Philadelphia Phillies strong for NLDS Game 3 against St. Louis Cardinals – MLB Update
With the National League Division Series between Philadelphia Phillies and St. Louis Cardinals tied at one-each after the first two games, the event now shifts to Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Missouri for the next two games starting Tuesday, October 4.
Cole Hamels will start for the Phillies in a bid to inch closer to the Championship Series. He will be up against the energetic Jaime Garcia of the Cardinals to fight for supremacy in the National League. Champions of National League East, the Phillies will
enter the game as favourites to prevail against the Wild Card entrants. However, the Cardinals overcame Cliff Lee in game two of the NLDS and thus should not be dealt with carelessly.
Hamels has more experience and expertise to back him for the game. He has six career post-season wins to his credit in addition to being the MVP of the 2008 World Series winning Phillies. Still in a comfortable position, Hamels will not have much to worry
about in this match-up. His form was exemplary in the regular season, bagging six less than 200 strike-outs at an ERA of 2.70 and winning 14 of his 31 starts. He lost just nine starts and earned a no-decision in the remaining eight games. To add to his confidence,
seven of his 14 wins came on the road and given that probability, a win might be on the cards.
"Every time I go out I try to win, no matter what the circumstance is -- five games, seven games, three games or one game," Hamels said. "It's just going out there. I know I have a job to do."
Phillies' manager Charlie Manuel, seeking his second World Series title in four years, emphasised for his team to remain relaxed, but confident. He stated that they aim to win at least one of the two games to bring the series back to Citizens Bank Park in
Philadelphia.
Garcia, on the contrary, managed a 13-7 record during the regular season. Nine of his victories have come playing at home and given his September form (3-0), he emerges as a stronger candidate to prevail in the encounter.
Phillies’ hitter Ryan Howard expressed concern over Garcia’s pitching, commenting that he mixes things up pretty well.
Matt Holliday will miss out for the Cardinals yet again after an inflammation on his right middle finger. Lance Berkman will play as cleanup hitter in the line-up instead.
Tags: