Phillies Battle Reds Again, Go For Fourth Straight Win
By Matt Leon
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – The Phillies now sit at 57-65 and have moved into a tie for third place in the National League East with the Mets after winning their third straight game last night, 12-5, over the Reds. Tonight the Phillies give the ball to Cliff Lee as they try to extend that modest win streak.
Lee is 2-7 here in 2012 and has yet to grab a win at Citizens Bank Park. In his last start, Lee earned a no-decision in Milwaukee, allowing four runs (three earned) in 7 2/3 innings with 12 strikeouts in a game the Phillies eventually lost 7-4. In his career against the Reds, Lee is 6-2 in ten starts with a 4.04 ERA.
One interesting statistic on Lee: in three starts this month, spanning 22 2/3 innings, he has yet to walk a batter (while striking out 23). But during that span, he is 0-1 with a 4.37 ERA.
The Reds start right-hander Homer Bailey who is 10-8 here in 2012, but he has always struggled against the Phillies. In fact he has never beaten them. Bailey is 0-3 with a 5.88 ERA in his career against the Fightins'.
Phillies will have a new face in uniform tonight, as right-hander Phillippe Aumont has been recalled from AAA Lehigh Valley to replace LHP Jeremy Horst in the bullpen. Horst has been placed on the paternity leave list. Aumont, of course, was acquired from Seattle in that much-maligned trade of Cliff Lee after the 2009 season.
KYW's Matt Leon spoke with Ryan Lawrence, new Phillies beat writer for the Philadelphia Daily News, about tonight's match-up.
You can follow Matt on Twitter @mattleonkyw.
