Philadelphia @ Florida preview
Sun Life Stadium
Last Meeting ( May 29, 2010 ) Philadelphia 1, Florida 0
Jamie Moyer cannot top perfection. He'll have to settle for completing a series sweep.
Moyer takes the mound for the Philadelphia Phillies today as they attempt to sweep their three-game series with the Florida Marlins, who have lost four in a row.
Despite having plenty of success at Sun Life Stadium over his lengthy career, Moyer is very unlikely to duplicate the feat achieved by teammate Roy Halladay, who tossed the 20th perfect game in major league history - and second of the season - on Saturday night.
Oakland's Dallas Braden was perfect against Tampa Bay on May 9.
Halladay struck out 11 en route to the second perfect game in Phillies history. Jim Bunning set down all 27 New York Mets he faced on June 21, 1964.
"It's something you never think about," Halladay said. "It's hard to explain. There's days where things just kind of click and things happen, and it's something you obviously never go out and try and do. But it's a great feeling."
The effort, which also was the 10th no-hitter in club history, was Halladay's fifth complete game and third shutout of the season. The 33-year old right-hander leads the majors in both categories.
Currently in his 24th season, Moyer never has thrown a perfect game. He has, however, posted an 8-1 record at Sun Life Stadium, trailing only Greg Maddux (nine) for most wins by a visiting pitcher at the ballpark.
The 47-year old Moyer has a career record of 13-5 against the Marlins, his highest total of victories against National League teams. The left-hander also has posted 13 wins vs. the Montreal-Washington franchise.
Moyer, who has lost his last two outings, fell to the Marlins on April 17, allowing five runs in six innings of a 5-1 setback.
Despite his overall success against Florida, Moyer has struggled with several of its hitters - most notably Hanley Ramirez, Wes Helms and Ronny Paulino, who have a combined .375 average (33-for-88) with seven home runs and 19 RBIs.
Moyer will be opposed by a pitcher 21 years his junior in Anibal Sanchez, who pitched a no-hitter against Arizona on September 6, 2006. The 26-year old has been one of Florida's best hurlers this season, winning each of his last three starts and going 4-1 over his last seven outings.
During that run, Sanchez has held the opposition to two earned runs or less in each start.
Sanchez has not had much success against the Phillies during his career, however, posting a 2-5 mark in eight appearances. On April 16, he took the loss after yielding five runs and eight hits in six frames of an 8-6 defeat.
Like many pitchers, Sanchez has had trouble with Philadelphia slugger Ryan Howard, who is 6-for-17 (.353) with two homers and four RBIs vs. the right-hander.
The Phillies, who have not scored more than three runs in any of their last seven contests, again were without Placido Polanco on Saturday. The third baseman has a swollen left elbow and will undergo an MRI today.