Interleague Series Preview: Sox @ Phillies

Philadelphia Phillies (41-30)
NL East: Up 3 gms
Streak: L2
Last 10: 6-4

Offensive Stats (league):
AVG: .264 (4th)
RS: 381 (2)
HRS: 100 (2)
Pitching Stats (league)
ERA: 3.82 (4th)
RA: 291(14)
SVs: 20(4)

3 Game Series @ Citizens Bank Ballpark
Game 1 Monday 7:05 ESPN
Colon (4-1, 3.41) vs. Hammels (6-4, 3.27)
Game 2 Tuesday 7:05
Lester (5-3, 3.43) vs. Moyer (7-3, 4.12)
Game 3 Wednesday 1:05
Masterson (3-1, 2.90) vs. Kendrick(6-2, 4.54)

KEY PHILS:

-2B Chase Utley .309, 22HR, 61BI, .401OBP, 55R, .636SLG% not only is the spunky second sacker leading the Phills in every offensive category but he is leading the majors in homers and is second in the NL in RBI. On a team with Ryan Howard. Crazy.

-1B Ryan Howard .217, 17HR, 58BI, 47R, 95K, .319OBP, .464SLG% the average is pitiful but the power numbers are still there for the big first baseman; many think the huge arbitration sum ($10 mil) he was awarded in the offseason has affected his play on the field. Still, he can kill you with the longball at any time and he has 15 RBI in his last 10 games

-LF Pat Burrell .283, 18HR, 47RBI, 56BB, .425OBP, .602SLG% Pat the Bat has been rumored to be traded every year this decade, yet he keeps shrugging off the rumors and criticism and produces; batting .350 (10-35) in his last 10 games with 4 homers and 7 RBI

PREVIEW:
One interleague road series down, one more to go.

But this time instead of facing one of the weaker teams in the National League Boston will take on fellow division leader the Philadelphia Phillies, which possesses a potent offense and solid pitching much like the Sox.

So potent an offense that they scored 20 runs the other night against the St. Louis Cardinals, the most in the majors this season, and it was the second time they had scored 20 this season.

With weapons like ML home run leader Utley, power threat Ryan Howard and versatile Pat Burrell, this team is tough to outscore, and when you add a pitching staff that's one of the top in the league, what you have is the makings of a tough road series before Boston heads home to play the Cards this weekend.