If you are a Philadelphia fan, yesterday just wasn’t your day. The 76’ers lost to the Orlando Magic last nigh 88-82 and the Flyers lost to the Pittsburgh Penguins in the season finale yesterday at the Consol Energy Center. As the icing on the cake, the Philadelphia Phillies were looking to ride their second ace Cliff Lee to victory to take a 2-0 lead in series with the Pirates. The Buccos and Alex Presley had a different plan however, and continued Philadelphia’s losing way yesterday by defeating the Phillies 2-1 in extra innings on an Alex Presley walk-off.
Presley was called safe on a controversial bang-bang play at first base on a throw by Jimmy Rollins. While the talk all night was if Presley was safe, he had no doubt in his mind that he was.
“(I knew I was safe) when I touched the bag. It probably didn’t look like it because I kind of just jogged past the bag,” Presley said. “I knew it was going to be close. I could just feel it. You can just feel the ball coming and I just got in there.”
After looking at numerous replays, it is still too close to call, but as I’m sure the majority of Pirates fans feel, they will take a win however they can get it.
In the rubber match and the final game of the three game set, the Pirates will hand the ball to James McDonald who will make his first start of the season. The 27-year-old McDonald, posted a 9-9 record last season with a 4.21 ERA in 31 starts. This spring, McDonald struggled posting a 0-2 record and a 8.21 ERA.
With the Phillies electing to skip all-star Cole Hamels start to ensure he starts the home opener, the Phillies will have Vance Worley take the hill. The 23-year-old Worley impressed last season with an 11-3 record and a 3.01 ERA, and was one of the reasons the Phillies didn’t re-sign Roy Oswalt this season. Worley has a no decision in his only previous start against the Pirates, allowing four runs over six innings.
After having the night off last night, Garrett Jones and Pedro Alvarez will both return to the lineup today against the Phillies. Michael McKenry, who scored the game-winning run last night as a pinch hitter, will make his first start of the season behind the plate.
Three things to watch in this game:
1) The offense – We have to give the Pirates the benefit of the doubt with their lackluster offensive effort against Roy Halladay and Cliff Lee over the past two days. No disrespect to Worley, but he isn’t at the level that either of those pitchers are. With only eight combined hits over 19 innings, will today be the day that the Pirates bats finally awake?
2) Alex Presley – While the offense has struggled, Presley has continued to showcase his skills since his callup last summer. Presley, who hit the walk-off single last night, will be leading off again for the Pirates today as he did opening day.
3) Evan Meek – With the use of the bullpen in the past two days, what does it say about where Evan Meek stands with the Pirates organization? After missing last season, the 2010 all-star representative has yet to make an appearance for the Bucs. Unless McDonald is going for a no-hit bid today, which he struggles making it out of the sixth, I expect Meek to make his 2012 debut.
Pirates (1-1) vs. Phillies (1-1)
James McDonald (0-0) vs. Vance Worley (0-0)
First pitch 1:35 p.m.
Pirates lineup:
Presley – 7
Tabata – 9
McCutchen – 8
Walker – 4
Jones – 3
Barmes – 6
Alvarez – 5
McKenry – 2
McDonald – 1
Phillies lineup:
Pierre – 7
Victorino – 8
Rollins – 6
Pence – 9
Thome – 3
Wiggington – 5
Galvis – 4
Schneider – 2
Worley – 1
Photo credits: REUTERS/Mike Cassese
Discussion about this post