Houston Astros vs Philadelphia Phillies major league baseball live streaming links gamecast 360 ESPN Star tv radio commentry score results Highlights April 03, 2011 Roy Oswalt got one chance to face his former team after being traded to the Philadelphia Phillies in July, but it was hardly the type of experience he's used to.
On Sunday, he'll get back to doing what he knows best.
After briefly playing in left field during a wild extra-inning loss to the Houston Astros in August, Oswalt takes the mound for the first time against the organization he came up with and looks to pitch the Phillies to a season-opening three-game sweep at Citizens Bank Park.
Oswalt won 143 games, was a three-time All-Star and named the 2005 NLCS MVP during his 9 1/2 seasons with Houston (0-2), but the out-of-contention club dealt its high-priced star to Philadelphia on July 29 for left-hander J.A. Happ and two prospects.
1:35 PM ET, April 3, 2011
Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Gameday Lineups
NO. Houston Philadelphia
1. M. Bourn, CF M. Martinez, CF
2. A. Sanchez, SS P. Polanco, 3B
3. H. Pence, RF J. Rollins, SS
4. C. Lee, LF R. Howard, 1B
5. B. Hall, 2B R. Ibanez, LF
6. B. Wallace, 1B B. Francisco, RF
7. C. Johnson, 3B C. Ruiz, C
8. H. Quintero, C W. Valdez, 2B
9. B. Norris, P R. Oswalt, P
WATCH Houston Astros vs Philadelphia Phillies NOW
Roy Oswalt got one chance to face his former team after being traded to the Philadelphia Phillies in July, but it was hardly the type of experience he's used to.
On Sunday, he'll get back to doing what he knows best.
After briefly playing in left field during a wild extra-inning loss to the Houston Astros in August, Oswalt takes the mound for the first time against the organization he came up with and looks to pitch the Phillies to a season-opening three-game sweep at Citizens Bank Park.
Oswalt won 143 games, was a three-time All-Star and named the 2005 NLCS MVP during his 9 1/2 seasons with Houston (0-2), but the out-of-contention club dealt its high-priced star to Philadelphia on July 29 for left-hander J.A. Happ and two prospects.
The Phillies (2-0) hosted Houston for a four-game series in late August following the trade, but Oswalt -- who had started their last game before that set -- didn't pitch against his former club.
He did, however, play the field. After Ryan Howard was ejected Aug. 24 following a 14th-inning strikeout, Oswalt was forced to go into left field in the 15th, becoming the first Philadelphia pitcher to play the field in 39 years. He ended up grounding out to end the game, a 4-2 loss in 16 innings, but Sunday he'll face his former club in a more familiar position -- on the mound.
"It will be a little strange, but there's only a handful of guys there (from) when I was there," Oswalt told MLB.com. "It doesn't look like the same team from when I started. And also, the coaching staff was new last year. It's just kind of a big change all the way around in the organization."
The biggest addition from Philadelphia's offseason took the mound Saturday, and while Cliff Lee pitched well -- surrendering three runs and striking out 11 over seven innings -- the team's much-maligned offense was the story. Placido Polanco had three hits and the four Phillies following him in the lineup had two apiece, giving Lee plenty of support in a 9-4 victory.
"We strung good at-bats together," said left fielder Raul Ibanez, who had two RBIs and scored three runs. "When we do that, we're going to be a tough offense."
The news wasn't all good, however, as Shane Victorino left in the fifth inning with soreness in his left calf. Victorino says he'll be ready to go Sunday, but with an off day Monday, there's a chance manager Charlie Manuel might give his center fielder an extra day of rest.
"I was a little nervous," Victorino said. "I felt something, so I said, 'Let's be a little smarter.' But I feel good. My strength was there when I did all the tests."
Happ was initially supposed to start Sunday, but will be pushed back to Tuesday because of a strained oblique. That leaves Bud Norris (9-10, 4.92), who started the 16-inning win in Philadelphia, to take the mound.
Norris was 2-7 with a 6.08 ERA in his first 14 starts of 2010 before finishing 7-3 with a 3.84 ERA, but his spring numbers looked more like those from last season's first half. The right-hander was 1/3 with a 7.71 ERA, surrendering four homers in 21 innings.
Norris is 1-1 with a 3.68 ERA in three starts versus Philadelphia. Polanco and Ibanez are a combined 6 for 12 against him.
On Sunday, he'll get back to doing what he knows best.
After briefly playing in left field during a wild extra-inning loss to the Houston Astros in August, Oswalt takes the mound for the first time against the organization he came up with and looks to pitch the Phillies to a season-opening three-game sweep at Citizens Bank Park.
Oswalt won 143 games, was a three-time All-Star and named the 2005 NLCS MVP during his 9 1/2 seasons with Houston (0-2), but the out-of-contention club dealt its high-priced star to Philadelphia on July 29 for left-hander J.A. Happ and two prospects.
1:35 PM ET, April 3, 2011
Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
NO. Houston Philadelphia
1. M. Bourn, CF M. Martinez, CF
2. A. Sanchez, SS P. Polanco, 3B
3. H. Pence, RF J. Rollins, SS
4. C. Lee, LF R. Howard, 1B
5. B. Hall, 2B R. Ibanez, LF
6. B. Wallace, 1B B. Francisco, RF
7. C. Johnson, 3B C. Ruiz, C
8. H. Quintero, C W. Valdez, 2B
9. B. Norris, P R. Oswalt, P
WATCH Houston Astros vs Philadelphia Phillies NOW
Roy Oswalt got one chance to face his former team after being traded to the Philadelphia Phillies in July, but it was hardly the type of experience he's used to.
On Sunday, he'll get back to doing what he knows best.
After briefly playing in left field during a wild extra-inning loss to the Houston Astros in August, Oswalt takes the mound for the first time against the organization he came up with and looks to pitch the Phillies to a season-opening three-game sweep at Citizens Bank Park.
Oswalt won 143 games, was a three-time All-Star and named the 2005 NLCS MVP during his 9 1/2 seasons with Houston (0-2), but the out-of-contention club dealt its high-priced star to Philadelphia on July 29 for left-hander J.A. Happ and two prospects.
The Phillies (2-0) hosted Houston for a four-game series in late August following the trade, but Oswalt -- who had started their last game before that set -- didn't pitch against his former club.
He did, however, play the field. After Ryan Howard was ejected Aug. 24 following a 14th-inning strikeout, Oswalt was forced to go into left field in the 15th, becoming the first Philadelphia pitcher to play the field in 39 years. He ended up grounding out to end the game, a 4-2 loss in 16 innings, but Sunday he'll face his former club in a more familiar position -- on the mound.
"It will be a little strange, but there's only a handful of guys there (from) when I was there," Oswalt told MLB.com. "It doesn't look like the same team from when I started. And also, the coaching staff was new last year. It's just kind of a big change all the way around in the organization."
The biggest addition from Philadelphia's offseason took the mound Saturday, and while Cliff Lee pitched well -- surrendering three runs and striking out 11 over seven innings -- the team's much-maligned offense was the story. Placido Polanco had three hits and the four Phillies following him in the lineup had two apiece, giving Lee plenty of support in a 9-4 victory.
"We strung good at-bats together," said left fielder Raul Ibanez, who had two RBIs and scored three runs. "When we do that, we're going to be a tough offense."
The news wasn't all good, however, as Shane Victorino left in the fifth inning with soreness in his left calf. Victorino says he'll be ready to go Sunday, but with an off day Monday, there's a chance manager Charlie Manuel might give his center fielder an extra day of rest.
"I was a little nervous," Victorino said. "I felt something, so I said, 'Let's be a little smarter.' But I feel good. My strength was there when I did all the tests."
Happ was initially supposed to start Sunday, but will be pushed back to Tuesday because of a strained oblique. That leaves Bud Norris (9-10, 4.92), who started the 16-inning win in Philadelphia, to take the mound.
Norris was 2-7 with a 6.08 ERA in his first 14 starts of 2010 before finishing 7-3 with a 3.84 ERA, but his spring numbers looked more like those from last season's first half. The right-hander was 1/3 with a 7.71 ERA, surrendering four homers in 21 innings.
Norris is 1-1 with a 3.68 ERA in three starts versus Philadelphia. Polanco and Ibanez are a combined 6 for 12 against him.
