Edinson shuts out the lights on the Phillies

ESPN.com

Updated: June 4, 2008

Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images

Brett Myers took a no-hitter into the seventh, but Edinson Volquez came out on top.

EASY ROAD

By Mark Simon, ESPN Research

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It's tough to outpitch a guy who threw 6 2/3 no-hit innings, and it's even tougher to pitch as well as Edinson Volquez did on Wednesday against the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park. Yes, Brett Myers was tremendous in defeat, but Volquez sizzled again on the road, as he's done all season. This is someone who entered the season with a career road ERA of 8.59. He's basically been unhittable wherever he pitches, and there's no one in baseball who has been anywhere as close to as good as he's been on the road in 2008. And consider who he did it against -- the Phillies had been averaging 8.7 runs per game during a stretch in which they won eight of nine games.

Best Road ERA 2008 Season, minimum 30 IP
Past eight games
Edinson Volquez 0.96
Tim Lincecum 1.72
John Danks 1.77
Joe Saunders 1.77
John Lannan 2.20

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FORWARD THINKING: THURSDAY

Homer Bailey • Reds at Phillies, 1:05 p.m. ET: Homer Bailey (0-0, 0.00 ERA) makes his first start of the year. He will take the place of Josh Fogg, who was put on the 15-day disabled list because of back spasms. Bailey was 4-2 with a 5.76 ERA in nine starts last season. Cole Hamels (5-4, 3.73 ERA) has given up 13 runs in his past two outings. His two outings before that, however, were shutouts.

Chien-Ming Wang • Blue Jays at Yankees, 1:05 p.m. ET: Chien-Ming Wang (6-2, 4.14 ERA) has watched his ERA balloon more than a run over the past month. He has given up at least five runs in each of his past three starts and has not won since May 2, a stretch of five starts. Dustin McGowan (4-4, 3.95 ERA) has had his problems in the first inning. He has given up more hits (15) and more runs (8) in the first than he has any other inning.

Ryan Dempster • Cubs at Dodgers, 10:10 p.m. ET: Opponents are hitting just .188 against Ryan Dempster (7-2, 2.75 ERA) this season, a 74-point drop from his .262 career average. Chad Billingsley (4-6, 3.29 ERA) has dropped his ERA from 4.89 to 3.29 since May 10, yet he is just 2-2 in five starts during that stretch.

• Complete list of pitching probables for Thursday's games


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BBTN ON THE AIR: THURSDAY

TIME WHO'S ON?
9:30 p.m. ET
ESPN2		 Host: Steve Berthiaume
Analysts: Tim Kurkjian, Orestes Destrade
1:30 a.m. ET
ESPN		 Host: Steve Berthiaume
Analysts: Tim Kurkjian, Orestes Destrade

BBTN MINUTE: DRAFT THOUGHTS

WEDNESDAY'S NOTEWORTHY PERFORMANCES

GOOD
Joey Votto• First, Joey Votto broke up Brett Myers' no-hitter with an RBI double, then gave the Reds some insurance with another run-scoring double in the ninth against the Phillies.
BAD
B.J. Upton• B.J. Upton went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts against the Red Sox. He has now struck out five times in his last nine at-bats.
UGLY
Casey Fossum• Take a look at Casey Fossum's ERA. No, that's not a misprint, it really is 135.01 after he gave up four runs without recording an out Wednesday.

FANTASY: PREVIEW OF THURSDAY'S GAMES

Will Harris examines the pitching matchups in store for the 11 games on Thursday's schedule in the American League and National League.

Fantasy Harris also looks at injuries and details player reports that could help shape your roster for Thursday's games. Daily Notes

NEWS AND NOTES

Vladimir Guererro• Both Angels outfielder Vladimir Guerrero (knee) and pitcher Scot Shields (ribs) were sent back to Los Angeles to be examined by a doctor. The team hopes to have both players back by the weekend.

Conor Jackson• Conor Jackson missed another game with a strained right quad. Diamondbacks manager Bob Melvin hopes to have Jackson back Saturday or Sunday.

Moises Alou• The Mets had hoped to activate left fielder Moises Alou this weekend, but Alou, out with a strained right calf since May 22, might have to wait until at least Tuesday.