunday.
