Sunday, May 22, 2011
Posted: 8:30 a.m.CSNPhilly.comPhillies (27-17) vs. Rangers (23-22), 1:35 p.m. on WPHLStarting Pitchers
Phillies: Roy Oswalt (3-1, 3.09) is coming off a no-decision Tuesday in his first start back from the disabled list. The righty gave up one run in five innings in a 2-1 loss to St. Louis. He is 4-6 with a 4.54 ERA in 12 lifetime starts against Texas, all in interleague play.Rangers: Matt Harrison (3-4, 4.27) is 0-4 over his last five starts. The lefty gave up three runs in seven innings in Tuesdays loss to the White Sox. He has never faced the Phillies before.
Previous gamesThe Phillies have won the first two games of the series, including a 2-0 victory on Saturday behind eight scoreless innings from former Rangers lefty Cliff Lee. Ryan Howard homered to snap out of an 0-for-23 slump, while Ryan Madson shut the door in the ninth for his ninth save of the season.Head-to-head
In 15 career at-bats against Oswalt, Ian Kinsler has seven hits (.467), including two doubles, a triple and a home run. David Murphy is hitless off Oswalt in six plate appearances.
Placido Polanco is 3-for-7 off Harrison with a pair of doubles. In 12 career starts against the Rangers, Oswalt has surrendered 94 hits and struck out just 61 batters in 81 13 innings against Texas.Whos hot?
Polanco has at least one hit in four of his last five games, collecting six hits in 18 at-bats over that span. Howard's homer Saturday was his first since May 13.Michael Young has seven hits and 12 total bases in the Rangers last five victories.
Storylines
Though its occurring extremely gradually, the Phils offense looks as if it is beginning to come around. They had more than six hits for the first time in seven games on Saturday, snapping their longest such streak since 1908. Howard, Polanco and Jimmy Rollins all had multiple hits, and their eight total knocks marked the teams highest single-game total since May 13. The club looks to continue to make strides offensivelyas well as bag its third straight victoryon Sunday.
Sound off
On a scale of 1-10, how concerned are you about the Phillies' offensive issues?