Philadelphia Phillies vs Pittsburgh Pirates Live Streamed MLB Broadcast Radio Commentary Espn 360 Experts Review June 5, 2011. Power Ranking Review: The Pittsburgh Pirates captured a series from the Philadelphia Phillies on Saturday night in front of the largest crowd in PNC Park history. If they can complete a sweep, they'll do something that's happened only once in the ballpark's 11-year history.
The Pirates look to reach .500 after June 1 for just the second time since PNC opened, but Roy Halladay stands in their way Sunday afternoon as he tries to help the Phillies avoid a season-high fifth straight loss.
Pittsburgh was a game over at 18-17 on May 9 before losing six straight, but it's threatening to get back to the break-even point after a pair of wins against the Phillies. After pulling out a 2-1 victory in 12 innings Friday, the Pirates got three hits apiece from Andrew McCutchen and Lyle Overbay and seven strong innings from Charlie Morton to win 6-3 on Saturday in front of a record crowd of 39,441.
"That was the most energized crowd that I think I've ever pitched in front of," Morton said after Pittsburgh beat the Phillies (34-24) at home for the sixth time in seven games. "It was just an unbelievable atmosphere. It was just pretty awesome."
The only other time Pittsburgh's reached .500 after May was June 11, 2005, when it got to 30-30 before losing five in a row.
Getting there Sunday certainly won't be easy with Halladay (7-3, 2.56 ERA) on the hill. The reigning NL Cy Young Award winner is 1-1 with a 1.13 ERA in three career starts against the Pirates, though he suffered a 2-1 loss May 18, 2010, at Citizens Bank Park despite going the distance.
Overbay and Garrett Jones are a combined 6 for 9 against Halladay.
The right-hander hasn't exactly been on top of his game in his last few starts, allowing 21 hits and seven runs over 14 innings, but he was good enough to win Monday in muggy Washington. Halladay gave up three solo homers over seven innings and four runs overall in a 5-4 victory.
"I saw him gut it out," manager Charlie Manuel told the Phillies' official website. "Teams get up for Roy, which is good. He likes that. That's part of competing. That's part of who he is. That's part of wanting to be a champion. Some days you're going to get hit, but I'd say he passed the test pretty good today."
James McDonald (3-3, 4.85) tries to help complete the sweep while building off some strong recent performances. He's gone at least six innings without allowing more than two runs in six of his last seven starts.
McDonald left without a decision in a 5-1 victory on Tuesday despite holding the Mets to one run over six innings, but manager Clint Hurdle was impressed after the right-hander neutralized a threat with a strikeout on his final pitch.
"James pitched outstanding baseball," Hurdle said. "The way he finished the sixth inning was impressive as well."
McDonald has made only two relief appearances against the Phillies.
There's a good chance he might not see Jimmy Rollins in his first start versus Philadelphia, which has totaled seven runs during its four-game slide. Rollins fouled a ball off his right knee in the first inning Saturday and left in the third, and though the injury doesn't appear serious, it'll likely keep him out Sunday.
The Phillies haven't lost five straight since May 22-27, 2010.
The Pirates look to reach .500 after June 1 for just the second time since PNC opened, but Roy Halladay stands in their way Sunday afternoon as he tries to help the Phillies avoid a season-high fifth straight loss.
1:35 PM ET, June 5, 2011
PNC Park, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Gameday LineupsFor a franchise that hasn't finished with a winning record since 1992, getting to .500 means a bit more to the Pirates (28-29) than most clubs.
NO. Philadelphia Pittsburgh
1. S. Victorino, CF X. Paul, LF
2. P. Polanco, 3B J. Harrison, 3B
3. C. Utley, 2B A. McCutchen, CF
4. R. Howard, 1B N. Walker, 2B
5. R. Ibanez, LF L. Overbay, 1B
6. C. Ruiz, C G. Jones, RF
7. D. Brown, RF B. Wood, SS
8. W. Valdez, SS D. Brown, C
9. R. Halladay, P J. McDonald, P
Pittsburgh was a game over at 18-17 on May 9 before losing six straight, but it's threatening to get back to the break-even point after a pair of wins against the Phillies. After pulling out a 2-1 victory in 12 innings Friday, the Pirates got three hits apiece from Andrew McCutchen and Lyle Overbay and seven strong innings from Charlie Morton to win 6-3 on Saturday in front of a record crowd of 39,441.
"That was the most energized crowd that I think I've ever pitched in front of," Morton said after Pittsburgh beat the Phillies (34-24) at home for the sixth time in seven games. "It was just an unbelievable atmosphere. It was just pretty awesome."
The only other time Pittsburgh's reached .500 after May was June 11, 2005, when it got to 30-30 before losing five in a row.
Getting there Sunday certainly won't be easy with Halladay (7-3, 2.56 ERA) on the hill. The reigning NL Cy Young Award winner is 1-1 with a 1.13 ERA in three career starts against the Pirates, though he suffered a 2-1 loss May 18, 2010, at Citizens Bank Park despite going the distance.
Overbay and Garrett Jones are a combined 6 for 9 against Halladay.
The right-hander hasn't exactly been on top of his game in his last few starts, allowing 21 hits and seven runs over 14 innings, but he was good enough to win Monday in muggy Washington. Halladay gave up three solo homers over seven innings and four runs overall in a 5-4 victory.
"I saw him gut it out," manager Charlie Manuel told the Phillies' official website. "Teams get up for Roy, which is good. He likes that. That's part of competing. That's part of who he is. That's part of wanting to be a champion. Some days you're going to get hit, but I'd say he passed the test pretty good today."
James McDonald (3-3, 4.85) tries to help complete the sweep while building off some strong recent performances. He's gone at least six innings without allowing more than two runs in six of his last seven starts.
McDonald left without a decision in a 5-1 victory on Tuesday despite holding the Mets to one run over six innings, but manager Clint Hurdle was impressed after the right-hander neutralized a threat with a strikeout on his final pitch.
"James pitched outstanding baseball," Hurdle said. "The way he finished the sixth inning was impressive as well."
McDonald has made only two relief appearances against the Phillies.
There's a good chance he might not see Jimmy Rollins in his first start versus Philadelphia, which has totaled seven runs during its four-game slide. Rollins fouled a ball off his right knee in the first inning Saturday and left in the third, and though the injury doesn't appear serious, it'll likely keep him out Sunday.
The Phillies haven't lost five straight since May 22-27, 2010.