Braves at Phillies: July 6th to July 8th

Citizens Bank Park - Philadelphia, PA
Friday 7:05, Saturday 7:15, Sunday 1:35

Braves 43-39, 3rd Place in the N.L. East, 6 games behind the Nationals
Phillies 37-47, 5th Place in the N.L. East, 13 games behind the Nationals

Braves Probables:  Tim Hudson (6-4, 3.87), Tommy Hanson (9-5, 3.70), Jair Jurrjens (2-2, 5.19)
Phillies Probables:  Kyle Kendrick (2-8, 5.35), Joe Blanton (7-7, 4.85), Vance Worley (4-5, 3.46)

At the Ballpark:  Other than a food drive happening before Sunday afternoon's ballgame, there are no promotions this weekend at the ballpark.

Phillies Leaders

Average:  Carlos Ruiz - .355

Runs:  Hunter Pence - 56

Home Runs:  Hunter Pence - 16

RBIs:  Hunter Pence - 49

Stolen Bases:  Juan Pierre - 20

Wins:  Cole Hamels - 10

ERA:  Cole Hamels - 3.20

Strikeouts:  Cole Hamels - 118

Saves:  Jonathan Papelbon - 18

1979 Topps #85 and #610

1979 Topps Flashback:  As we ease into the All-Star Break, today's flashback features two players who are no strangers to the Phillies organization.  Gary Matthews continues to provide color commentary on the team's television broadcasts.  I know a lot of people who enjoy Sarge's take on the game, but I can't say I'm one of those people.

Hall of Famer Mike Schmidt joins the team every spring in Clearwater as a guest hitting instructor.  He and Matthews were teammates with the Phils for three years in the early '80s.  Sarge joined the Phils for the 1981 season after being acquired from the Braves for Bob Walk.  Schmidt, Matthews and the rest of the Wheeze Kids helped the Phils to the National League pennant in 1983.  Matthews was named MVP of that year's N.L.C.S. after he hit .429 with three home runs against the Dodgers.  But both Schmidt (.050, 1 for 20) and Matthews (.250 with one home run) suffered poor World Series performances against the Orioles.

Five months following the postseason, Matthews was shipped to the Cubs along with my favorite, Bob Dernier, in a deal that still makes me cringe.