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The rubber game in the series, and we'll see whether Cahill can do a bit better at Chase than in his first start, which resulted in seven runs over 5.2 innings, though three of those were unearned. Hamels has largely owned the D-backs, with a collective .182 average against the current roster. However, small sample size applies, with Blanco (2-for-14) and Upton (4-for-12) the only ones to have more than eight plate appearances against Hamels. Mind you, the same goes for Cahill and the Phillies, with Pierre (4-for-18) and Thome (3-for-10), the only players who've seen him more than eight times, and their collective average is little better, at .196.
Line-up for this afternoon delight after the jump, with a surprising name in the heart of the order. kishi is - for realz and truths this time! - on the recappage.
- Willie Bloomquist SS
- Aaron Hill 2B
- Justin Upton RF
- Jason Kubel LF
- Cody Ransom 3B
- Paul Goldschmidt 1B
- A.J. Pollock CF
- Henry Blanco C
- Trevor Cahill P
Yes, that's Ransom hitting fifth. He made his major-league debut all the way back in 2001. but today is just the third time in his entire career, he has started a game above #6 in the order. He hit fifth for the Phillies in July 2010, and also had one game at the dizzy heights of third with the Astros in 2007. This is clearly Gibby playing the hot hand, and there have been few hotter than Ransom over the past few days, going 5-for-11 with a home-run and two doubles since moving into the line-up. Ryan Roberts has basically been RyRo'd out of his spot, Ransom having done to him what he did last April, producing at such a level it's impossible to bench him. Now, will it last?