Break Out The Brooms?
The Florida Marlins are coming off a dramatic win that has them on the verge of sweeping the Philadelphia Phillies for the first time in four years. They just have to find a way to beat Jamie Moyer.
After what was perhaps their most emotional win this season, the Marlins look to beat Moyer for the first time in nine chances when they conclude a three-game set with the NL East-leading Phillies on Thursday night.
Oddsmakers from Sportsbook.com have made Philadelphia -108 money line favorites (MLB Odds) for tonight’s game, the over/under has been set at 10 total runs (Matchup). Current public betting information shows that 78% of bets for this game have been placed on Philadelphia -108 (View MLB Bet Percentages).
Dan Uggla hit a game-ending grand slam in the ninth inning to lift Florida (36-29) to a 6-2 win over Philadelphia (39-28) on Wednesday night, drawing the Marlins within two games of the Phillies in the division.
Uggla gave Florida its second game-ending slam in club history. Bobby Bonilla did it in 1997 against the Colorado Rockies.
"It’s crazy," Uggla said. "It’s a really, really great feeling."
The Marlins have a chance to sweep the Phillies for the first time since taking a four-game series at home from July 26-29, 2004. It would also be the first time Philadelphia has been swept this season.
Florida, though, hasn’t had any success against Moyer (6-3, 4.56 ERA). He has won all eight of his starts versus the Marlins, posting a 3.51 ERA, and has a 1.83 ERA in three road starts against them.
The veteran left-hander has also benefited from strong run support when facing Florida, getting an average of 7.8 runs to work with. He allowed five runs and seven hits in seven innings against the Marlins on June 1, but the Phillies won 7-5.
Moyer had won four straight outings before Friday night at Atlanta. He gave up two runs and five hits in 5 1-3 innings as Philadelphia won 4-3 in 10 innings.
Uggla is batting .095 (2-for-21) with 10 strikeouts against Moyer.
Jorge Cantu, meanwhile, homered twice Wednesday for the Marlins, who lead the majors in that category with 101.
"If you make mistakes, they are going to hurt you," Phillies starter Cole Hamels said.
Philadelphia is also a threat to hit the ball out of the park and cross the plate in bunches. The Phillies’ 95 home runs rank second in baseball, and they rank among the majors’ leaders in runs scored.
But Philadelphia went 1-for-5 with runners in scoring position, leaving the bases loaded in the ninth Wednesday. In this series’ opener, the Phillies went 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position in a 5-4 loss Tuesday night.
Philadelphia will now face Florida’s Scott Olsen (4-2, 3.44), who went 2-0 against the Phillies last season despite posting a 6.91 ERA. He is 3-4 with a 6.00 ERA in nine career starts against Philadelphia.
Olsen has not earned a win since May 6 versus Milwaukee. The left-hander gave up four unearned runs and four hits while striking out five in six innings as Florida beat Cincinnati 8-7 on Saturday night.
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