Game 39: Luna Landing
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Game 39: Luna Landing
Matt Gelb
CHICAGO — Chris Volstad has not won a game since July 10, 2011. His team has lost nine straight games he's started and 15 of his last 17. He has a lifetime ERA of 5.89 against the Phillies.
And he's facing Roy Halladay on Thursday night.
So it's as close to a reverse lock as possible, as the Phillies go for a five-game winning streak. Charlie Manuel will start Hector Luna at first base. It's his first major-league start in 636 days.
Ty Wigginton is at third base for the injured Placido Polanco. He left Wednesday's game with a bruised left knee and is day to day.
1. Jimmy Rollins 6
2. Juan Pierre 7
3. Shane Victorino 8
4. Hunter Pence 9
5. Carlos Ruiz 2
6. Ty Wigginton 5
7. Hector Luna 3
8. Freddy Galvis 4
9. Roy Halladay 1
Have a question? Send it to Matt Gelb's Mailbag.
Comments (27)
Why has this website turned into the I hate Rollins club? The guy is a 3 time goldglover and still playing great Defense, a 3 time allstar and a former MVP. He's not hitting but his defense still makes him a plus. If your a Philly fan get beyond this and hope the offense gets going.— Don w- Is there EVER a time now that Polanco isn't hurt, or at least looks hurt?— hawaiiphillyfan
- like 100 games off, ESFJellin?— jeff gross
- For those who said Mayberry should start instead of Wiggington: What part of "Ty Wigginton is at third base for the injured Placido Polanco" don't you understand? Or do you think Mayberry can play 3rd?
— judas_priest - Glad to see Luna get a chance at the show after a good Spring Training. Pretty sure he won't be around once Howard and Utley get back, but it's good to have some fresh blood on the team. Maybe their hunger will energize the underperforming veterans?— raboo
- Going to be tough tonight for Doc, cause he never gets the run support.......watch and see!— huntnmike3666
- Mayberry has 1 HR and 2 RBI. HR struck out 3 times last night. Why all he love? For the decent half season he had LY?— Ssteve115
- JImmy like Ruiz and Polly should have some days off. They have replacements so why not do it? BTW, this type of game is of course a trap. Doc should breeze; but he will not and we all know it.— Koons
- Time to find out what makes Luna tick.— gentian
- I think ive seen enough of Rollins leading off myself, even though i was pulling for him to get it together. I like the fact that they brought some much needed players up from AAA. Even if they didnt work out, a change and a new approach was much needed regardless! I just hope the Luna grand slam wasnt just a fluke, i hope he hits well enough to stay cause his defense is suspect.— huntnmike3666
Gotta play Pierre if he's hitting 330, but his defense is gonna cost some games. Carlos Lee tug up from first earlier this week and Darwin tug up from second last night on fly balls to left.
Has someone asked Charlie why JR is batting first? It seems he makes a bunch of lineup decisions based on performance... or lackthereof.— zubzub- isnt it time for charley to go? with the constant changing of the dysfunctional batting order, to his roster decisions, to his inability to develop young players, his inept game time moves, his pre and post game media bits? seriously how is he the manager in the 4 largest market of a contender— stayoutofphilly
- With Fontenot and Orr on the bench, no excuse to NOT give Galvis a start at SS and give Jimmy some time off.— ESFjellin
- Yep, I am in the camp and have been for a while, enough with Jimmy leading off, especially the way Pierre has been getting on base this year. He's a true table setter. Jimmy should be hitting 6-8. Rollins pop-ups are madnenning and Pence and Victorino have copied the pop-up just like a perfect Monet painting.— Jay25
- 'Pops' Rollins. What a waste watching him sacrifice a Hall of Fame potential trying to imitate Ricky Henderson. You always hoped that the light would come on and he would utilize his talents instead of squandering them trying to emulate someone else. Now, its too late, the skills are eroding. You have high baseball IQ in Pierre and Polanco....that needs to be your 1-2, Put dummies like 'Pops' down 6-7 and hope for the best.— tomficara
- The reporters are quiet about that. But LF is a problem, they keep telling us.— EL Zorro
- JRoll is hitting .212 with a .571 OPS in his last 25 games.— EL Zorro
- good defensive player, I meant. And when is Charlie going to sit JRoll? If he wanted to get Luna a start (because of the Slam), why not put him at second and Galvis at SS? That's Luna's best position. Luna is an emergency first baseman at best.— EL Zorro
- How much longer until Rollins gets moved to 5th or 8th in the lineup? He got his dang money so why is Cholly afraid to hurt his little feelings? I am starting to enjoy this years Phils but that lineup is gawd awful. Now is when we need the starters to really carry this team— JuanSamuel4prez
- Luna is not a got defensive player at any position, if not he wold have been in the majors a long time ago. I believe he had 6 errors in 29 games so far at 3B with the IronPigs. I believe he's a .948 defensive player in the minors and a .969 in the majors. Halladay must strike out a lot of people or make the Cubbies hit the ball through the middle.— EL Zorro
- Ty who? Play Mayberry for Chrissakes Charlie. The kid needs the at bats.— brainsturgeon
- Volstad 13 starts vs Phils 2-5 5.89 ERA
Halladay 6 starts vs Cubs 1-5 3.75 ERA
Roy's starts this year, not counting the 15-13 game ... he has a 2.12 ERA, the Phils have scored 18 runs in those seven games (2.57)
Maybe not such a lock? Get Roy some runs!
— zubzub - Dear offense, score some runs for Doc already!— palmyra21
- I find it amazing Manuel always starts Wigginton against cake pitching and sits Mayberry at the same time. If the Phils have any long term plans for Mayberry, he should be in the lineup every day, especially against pitching that will allow him to regain his confidence at the plate. I have always liked Wigginton but he is not the future of this team. Guys like Mayberry and Galvis are, and they need to be playing every day. I wonder what's going to happen to Galvis if Utley returns. Is he going to be sent back to the minors. Is he going to be a bench player. Either one will hurt his career at a time when it is really starting to take off and show great promise. Once again, Rollins leads off which he can't do and Pierre hits secodn which he's not as good at as leading off. Last night, Pierre showed his smarts. He bunted ywice against Garza who can't throw to first and got on base both times. Rollins came up with no outs and Kendrick on first base. If ever there was a time for a bunt, it was then. But, of course, Rollins wasted the time at bat by popping up. Glad to see Luna is getting a game tonight. He should have been on this team since spring training. The Phils have talent under their noses and don't recognize it. Valdez and Luna are just two examples. Manuel plays favorites, but he's well likes, so he gets a lot of support. Speaking of which, I'm tired of hearing the Phillie broadcasters continually harping on why Rollins has to lead off. The mania has even spread to commercials. There's one where one neighbor says to another that the Phils usually win when Rollins scores a run. Sure, they do. That's because, when Rollins scores a run, most of the other Phils also score runs. The sad part of all this is that the Phils could actually have won more games this year with the players they have but don't know how to use.— onthebucks
- ohhhhhh, this would have been a great game for Nix at 1st.....love Luna though he must be really, really bad at 3rd if they're putting Wiggy there over him. Doc throws a lot of groundbals, let's hope there aren't too many scorchers destined for the leftfield corner tonight.....in other news, let's keep Polly month to month with that knee.......— Mark1npt
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