vs.

 

 

 

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AJ Burnett (1-4, 4.86) vs. Kevin Millwood (7-5, 4.92)

 

 

 

07/21/2004 2:07 AM ET

Burnett ready to roll in Philly

Florida (47-46) at Philadelphia (49-44), 7:05 p.m. ET

By Joe Frisaro / MLB.com

 

 

Inspired by back-to-back wins over the Mets at Shea Stadium, the Marlins head into Philadelphia riding a nine-game winning streak over the Phillies dating back to last year.

 

The Marlins have swept all six games with the Phillies this season, and have won 18 of 20.

 

Snakebitten in most of his outings this season, A.J. Burnett seeks to reverse his bad luck on the road. In five starts away from home, the flame-throwing right-hander is 0-4, with an 8.06 ERA.

 

Despite his 1-4 record overall, Burnett has been a pleasant surprise since returning from Tommy John surgery.

 

Before giving up five runs in five innings in his last start, Burnett had a stretch of five strong starts in six outings. In those games he gave up 12 earned runs in 36 2/3 innings, for a 2.95 ERA.

 

Burnett faces the Phillies for the first time this season. The Marlins are 2-5 when he takes on Philadelphia.

 

 

 

Players to Watch:(Credit: Joe Frisaro / Special to MLB.com)

• Miguel Cabrera has knocked in six runs in the last two games, including a two-run homer on Tuesday. Against Millwood he is 4-for-12, going deep twice and adding a double.
  
• Alex Gonzalez, who had a three-run home run on Tuesday, is 11-for-36 (.306) when facing Millwood.
  
• Juan Pierre, who had four hits on Tuesday, collected two bunt hits, including a bunt double in the first inning. He now has nine bunt hits on the season and 21 infield hits.
  
• Bobby Abreu is 6-for-15 (.400) with a homer off Burnett.
  

Quotable:(Credit: Joe Frisaro / Special to MLB.com)

 

"It was a whole bullpen game. We were enjoying it here. Now, we don't know where the ride is going, but we are having fun now."-- reliever Josias Manzanillo, after the bullpen held down the Mets on Tuesday for a 9-7 win

 

 

 

Quick Hits:(Credit: Joe Frisaro / Special to MLB.com)

 

The six-run first inning was the Marlins' first six-run inning since the eighth frame against Arizona on May 24. Their season high is eight, recorded in the third inning of the game on May 22, also against the Diamondbacks. The homers by Cabrera and Gonzalez in the first inning marked the first time Marlins homered in the same inning since Lowell and Cabrera went deep off Atlanta's Mike Hampton on June 29. The Mets stole five bases in six attempts in the two-game series.

 

 

 

On Television:

Marlins station: FSN

Phillies station: CSN

 

On Radio:

Marlins station: Sports radio/WQAM 560 AM; WQBA 1140 AM Spanish

Phillies station: WPEN 950

 

On Internet:

MLB.TV

Gameday Audio

 

On Webcast:

DT, Ramp, rferry, Cape, and Co...

 

 

 

DT's Prediction: Fish win 6-5 dammit...

 

 

 

• This thread will be locked 3 hours after the game has ended.
  

 

Ill be there baby.......Let's go Fish!

Ill be there baby.......Let's go Fish!

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I'm jealous....started getting used to going to see the Fish live.

 

Here's the Yahoo! Sports Game Preview

The Philadelphia Phillies' inability to beat the Florida Marlins may have cost them a playoff spot last season. They're hoping to avoid the same fate this year.

 

The Phillies will try for their first win over the Marlins this season when the teams open a two-game series at Citizens Bank Park.

 

Philadelphia was just 6-13 against Florida in 2003 and finished five games behind the eventual World Series champion in the NL wild card race.

 

That trend continued earlier this season, as the Marlins won the first six meetings with the Phillies. They swept a three-game series at Pro Player Stadium from April 9-11 and another a week later at Citizens Bank Park. The Phillies, who have not made the playoffs since 1993, have dropped 17 of the last 18 meetings overall.

 

``I look at it as we better start beating them,'' Phillies manager Admin Bowa said. ``It's important.''

 

Catcher Mike Lieberthal said the Phillies are past due for a victory over their NL East rivals.

 

``We owe them,'' Lieberthal said. ``They really haven't been playing good baseball since we played them. I don't care if they beat us 30 out of 30, as long as we're ahead of them at the end and we go to the playoffs. (Still), there is more of a desire to beat them just because they've beaten us so many times.''

 

The Phillies, who are 3-3 since the All-Star break, pulled into a first-place tie with Atlanta after beating the Braves 4-3 on Tuesday.

 

After Philadelphia rallied for two unearned runs in the eighth inning, All-Star right fielder Bobby Abreu singled home Jimmy Rollins for the winning run in the 10th.

 

The Phillies will entrust their share of first place to starter Kevin Millwood.

 

The 29-year-old right-hander, who was inconsistent throughout the first half of the season, allowed one run and three hits over seven innings Friday in a 5-1 win over the New York Mets. He didn't give up a hit until the fifth inning.

 

``That's the best I've seen him use the inside part of the plate in a long, long time,'' Bowa said.

 

Expected to be the ace of the Phillies' staff, Millwood is hoping Friday's effort will propel him to a strong second half.

 

``This is huge for me to get off to a good start and hopefully carry this on to the rest of the season,'' Millwood said. ``I didn't pitch the way I wanted to in the first half, hopefully this will balloon for me.''

 

The Marlins arrive in Philadelphia after sweeping a two-game series from the Mets at Shea Stadium. Miguel Cabrera homered and drove in three runs Tuesday, and Florida held on for a 9-7 win despite blowing an early six-run lead.

 

After Cabrera hit a two-run homer in the first, he came through again with the eventual game-winning RBI single in the sixth.

I approve a win

:lol :lol :lol Millwood :lol :lol :lol

We always knock Millwood around.

We always knock Millwood around.

468679[/snapback]

 

:lol Yeah, you really love your jinx title.

in the words of ivan drago: "You will loose"

 

 

that is obviously directed to the phillies....

Wow a bunt DOUBLE.

I hope we do really well today, ive been trying to follow up on the marlins as much as i could these past months and theyve been struggling. I'll be able to go to the Marlins games when they come up here to visit the Cub's and Brewers....in full out Marlins gear .... :hat

in the words of ivan drago: "You will loose"

 

 

that is obviously directed to the phillies....

468715[/snapback]

The Russian Is Cut! :o

 

Clubber Lang predicts pain...

LETS GO FISH!

The Mets games were huge, but only if the were the beginning. We must continue to win, especially againt division foes.

 

 

Go Marlins!

The cit is sold out just for those who are familiar with empty seats :mischief

The cit is sold out just for those who are familiar with empty seats :mischief

468778[/snapback]

your going down Rune!

Millwood looks like he's at least 35 and he's 29.

 

Bell is in for the bunt

peanut grounds it to 2B :plain

Big out against THe Real Phils Killer, Pierre

I dont have a good feeling about this game...hope I'm wrong.

STFU Furman.

 

 

k

Easley

 

single to LF

 

k

468789[/snapback]

u know i hate you babii :thumbup

Good thing Castillo isn't in the lineup or a sb would be a guarantee with Lieby and Millwood

woot woot...

 

let's go Mikey