Tampa Bay Rays vs. Philadelphia Phillies

Is it the road or facing the Tampa Bay Rays that seems to bring the best out of the slumping Philadelphia Phillies.

The Phillies (37-31) came into the World Series rematch losers of six-straight, all at home, but brought the major’s best road record into Tuesday’s game and came out with a 10-1 rout of last year’s Fall Classic runners-up, the Rays (37-35).

The game on Tuesday, like last year’s World Series, was never really in doubt. Philadelphia coasted to a victory after scoring six runs in the first inning.

The Phillies are now an incredible 24-9 away from Citizens’ Bank Park and an equally incredible 13-22 in their home stadium. Philadelphia scored more (11) runs in Tuesday’s series opener with Tampa Bay than they did in their four game sweep (8) at the hands of the Baltimore Orioles over the weekend.

Philadelphia was able to rough up sparking rookie David Price on Tuesday, but could have an easier time against a slumping Matt Garza (4-5, 3.83), who gave up three home runs, and five hits, in five innings of a 4-3 loss to the red-hot Colorado Rockies on Thursday.

Garza has not tasted victory since May 16, 0-3 with a 4.33 ERA since then, and was roughed up by the Phillies in Game 3 of the World Series when he allowed four runs in six innings of a 5-4 loss.

Joe Blanton (4-3, 5.28), like most of the Phillies, fared better in the Series than his counterpart when he allowed two runs and fanned seven in the key, 10-2, Game 4 victory for Philadelphia Phillies which gave them a 3-1 series lead.

Blanton has won his last three decisions but have not received one in the last three games. He struggled and allowed four runs on nine hits in 5 1/3 innings but picked up a no-decision in an 8-7 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays last Thursday.

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