Infield has unique look for series finale vs. Mets
The Phillies look to avoid a series sweep by the Mets this afternoon on Jackie Robinson Day. Players across the major leagues all will wear No. 42 in honor of the 65th anniversary of Robinson breaking the color barrier in baseball.
Infield has unique look for series finale vs. Mets
Daily News Staff
The Phillies look to avoid a series sweep by the Mets this afternoon on Jackie Robinson Day. Players across the major leagues all will wear No. 42 in honor of the 65th anniversary of Robinson breaking the color barrier in baseball.
The Phillies have managed only two runs total in the first two games of the series.
Manager Charlie Manuel has come up with a unique lineup in which Ty Wigginton starts at third, Laynce Nix at first and Pete Orr at second. Placido Polanco has the day off.
Nix appeared in eight games at first base last season for the Nationals but has not played there this season. Wigginton makes his second start of the season at third for the Phillies.
Cole Hamels is on the mound for the Phillies. He took the loss in the home opener Monday against the Marlins, allowing four runs (three earned) and eight hits in 5 1/3 innings.
Mets starter Mike Pelfrey allowed 10 hits and three runs in 5 2/3 innings in a win over Washington last Sunday. He has been working since spring training on a new delivery in which he brings his hands all the way over his head. That has adding extra velocity to his sinker, which is not hitting 95 mph.
“I was real pleased with the movement the other day,” Pelfrey toldt the New York Daily News. “Ever since I went above my head, I have been able to get on top of the ball. My arm isn’t dragging like it was before.”
Neither starter has been particularly good against this opposition. Hamels is 3-10 with a 4.66 ERA against the Mets. Pelfrey is 7-7 with a 5.37 ERA against the Phillies.
Phillies lineup
Pierre, LF
Victorino, CF
Rollins, SS
Pence, RF
Wigginton, 3B
Nix, 1B
Ruiz, C
Orr, 2B
Hamels, P
Mets lineup
Tejada, SS
Murphy, 2B
Wright, 3B
Davis, 1B
Bay, LF
Hairston, RF
Nieuwenhuis, CF
Nickeas, C
Pelfrey, P
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Game 9 and Polanco already getting a day off.— TripleCap
Comment removed.- Pelfrey seems like a great guy for Thome to face. Polanco needs to take a day off, hes been real disappointing and in my opinion he is the key to making it until Howard is back. Look at Victorino, Jroll and Pence. As of yesterday they all had averages around 300 or more. Polanco has been killing them and yes its way early but he has got to get it going, hes healthy and we need him!— philsfan in the atx
- You can make hash with any ingredients in any proportion and add them in any order. That doesn't make it a good meal. The ingredients have to be good for the meal to be good. Time to go grocery shopping Rubes! And you may want to investigate the promotion of one of the junior chefs in the organization as well. Cholly doesn't know how to use fresh ingredients.— bentlip
- Comment removed.
- it's a real murderers row, isn't it? — coloradoeagle
- Why bother reading this post? — 24sDad
- yeah what's with "days off" already? These guys are wusses. What they get paid to play a game they should be out there every day (except pitchers)!— connorjr
- This line-up is horrible. The Phillies are lucky Pelfrey is pitching.
The downfall of this team can be traced back to Gillick leaving and when Lee was traded. The series lost was when the team could have had Roy and Cliff together. The GM has been scrambling ever since. Sad! The Nats have a much better team that is younger, hungrier, andmore talented in the bigs and minors. Truly Sad— wmontanez27 
im not happy about our start and the lineup but its early and when utley and howard come back things will get better.go phillies.........- Wow, this lineup should scare the opposition. I hope the Mets don't laugh too hard.— fanup
- no matter the lineup,,the hitters are all clueless,,,raj should got better hitters in the winter season,, utley ,,polly,, howard ,,rollins,,schnieder are all washed up,,thome ,,nix ..wiggy ..pierre,,are the rejects which other teams didn t want and the phils picked the garbage the other teams threw out,,,forget brown he s also clueless..— hardball
- Looks like the recipe for another loss. This roster is awful.— psuflyers
- Is this a spring training game? Oh wait...the season started Wow. what has happened to the our beloved Phillies. That lineup wouldn't scare my 9 year olds little league team!— kchaz
