Werth tries to follow up career night versus Jays
Posted: Sat May 17 11:07 AM
(Sports Network) - Jayson Werth is making it very difficult for manager Charlie Manuel to take him out of the lineup. Werth will likely get a chance to follow up his career night, as the Philadelphia Phillies resume a three- game set with the Toronto Blue Jays at Citizens Bank Park.
Werth entered the season in a left-field platoon situation with the newly signed Geoff Jenkins and figured to see most of his at-bats against left- handed hitters. However, when center fielder Shane Victorino suffered an injury earlier in the year, Werth's playing time increased and he responded.
With Victorino back in the lineup on an everyday basis, Werth continues to see playing time and responded with a record-tying effort in Friday's 10-3 Phillies victory. Earning the start against the left-handed throwing David Purcey (0-1), Werth hit a three-run homer off the hurler in the second inning and then connected on his first career grand slam in the following frame.
Werth added a two-run shot in the fifth inning to become the fifth Phillie in club history to drive in eight runs in a game, joining Kitty Bransfield, Gavvy Cravath, Willie Jones and Mike Schmidt. He was also the first Philadelphia player to hit three homers in a game since Ryan Howard in 2006.
Howard and Victorino each drove in a run for the Phillies, winners in three of their last four games. Howard extended his hitting streak to eight games, lifting his season average to .188 over the run, and he has an RBI in six straight tests. Jamie Moyer (3-3) pitched 6 2/3 strong innings, holding the Blue Jays to three runs on seven hits while striking out five.
Alex Rios went 2-for-4 and drove in a run for the Jays, who had a four-game win streak snapped while falling to 4-4 on a current 10-game road trip. Marco Scutaro and Scott Rolen knocked in a run apiece for Toronto.
Purcey (0-1), recalled from Triple-A Syracuse to make a spot start, was shelled for eight runs on five hits and four walks in just three innings.
Kevin Mench left the game after suffering a knee injury when crashing into the fence and likely won't play tonight.
A.J. Burnett starts for the Blue Jays and despite striking out 17 batters over his last two outings, he has posted back-to-back losses. Burnett whiffed 10 Tampa Bay hitters on May 6, but also allowed five runs over six innings. He then went on to record seven strikeouts in the first game of a doubleheader on Monday versus the Indians, but gave up three runs on five hits and three walks over 7 2/3 frames of a 3-0 loss.
The right-hander has faced the Phillies 15 times (14 starts) over his career and is 4-7 against them with two complete games, a 4.70 earned run average and 72 strikeouts. He last faced them in 2005 and took a loss after allowing seven runs (5 earned) on 10 hits over 4 1/3 innings.
Howard homered in that game and both of his career hits versus Burnett in six at-bats have been home runs. Werth is hitless in three career at-bats against the Toronto righty.
Philadelphia's Adam Eaton will make just his second career start against the Blue Jays tonight. That first outing came on May 20 of last season, and the right-hander threw six shutout frames, working around four hits and five walks in a 5-3 victory.
Eaton went 2-0 in three interleague starts last year, and had the major's best ERA in interleague play at 1.40.
Eaton has struggled to an 0-1 mark and 5.40 ERA in eight starts this year, though he pitched decent on Sunday versus the Giants. He allowed just two runs and five hits, but also walked a season-high five while striking out four.
Philadelphia and Toronto have split six meetings over the previous two seasons and are meeting 15 years after the Blue Jays bested the Phils in six games in the 1993 World Series. The Phillies went 8-7 in interleague play last year, while the Blue Jays ended 10-8.