{"id":554,"date":"2008-08-17T14:44:15","date_gmt":"2008-08-17T13:44:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/baseballgb.co.uk\/?p=554"},"modified":"2009-09-26T12:05:29","modified_gmt":"2009-09-26T11:05:29","slug":"sunday-night-baseball-on-five-phillies-versus-the-padres","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/baseballgb.co.uk\/?p=554","title":{"rendered":"Sunday Night Baseball on Five – Phillies versus the Padres"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Five<\/p>\n

The Sunday Night game comes from the National League again this week, where the Phillies (64-58) take on the Padres (48-57 ) at PETCO Park.\u00c2\u00a0 First pitch is scheduled for 01.05 with Five’s coverage beginning ten minutes earlier.\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 <\/p>\n

The series so far<\/strong><\/p>\n

Tonight’s game is the decider of a three-game series.\u00c2\u00a0 Friday night produced a classic pitching duel between two veterans.\u00c2\u00a0 Greg Maddux gave up just five hits and one run over seven innings and the Padres’ bullpen held the Phillies scoreless in the eighth and ninth innings.\u00c2\u00a0 Unfortunately for San Diego, the one run conceded by Maddux was all the Phillies needed as Jamie Moyer won his eleventh game of the season.\u00c2\u00a0 Moyer pitched seven scoreless innings, giving up just three hits and two walks along the way.<\/p>\n

The offense broke out yesterday, as the Padres made short work of Phillies starter Kyle Kendrick.\u00c2\u00a0 He was tagged for six runs over 3.2 innings, while Chad Reineke won on his Major League debut for the Padres.\u00c2\u00a0 Brian Giles batted in four runs for San Diego and Jody Gerut proved to be an effective sparkplug at the top of their batting lineup.\u00c2\u00a0 The centre fielder went 3 for 5 with two doubles as the Padres prevailed by a final score of 8-3.<\/p>\n

Starting pitchers<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Phillies send their ace to the mound for tonight’s game.\u00c2\u00a0 Cole Hamels has failed to record a win since the third of July, but he has a respectable 3.60 ERA in his seven starts since that date.\u00c2\u00a0 The Phillies have provided him with just three runs or less in five of those games and he will be hoping that some better run support from his team mates will bring an end to his winless streak.\u00c2\u00a0 The young left-hander has made his name with one of the best changeups in the Big Leagues, a pitch that makes his low-nineties fastball seem much more imposing than it would appear on the radar gun.\u00c2\u00a0 Add in a good curveball as well and he as a three pitch arsenal that can dominate batting lineups when he is on his game.<\/p>\n

The South Korean Cha Seung Baek starts for the Padres.\u00c2\u00a0 Baek was acquired from the Mariners earlier this season and has a 5.12 ERA over his fourteen appearances (including twelve starts) with the Friars.\u00c2\u00a0 He gave up five runs over six innings against the Brewers last time out and will be looking for a better performance tonight.\u00c2\u00a0 Baek throws various breaking balls alongside a change and a low nineties fastball.<\/p>\n

Things to look out for<\/strong><\/p>\n