Florida @ Philadelphia preview
Citizens Bank Park
Last Meeting ( Apr 16, 2010 ) Florida 6, Philadelphia 8
Juan Castro's initial role with the Philadelphia Phillies was loosely defined.
Signed to a one-year contract just four months ago, the 37-year-old journeyman infielder was expected to fill the job essentially left vacant by Eric Bruntlett, who is now with the Washington Nationals.
The job? Well, in a nutshell, it is to provide shortstop Jimmy Rollins with a rare day off.
However, when Philadelphia's outspoken leader suffered a right calf strain and found himself on the 15-day disabled list on Wednesday, the city's nervous eyes were forced to focus on Castro.
Thus far, the native of Los Mochis, Mexico has delivered.
In his last two games since Rollins' injury, Castro is 5-for-7 with five RBIs. On Friday, he drove in three runs on a pair of RBI singles and a sacrifice fly as the Phillies posted an 8-6 triumph over the Florida Marlins.
Off to its best start in 17 years, Philadelphia (8-2) will look to ride Castro's hot bat and Jamie Moyer's career dominance of Florida (6-5) when the two teams meet on Saturday.
Moyer (1-0, 7.50 ERA) has posted a 13-4 mark with a 2.93 ERA in 17 career starts against the Marlins.
The 47-year-old southpaw will be opposed by right-hander Ricky Nolasco (0-0, 5.68 ERA), who has notched a 4-1 mark with a 3.06 ERA in five starts at Citizens Bank Park.
Nolasco will face a lineup in which every member - except Raul Ibanez - recorded at least one base hit in Friday's contest. For his part, Ibanez was able to work a pair of walks.
Walks aside, the Phillies were able to string together 12 hits on Friday - including Chase Utley's fifth home run in his last four games. Placido Polanco, who boasts a .444 average, also went deep in the victory.
On the flipside, Jorge Cantu's impressive streak came to an end on Friday. The 28-year-old Texas native singled in his first at-bat to extend his hitting streak to 15 games, but couldn't reach base in his next four times up at the plate.
Cantu entered the contest as the first player in major league history to have at least one hit and one RBI in each of his team's first 10 games.
Prior to Saturday's contest, Phillies center fielder Shane Victorino, Rollins and Polanco will be presented with their 2009 Gold Glove Awards.