Colorado Rockies vs Philadelphia Phillies mlb authentic live streaming links with radio commentry online baseball review May 18, 2011. The Philadelphia Phillies are struggling mightily at the plate.
A visit from the Colorado Rockies might be what they need to get their offense in gear.
Hoping to avoid losing five straight games for the first time in a year, the Phillies look to continue their home dominance over the Rockies on Wednesday night in a matchup of division leaders.
7:00 PM ET, May 18, 2011
Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
"We're in a rut right now," Ben Francisco said after Tuesday's 2-1 loss to the Cardinals. "Nobody is hitting. The pitching is doing the job. It's frustrating."
The No. 3 and 4 hitters in Philadelphia's batting order, Raul Ibanez and Ryan Howard, are a combined 0 for 23 during the losing streak.
Ibanez, however, seems to have a good chance of breaking out of his slump.
The streaky Ibanez hit .462 with a homer and six RBIs to help Philadelphia sweep a four-game home series from Colorado last July. The Phillies, who haven't lost five straight since May 22-27, outscored the Rockies 25-9 in that series, and have also won 10 of the last 11 regular-season meetings at Citizens Bank Park, averaging 7.5 runs while batting .313.
Leadoff hitter Jimmy Rollins, who is 3 for 17 (.176) during the skid, is batting .406 with two homers and nine RBIs in seven home games against the Rockies since 2009.
Seemingly furthering the chances of breaking out of their funk, the Phillies are set to face Jorge De La Rosa (5-1, 3.70 ERA), whom they've regularly battered.
De La Rosa has recorded a 12.46 ERA in losing his last three starts to Philadelphia, and has been tagged for 14 runs in 8 1/3 innings in losing his two career starts at Citizens Bank Park. Howard is 3 for 6 against him since 2009.
Against San Diego on Friday, De La Rosa permitted season highs of five runs and nine hits in 5 2/3 innings, but was bailed out by his offense in a 12-7 victory. The left-hander had allowed three runs or fewer in each of his previous four starts.
Colorado (22-18) arrives in Philadelphia after sweeping a two-game series from San Francisco to move one-half game ahead of the Giants for first place in the NL West. The Rockies had won just two of their previous 10.
"It's nice to walk out of here being in first place," Troy Tulowitzki said after Tuesday's 5-3 comeback win.
Tulowitzki homered Tuesday, and is hitting .333 with two home runs and eight RBIs in his last five games after batting .087 with two solo homers in his previous 12.
Tulowitzki now looks to lead Colorado to a third straight victory for the first time since a season-high seven-game streak April 9-15 against Cole Hamels (4-2, 3.19).
Hamels gave up four runs -- his most since yielding six in his season debut -- and eight hits over six innings in Philadelphia's 5-4 comeback win over Atlanta on Friday. The left-hander has a 4.85 ERA in his last two starts after recording a 1.50 ERA in winning his previous three.
It could be tough for Hamels to return to his winning ways against a Colorado team that knocked him around for seven runs and 11 hits in 3 2/3 innings in a 10-3 loss on April 10, 2009, his only outing in the series.
A visit from the Colorado Rockies might be what they need to get their offense in gear.
Hoping to avoid losing five straight games for the first time in a year, the Phillies look to continue their home dominance over the Rockies on Wednesday night in a matchup of division leaders.
7:00 PM ET, May 18, 2011
Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Preview: Rockies at PhilliesPhiladelphia (25-16) has plated seven runs while batting .142 during its four-game skid. The NL East-leading Phillies, who had won 10 of their previous 14, were limited to five hits and one run in each of their two games in St. Louis.
Current Conditions - Philadelphia
CLOUDY 68 °F
Wind: E 10
5-Day Forecast
GAME: Colorado Rockies (22-18) at Philadelphia Phillies (25-16)
DATE/TIME: Wednesday, May 18 - 7:05 PM EST
WHERE: Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
LINE: N/A TOTAL: N/A
"We're in a rut right now," Ben Francisco said after Tuesday's 2-1 loss to the Cardinals. "Nobody is hitting. The pitching is doing the job. It's frustrating."
The No. 3 and 4 hitters in Philadelphia's batting order, Raul Ibanez and Ryan Howard, are a combined 0 for 23 during the losing streak.
Ibanez, however, seems to have a good chance of breaking out of his slump.
The streaky Ibanez hit .462 with a homer and six RBIs to help Philadelphia sweep a four-game home series from Colorado last July. The Phillies, who haven't lost five straight since May 22-27, outscored the Rockies 25-9 in that series, and have also won 10 of the last 11 regular-season meetings at Citizens Bank Park, averaging 7.5 runs while batting .313.
Leadoff hitter Jimmy Rollins, who is 3 for 17 (.176) during the skid, is batting .406 with two homers and nine RBIs in seven home games against the Rockies since 2009.
Seemingly furthering the chances of breaking out of their funk, the Phillies are set to face Jorge De La Rosa (5-1, 3.70 ERA), whom they've regularly battered.
De La Rosa has recorded a 12.46 ERA in losing his last three starts to Philadelphia, and has been tagged for 14 runs in 8 1/3 innings in losing his two career starts at Citizens Bank Park. Howard is 3 for 6 against him since 2009.
Against San Diego on Friday, De La Rosa permitted season highs of five runs and nine hits in 5 2/3 innings, but was bailed out by his offense in a 12-7 victory. The left-hander had allowed three runs or fewer in each of his previous four starts.
Colorado (22-18) arrives in Philadelphia after sweeping a two-game series from San Francisco to move one-half game ahead of the Giants for first place in the NL West. The Rockies had won just two of their previous 10.
"It's nice to walk out of here being in first place," Troy Tulowitzki said after Tuesday's 5-3 comeback win.
Tulowitzki homered Tuesday, and is hitting .333 with two home runs and eight RBIs in his last five games after batting .087 with two solo homers in his previous 12.
Tulowitzki now looks to lead Colorado to a third straight victory for the first time since a season-high seven-game streak April 9-15 against Cole Hamels (4-2, 3.19).
Hamels gave up four runs -- his most since yielding six in his season debut -- and eight hits over six innings in Philadelphia's 5-4 comeback win over Atlanta on Friday. The left-hander has a 4.85 ERA in his last two starts after recording a 1.50 ERA in winning his previous three.
It could be tough for Hamels to return to his winning ways against a Colorado team that knocked him around for seven runs and 11 hits in 3 2/3 innings in a 10-3 loss on April 10, 2009, his only outing in the series.
