Nationals at Phillies: May 2nd to May 4th

Friday and Saturday 7:05, Sunday 3:05
Citizens Bank Park - Philadelphia, PA

Nationals 16-12, 2nd Place in the N.L. East, 1 1/2 games behind the Braves
Phillies 13-13, Tied for 4th Place in the N.L. East, 3 1/2 games behind the Braves

Nationals Probables:  Stephen Strasburg (2-2, 4.24), Tanner Roark (2-0, 2.76), Gio Gonzalez (3-1, 3.25)
Phillies Probables:  Cliff Lee (3-2, 3.29), A.J. Burnett (1-1, 2.15), Cole Hamels (0-2, 6.75)

At the Ballpark:  Sunday is Mother's Appreciation Day at the ballpark, with all women 15 and older receiving a Phillies "Derby Hat."  The unusual start time on Sunday is due to the annual Broad Street Run being held in Philadelphia earlier that morning.

Phillies Leaders

Average:  Chase Utley - .355

Runs:  Carlos Ruiz - 18

Home Runs:  Ryan Howard - 5

RBIs:  Marlon Byrd - 17

Stolen Bases:  Ben Revere - 10

Wins:  Antonio Bastardo and Cliff Lee - 3

ERA:  A.J. Burnett - 2.15

Strikeouts:  Cliff Lee - 40

Saves:  Jonathan Papelbon - 8

1988 Topps #365, #588 and #20

1988 Topps Appreciation:  For the second series preview post in a row, we have a trio of players who were at one time traded for one another.  On December 6, 1988, the Phillies traded pitcher Kevin Gross to the Montreal Expos for pitchers Jeff Parrett and Floyd Youmans.  At the time, I remember being confused by the deal as Gross had led the team in wins in 1988 with 12.  Starting 33 games, he had been the most reliable starting pitcher on a mostly unreliable starting staff, and he had represented the Phillies at the 1988 All-Star Game.

Gross pitched two seasons with the Expos before joining former Phillies Juan Samuel and Roger McDowell on the Dodgers.  While with the Dodgers, he pitched a no-hitter against the Giants on August 17, 1992.

Youmans was a complete and total bust for the Phillies.  Limited by arm injuries, he appeared in just 10 games in 1989, going 1-5 with a 5.70 ERA.

Parrett fared much better, serving as one of the team's most reliable relievers in 1989.  In 72 games, Parrett pitched to a 2.98 ERA while saving six games.  Part way through the 1990 season, he was part of the package of players sent to the Braves in exchange for Dale Murphy.  Parrett would briefly return to the Phillies for the 1996 season, where he ended his career by appearing in 18 games.