(Sports Network) – Flip-flopping between reliever and starter, Vance Worley hasn’t had much consistency in his role with the Phillies this season.
The 23-year-old right-hander will get his second straight starting assignment today when Philadelphia tries to complete its first sweep of the Mets in Flushing since September 14-16, 2007.
Worley lasted five innings in his last start, against Cincinnati on Tuesday and allowed six hits and three runs in a no-decision. This will be his sixth major league start and second against the Mets. His first start this season came vs. New York on April 29 when he threw a two-hitter over six shutout innings of a 10-3 victory.
Jonathon Niese has received just one run of support in two starts against the Phillies this season. He’ll hope for more offense from his struggling team today when he gets the ball for the Mets.
Niese was blistered for eight hits and six runs in an 11-0 loss at Philadelphia on April 7. A return trip to Citizens Bank Park yielded a 2-1 loss, but Niese was much better in that game as he surrendered two runs in 6 1/3 frames. All told, he’s 1-3 in five career contests vs. the Phillies.
Last night, Ryan Howard’s two-run double in the eighth proved to be the deciding factor as the Phillies took a 5-2 win. Chase Utley went 2-for-3 with an RBI and two runs scored while Domonic Brown added two hits and a run scored for the Phillies, who have won four straight.
Cole Hamels (7-2) snapped a five-game losing streak to the Mets as he gave up two runs and seven hits with 10 strikeouts and retired the final 11 batters he faced over a seven-inning performance. He moved to 4-0 on the road this season.
Jose Reyes had two hits, a pair of stolen bases and two runs scored while Justin Turner and Jason Bay each drove in a run for the Mets, who have dropped three straight and six of seven.
Mike Pelfrey was solid in the start as he yielded just two runs on four hits with a pair of walks and six strikeouts over 7 2/3 innings, but for the second night in a row the Mets’ bullpen blew the game.
The Phillies have won six of eight meetings with the Mets this season.