(Sports Network) - Cole Hamels tries to equal a career-high in victories when
the Philadelphia Phillies open a series-concluding doubleheader against the
Colorado Rockies this afternoon at Citizens Bank Park.
Last night's game was rained out, necessitating a day/night twinbill.
Hamels is 3-0 over his last five starts. The lefty hasn't lost since Aug. 2 at
Washington. He's thrown six innings in each of his last two starts, both no-
decisions.
Hamels, who had 15 wins in 2007, is 3-1 with a 3.48 ERA in five games against
the Rockies.
Tyler Chatwood, who allowed five earned runs in a shortened stint against
Atlanta on Monday, gets the ball for the Rockies in the afternoon contest. The
right-hander has a 4.60 ERA since being recalled from the minors.
Drew Pomeranz starts for the Rockies in the night game. The lefty's only win
of 2012 came July 6 at Washington. Since then, he's 0-5 over a 10-start span.
Pomeranz was pulled after three innings of a no-decision at Atlanta on
Tuesday. That's because Pomeranz was at 72 pitches.
Pomeranz faced the Phillies on July 15 and suffered a 5-1 loss at Citizens
Bank Park.
Tyler Cloyd makes his third major league start in the nightcap for the
Phillies. The righty threw seven solid innings at Cincinnati on Monday for his
first victory by striking out nine batters without issuing a walk.
On Friday, Laynce Nix delivered off the bench with a game-tying, two-run
double in the seventh inning and a pinch-hitting Nate Schierholtz plated the
winning run with a walk-off single in the ninth, as the Phillies won, 3-2.
Jimmy Rollins worked a walk to begin the home half of the ninth and reached
second base on a sacrifice bunt by Juan Pierre. Rollins and Chase Utley, who
was intentionally walked, both advanced when Colorado reliever Will Harris
(1-1) uncorked a wild pitch.
Schierholtz, hitless in his previous 15 at-bats, ripped Harris' next offering
through the hole on the right side of the infield, sending the Phillies to
their 10th win in 14 games.
"I just came up, worked the count," Schierholtz said. "I knew I had to put it
in play. I got a 3-2 curveball. It's exciting to get a big hit."
Cliff Lee started Friday's series opener for Philadelphia and overcame a
sluggish first inning to pitch into the seventh. Jonathan Papelbon (4-6)
picked up the win after facing the minimum in the ninth.
Jeff Francis allowed six hits, walked one and struck out seven over 5 2/3
scoreless innings for the Rockies, who have dropped three in a row.
"We've had three very tough days in a row where we've played like hell and
come up short," Rockies manager Jim Tracy admitted. "You certainly can't fault
our pitching."
The Phillies have won eight of the last 10 meetings and 16 of the last 19
against Colorado. The Phillies are unbeaten in their last 11 series against
the Rockies, and haven't dropped a series to them since July 2007.
The Sports Network