The Philadelphia Phillies try to avoid their first-ever series loss to the Chicago Cubs at Citizens Bank Park when the clubs meet in the finale of their four-game set. Philadelphia is 7-0-1 against Chicago in series at its current ballpark, with the split coming in a two-game matchup. The Cubs have posted a pair of 5-1 victories thus far, including one Sunday behind a stellar pitching performance by Matt Garza.
After allowing a leadoff single by Jimmy Rollins, Garza set down 19 straight Phillies before issuing a walk to Juan Pierre. He finished with 10 strikeouts over seven scoreless frames. Philadelphia added a single in the ninth and avoided being blanked for the third time this year when Ty Wigginton drew a bases-loaded walk with two outs.
The Cubs, who have not won consecutive games in Philadelphia in a season since 2001, are hoping to capture their second straight series after losing their first five of the season.
TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, CSN (Chicago, Philadelphia)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Cubs RH Chris Volstad (0-3, 6.14 ERA) vs. Phillies RH Vance Worley (2-1, 2.16 ERA)
Volstad still is seeking his first win since July 10 while with Florida. He has not lasted more than six innings in any of his four starts, including a loss to St. Louis on Wednesday in which he surrendered four runs and six hits in six frames. Volstad has struggled against Philadelphia, going 2-5 with a 5.88 ERA in 12 outings.
The worst of Worley's four starts this campaign came at home, where he allowed four runs over six innings in a loss to the New York Mets on April 14. He has yielded a total of two runs over 19 frames in his three road outings. The 24-year-old Worley gave up just one run over eight innings in a win at Chicago on July 20, his only appearance against the Cubs.
WALK-OFFS
1. Joe Mather's home run on Sunday was the Cubs' league-worst eighth of the season and first by an outfielder.
2. The Phillies have scored two runs or fewer 12 times in 22 games, going 2-10 in those contests.
3. Chicago C Geovany Soto is expected to return to the lineup after missing two contests with upper back tightness.