The Phillies look to Jamie Moyer today to do something no pitcher has accomplished this weekend against the Florida Marlins:
Throw a clean inning.
The Marlins battered Phillies pitching in last night's 11-5 loss at Citizens Bank Park. The Marlins have had at least one hit in every inning this series.
Righthander Adam Eaton continues to struggle. He is 2-2 with a 7.71 ERA overall. He allowed 10 hits, seven runs, three walks and one home run in 4 1/3 innings last night.
His splits are not pretty:
- He is 1-2 with a 10.80 ERA in three starts at home.
- Opponents are hitting .302 against him.
- The first hitter of every inning is hitting .379 (11 for 29) with two doubles, two home runs and three walks.
- From his first to 45th pitch, opponents are hitting .363 against him. From his 46th pitch on, opponents are hitting .258 against him the rest of the way. That seems to fit with the talk from the Phillies front office that Eaton needs a couple innings to build velocity with his fastball, which is one reason they did not consider him an option for the bullpen.
*
Ryan Howard returns to the lineup after having the night off.
*
Former Phillies pitcher Josh Hancock died last night in a car accident in St. Louis. Hancock had pitched with the Cardinals the past two seasons, earning a World Series ring last year.
Hancock made two appearances for the Phillies in 2003, and four appearances in 2004. They shipped him and Anderson Machado to Cincinnati in 2004 in the Todd Jones trade. I knew Hancock only a little, but I can say he was a very nice guy. Always friendly. The Phillies held a moment of silence for Hancock before today's first pitch.
*
The Inquirer's Sunday baseball column with extra bases and stats 'n stuff.
