MATT VEASEY: Jose Urena

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Friday, April 26, 2019

Jerad Eickhoff pitches Phillies to Friday night victory over Marlins

Phillies ride brilliant Jerad Eickhoff outing to victory

The Philadelphia Phillies (14-12) road a dynamic performance from starting pitcher Jerad Eickhoff and a trio of home runs to a 4-0 victory over the National League East Division rival Miami Marlins (8-18) at a soggy, windy Citizens Bank Park on Friday night.

With the win, the two teams have split the first two games of a four-game weekend series in South Philly. The Phillies bats only recorded six hits on the night against Marlins pitching. But three of the hits left the yard and Eickhoff and the bullpen ensured it would be enough.

J.T. Realmuto put the Phillies on the board first with a one-out home run to right-center field off Marlins starter Jose Urena in the bottom of the 1st inning.

In the bottom of the 4th, Maikel Franco drove an offering from Urena out to the opposite field for a 2-0 lead. The blasts were the fourth on the season for Realmuto and the seventh for Franco.

Then in the home 8th, Realmuto drew a one-out walk. Bryce Harper then stepped up and absolutely crushed a two-strike, 88 mph slider from Marlins reliever Tyler Kinley into the right field upper deck for his 6th home run on the season. The two-run blast extended the Phillies lead out to the final 4-0 margin.

Phillies will try to snap out of a recent funk on Friday night at Citizens Bank Park

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Phillies look to get on track vs Marlins on Friday night

The Phillies (13-12) are scheduled to host the division-rival Miami Marlins (8-17) on Friday night at Citizens Bank Park. There is a high probability of rain in the forecast for around game time, so there could be at least a delay in the start of tonight’s game.

This is scheduled to be the second of a four-game long weekend series between the two teams. The Marlins took the opener last night on a two-run homer from second baseman Starlin Castro in the top of the 10th inning off Phillies reliever Hector Neris.

Marlins pitcher Caleb Smith tossed a gem for the second straight start against the Phillies. He previously one-hit them over six innings back on April 13. This time, Smith allowed a run on three hits while striking out eight and walking one in another six-inning outing.

The Phillies won two of three earlier this month against the Marlins, and will be looking to snap out of a funk that has seen them drop six of their last eight games. The Phils currently trail the New York Mets by a half-game in the National League East Division standings.

FRIDAY STARTING LINEUPS AND PREVIEW

PHILLIES LINEUP

Andrew McCutchen CF
J.T. Realmuto C
Bryce Harper RF
Rhys Hoskins 1B
Nick Williams LF
Maikel Franco 3B
Cesar Hernandez 2B
Sean Rodriguez SS
Jerad Eickhoff P

PHILLIES HOT & COLD

Cesar Hernandez had a pair of hits on Thursday night to remain hot. The much-maligned second baseman is now slashing .344/.403/.508 going back over his last 15 games and 67 plate appearances with seven runs scored and six extra-base hits.

Sean Rodriguez smacked his first home run of the season last night. He was called up from Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Wednesday and became the fourth player to start a game at shortstop for the Phillies this season. Though starting shortstop Jean Segura is due back tomorrow it may not be Rodriguez whose spot is in jeopardy since he can play every position on the diamond except perhaps behind the plate.

Sunday, April 14, 2019

Gabe Kapler changes up Phillies lineup for just third time this season in Fish finale

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Scott Kingery will enter the starting lineup on Sunday

It was less than twenty-four hours ago that we referred to the Phillies manager as “Everyday Gabe” in the headline for Saturday night’s Gameday feature. For that contest, Gabe Kapler ran out the same starting lineup for the 11th time in the season’s first 13 games.

After the Phillies had their doors blown off in a 10-3 defeat, Kapler stated that there would be changes on Sunday. The starting lineup which he has submitted does indeed reveal changes, all at the very bottom of the batting order.

Kapler also stated that Scott Kingery, who doubled in both the 8th and 9th innings last night, would be in the starting lineup today. He is, but not where you might expect.

With second baseman Cesar Hernandez off to a .178/.240/.244 slash line over his first dozen games and 50 plate appearances and producing yet another o-fer on Saturday night, one might expect that Kingery would be playing in his place. However, Kapler has actually moved Hernandez up a spot, from seventh to sixth, in his batting order. Kingery will instead be starting at third base, giving Maikel Franco a rest.

The other change to the lineup and batting order finds Andrew Knapp batting eighth and catching. This will mark the second straight weekend during which J.T. Realmuto has been given a break.

The first five batters in the Phillies order this afternoon will look very familiar to those who have followed the club through the season’s first couple of weeks.

SUNDAY STARTING LINEUPS

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