Phillies Aim To Sweep Reds

Cincinnati Reds (49-40) at Philadelphia Phillies (46-40)
Matt Maloney (0-1, 4.76 ERA) vs. Cole Hamels (6-7, 4.05)

Just as everybody is about to write them off, the Phillies pull everybody back in. Not only has their three straight walk-off wins improved their record, but perhaps has given the team that "swagger" they once had. Last night, Travis Wood was nearly perfect, but even perfection can't beat Roy Halladay. Halladay kept the Phillies in the game with nine shutout innings, and for the third straight night, the Phillies won in extra innings. Jimmy Rollins came through with the eleventh inning clutch hit. Who will get the walk-off today, as the Phillies will attempt to sweep the four-game set?

There's always that one team that a pitcher absolutely destroys. For Cole Hamels, it is the Cincinnati Reds. In his career against the Reds, Hamels is 5-0 with a 1.26 earned run average. He has 39 strikeouts in 43 innings against them.

Maloney is filling in for an injured Aaron Harang. Maloney is making his second start of the season, and possibly his last with the possibility of Harang returning. Maloney surrendered three runs in 5.2 innings against the Mets in his last start. Sometimes it's these "no-name" pitchers that have the most success against the Phillies, so don't tab them for 12 runs yet.

This is the final game before the All Star Break. The Phillies would like it to end on a high note, with a sweep.

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