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Preview: Phillies vs. Team USA
Kevin McGuireMar 5, 2009
Vs. 
Round Two!
The Phillies will host Team USA in the second of back to back exhibition games against a pair of North American World Baseball Classic Teams. Yesterday the Phillies pounded Team Canada with Cole Hamels getting the start. Today Kyle Kendrick will get his second start of the spring and continue to demonstrate why he should be the fifth starter come opening day.
Kendrick's first spring start came against the Tampa Bay Rays last Saturday. Picking up a win in his spring debut, Kendrick pitched 2.2 innings and allowed one run (a solo home run) on four hits, walked zero, and had zero strike outs. The solo home run aside, Kendrick seemed to respond well to the adversity he faced in his first outing. Expect him to pitch two, maybe three innings today against Team USA.
For Team USA you can expect that Jimmy Rollins and Shane Victorino will get the start against their major league teammates. Rollins reportedly has some back discomfort so he may not play the entire game against the Phillies. Rollins played all nine innings against the Toronto Blue Jays yesterday (Derek Jeter played all nine innings against the New York Yankees the day before).
In Team USA's exhibition against the Blue Jays yesterday Rollins and Victorino went a combined 2-for-10. Victorino was used as the lead off hitter and Rollins was placed in the two spot. Rollins recorded two RBI and scored a run. Team USA lost to the Blue Jays though when new Mets reliever J.J. Putz allowed three runs to score in the ninth inning. He walked two and allowed three hits.
John Mayberry continues to impress in spring play. He went 2-for-3 yesterday against Canada including a deep home run ball to put the game out of reach. Mayberry may be the leading candidate for a bench spot when the team comes north, but the way he is playing right now should make Phillies fans comfortable on a day when Jayson Werth has a day off.
As for Jayson Werth, he plans on taking some batting practice today and hopes to see some more game time tomorrow night against Toronto.
Note: the game time today is 12:05pm, instead of the usual 1:05pm first pitch. Plan accordingly.
Kendrick's first spring start came against the Tampa Bay Rays last Saturday. Picking up a win in his spring debut, Kendrick pitched 2.2 innings and allowed one run (a solo home run) on four hits, walked zero, and had zero strike outs. The solo home run aside, Kendrick seemed to respond well to the adversity he faced in his first outing. Expect him to pitch two, maybe three innings today against Team USA.
For Team USA you can expect that Jimmy Rollins and Shane Victorino will get the start against their major league teammates. Rollins reportedly has some back discomfort so he may not play the entire game against the Phillies. Rollins played all nine innings against the Toronto Blue Jays yesterday (Derek Jeter played all nine innings against the New York Yankees the day before).
In Team USA's exhibition against the Blue Jays yesterday Rollins and Victorino went a combined 2-for-10. Victorino was used as the lead off hitter and Rollins was placed in the two spot. Rollins recorded two RBI and scored a run. Team USA lost to the Blue Jays though when new Mets reliever J.J. Putz allowed three runs to score in the ninth inning. He walked two and allowed three hits.
John Mayberry continues to impress in spring play. He went 2-for-3 yesterday against Canada including a deep home run ball to put the game out of reach. Mayberry may be the leading candidate for a bench spot when the team comes north, but the way he is playing right now should make Phillies fans comfortable on a day when Jayson Werth has a day off.
As for Jayson Werth, he plans on taking some batting practice today and hopes to see some more game time tomorrow night against Toronto.
Note: the game time today is 12:05pm, instead of the usual 1:05pm first pitch. Plan accordingly.
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