Blanton to start Game 4
News blogs, sports blogs, entertainment blogs, and more from Philly.com, The Philadelphia Inquirer and the Philadelphia Daily News.
Blanton to start Game 4
Daily News staff
Cliff Lee will not come back to pitch Game 4 on three days' rest.
Instead, Joe Blanton will get the call on Sunday night against the Yankees at Citizens Bank Park.
Lee has never pitched on three days' rest in his career, but seemed confident he could. He threw 122 pitches in his masterful Game 1 victory on Wednesday night at Yankee Stadium.
Blanton started Game 4 of the NLCS against the Dodgers and gave up four runs in six innings. He had pitched out of the bullpen in the Division Series.
Blanton won Game 4 against Tampa Bay last year, allowing two runs over six innings with seven strikeouts and two walks. He also bashed a home run.
More to come.
hmmm— lefty1117- Hamels better be back to 2008 form tomorrow— Bobbyo
- Lee closes it out on Monday. No Pat the Bat this year who leads the parade down Broad Street?— amann08
- move of confidence...Lee to close out game 5— traymelvin
- This is a mistake. I think Lee should be used in game 4, and brought back in game 7 if needed. He has all winter to rest.— Bobphxville
- Youve got to be kidding me. There goes the Series and the season. How could you feel comfortable with the match-ups Saturday (Hamels vs. Pettitte) or Sunday (CC vs Blanton.) We could easily be down 3-1 before Cliff pitches again.— mchughu1
- Cliff for the clincher on Monday night...— TVGuy22
Comment removed.- We're not in panic mode. Blanton is fine for Game 4. The guy's good. Let's just wake the bats up.— everydayguy
- Game 3 is key. Hamels needs to have a good outing and we need to score some runs— ChrisM
- This makes tomorrow night's game even bigger than it already was.— MH
- Comment removed.
- flynn4u - after the 5th you bring in Happ.
- This is exactly what they should do, esp since Blanton wasn't needed in either game 1 or 2. Bringing pitchers back on 3 days rest is just silly and not worth it when you have fresh arms. Blanton ALWAYS keeps us in the game and gives us a chance to win. Plus his delivery is very herky jerky and he throws off hitters that aren't familiar with him. I just have to ask, why did we have to announce this today so the Yanks can watch film and have 2.5 days to prepare? They haven't announced their game 4 starter yet.— cheesesteak17
- With the potential offens the Phils have, its not the pitching thats the issue. Any of the starters in any order will suffice, so long as the hitters do their jobs. No offense equals no victory, no matter who is on the mound. Pedro and crew pitched well enough to win in game two but rarely will one run win a game for you, especially against the pinstripers in the Series.— bsbullie
