Game 134 Thread / Phillies @ Cubs (1 of 4)
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SP | *Cole Hamels | SP | Ryan Dempster |
11-8, 3.20, 162 K, 43 BB, 188.2 IP | 15-5, 2.85, 153 K, 65 BB, 170.2 IP | ||
SS | #Jimmy Rollins | LF | Alfonso Soriano |
2B | *Chase Utley | SS | Ryan Theriot |
LF | Pat Burrell | 1B | Derrek Lee |
1B | *Ryan Howard | 3B | Aramis Ramirez |
CF | #Shane Victorino | C | Geovany Soto |
RF | Jayson Werth | CF | Reed Johnson |
3B | Pedro Feliz | RF | *Kosuke Fukudome |
C | Carlos Ruiz | 2B | Mark DeRosa |
P | *Cole Hamels | P | Ryan Dempster |
The Cubs and Phillies play the first game in Major League history in which the umpires—or at least the crew chief—will have the option to summon an instant replay to assist a call. (The Rangers/Angels and Twins/A's games starting later Thursday will also be replay-enabled; umpires at all games will be onboard starting Friday.) The reviewable plays will be limited to potential home runs, i.e., fair or foul, over the fence or in play, fan interference or not.
Cubs manager Lou Piniella thinks it's all just a grand idea:
"This is not going to work. I shouldn't say it's not going to work, but this could turn into a little bit of a fiasco initially."
Anyhow, having beaten our boys twice (and nearly three times) in a three-game series in Philadelphia back in April, the Philles begin this four-game set as the only NL team with a lead in their season series against the Cubs.
Hamels—3-1, 3.00 lifetime against the Cubs— started the middle game in that series and was dominant, allowing the Cubs no runs and a single hit (a 4th inning double by Derrek Lee) while walking two over 7 innings. Fifteen-game winner Dempster, who will achieve a career high with his next victory, continued his marvelous season last time out against the Nationals, limiting the Gnats to one run over 7 1/3 as the Cubbies triumphed, 9-2.
The Phillies begin play 1/2 game behind the NL East-leading Mets; Cubs are six up on the Brewers.
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