Phils, White Sox set for doubleheader in Philly
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The Philadelphia Phillies and Chicago White Sox had to wait one extra day to begin their first series against each other in six years.
The clubs will see plenty of the other on Saturday, when the Phillies and White Sox meet in a doubleheader at Citizens Bank Park.
The Phillies are playing host to the White Sox for the first time since sweeping a three-game series from June 11-13, 2007. This three-game set was scheduled to get underway on Friday night, but that contest was postponed due to rain.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}So, Saturday's regularly-scheduled meeting was moved up an hour to 3:05 p.m. (et) and the second game is slated take place at 8:15 p.m.
The Phils are hoping the delay doesn't slow down their current momentum as they are 5-2 on their 10-game homestand and have won seven of their last 10 overall. They now stand a game behind Washington for second place in the NL East after taking three of four from the Nationals to begin the week.
Scheduled Friday starter Jonathan Pettibone will try to keep the Phillies rolling when he takes the mound in the day game. He has won back-to-back starts, allowing just one run in each, and threw 5 1/3 innings against Atlanta in Sunday's 7-3 win. The young right-hander is 5-3 in 15 starts with a 3.84 earned run average.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Pettibone will face the White Sox for the first time and is 3-1 in eight home starts.
John Lannan gets the call in Game 2 looking to build off his best start in a Phillies uniform and is 2-3 with a 4.23 ERA in eight outings this year.
Lannan hurled eight scoreless innings of four-hit ball to beat his former Washington club on Monday. He also walked two and fanned four in his longest outing since also going eight innings on Aug. 28, 2009 with the Nats.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The 28-year-old southpaw has faced the White Sox once before and was drilled for five runs and 11 hits in four innings of work in a loss.
Chicago comes to town having plated 22 runs in taking two of three over AL Central-leading Detroit, getting a grand slam from rookie catcher Josh Phegley in Thursday's 6-3 win. The 25-year-old has three homers and eight RBI over his first five games.
The White Sox, though, are last in the AL Central and trail the division- leading Tigers by 13 1/2 games, so it didn't come as a surprise when reliever Matt Thornton was dealt to the Boston Red Sox on Friday along with cash for minor league outfielder Brandon Jacobs.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Thornton had an 0-3 record and 3.86 ERA in 40 games this season and has logged 23 career saves with a 3.53 ERA in 586 games.
John Danks was set to take the hill for the White Sox on Friday, but will still stay on course to face Pettibone and start Saturday's opener.
Danks is 2-6 with a 4.31 ERA in nine starts, having lost four of his last five outings and allowing three runs over seven innings in Sunday's 3-1 loss at Tampa Bay.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Danks, a left-hander, has lost all five of his road assignments this season and has faced the Phillies once in his career, allowing two runs in 4 2/3 innings back on June 13, 2007 in an 8-4 loss.
Following Danks in this doubleheader will be Hector Santiago, who has not gotten a decision in any of his past three outings.
The left-hander has allowed just a pair of runs in each of his last two starts and worked around five hits and two walks over 5 1/3 frames versus the Chicago Cubs on Monday.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"When you get people on, you fall behind in counts, you try to make pitches and keep us in the game," Santiago said. "For the most part, I did it."
Santiago is 3-5 with a 3.49 ERA in 22 games (11 starts) this season and the 25-year-old will face the Phillies for the first time looking to improve on his 2.98 ERA away from home.