It’s alive…it’s alive…the Phillies’ offense, that is. The team has scored at least five runs in all but one of its last six games, with days that have included eight and nine-run performances this week, and the Phils will look to maintain that success as they face off with Florida in their series finale vs. the Marlins this afternoon.
Cliff Lee (6-5, 3.41 ERA) has been excellent as of late and will be on the hill for Philadelphia to close out the series, which the Phillies have already wrapped up with three consecutive victories. In his last outing, Lee went eight innings and allowed just one run against the Cubs, and after beginning the season with a bit of disappointing inconsistency, he’s seemingly stepped up and is on pace with the rest of the heralded pitching rotation. It should be noted he’s won his last four starts at Citizens Bank Park, striking out 35 batters in that span.
On the mound for the Marlins is Javier Vasquez (3-6, 7.09 ERA), who came over from the Yankees this past offseason and has really struggled in recent appearances. Over his last two games as Florida’s starting pitcher, he’s allowed 13 runs in a little over seven innings, and that should be promising news for the Phillies’ exploding offense, which has been led by the likes of just about everyone in recent games, from Jimmy Rollins to Chase Utley to Carlos Ruiz and even Wilson Valdez.
With a win over the Marlins to close out the series, the Phillies will push their division rivals 11.5 games back in the NL East race and pad their own regular season record, which is still the best in Major League Baseball.