The Philadelphia Phillies have not won a series since the start of August. They’ll try to close out the month on a positive note Friday night against the Chicago Cubs.The scuffling Phillies enter the weekend three games behind the Atlanta Braves in the National League East. Right-hander Nick Pivetta will face Chicago lefty Jose Quintana in the series opener at Citizens Bank Park.The first-place Cubs helped out the Phillies on Thursday night with a win over the Braves in a make-up game. The victory in Atlanta kicked off an 11-game Tyler Flowers Jersey , four-city road trip for Chicago (79-54), which is 18-9 in August and has won eight of its last nine games.Article continues below ...The Phillies (71-62), who were off Thursday, have not won any of their last seven series. They are 8-14 in their last 22 games and are also three games out of the second wild card spot in the National League.Philadelphia was an 8-6 winner on Wednesday night over the Washington Nationals and got help from Jose Bautista and Roman Quinn.Bautista, who was acquired through a waiver deal with the New York Mets earlier in the week, reached base four times and drove in the go-ahead run in the seventh inning with a single. Bautista, 37, is playing on his third different team of the season.“I’ve been in this position and teams have gone in both directions,” Bautista told NBC Sports Philadelphia about being in another playoff race. “Hopefully that perspective helps. But for the most part http://www.bravesfanproshop.com/authentic-orlando-cepeda-jersey , this is a great group of guys. I’m not going to sit here and pretend that now that I’m here, things are going to change. They’ve done a great job all year long, and they’re going to continue to do that. I hope to bring the energy every single day and continue to contribute.”Quinn, meanwhile, has been forcing his way into the Phillies’ starting lineup in the last 10 days. The 25-year-old outfielder has started in six of the last nine games, and he’s hitting .500 with four extra-base hits, five RBIs and a 1.353 OPS in that span.The switch-hitting Quinn will likely be in the lineup again Friday against Quintana, a southpaw.Quintana has gone only five innings in each of his last three starts. He gave up two runs on six hits and three walks against the Cincinnati Reds last Saturday and needed 36 pitches to get through the fourth inning.“From the sideline, there’s no finish on the fastball Phil Niekro Jersey ,” Cubs manager Joe Maddon told mlb.com of Quintana. “It’s probably rest more than anything. It’s not necessarily a mechanical adjustment. He just has to be more accurate with his location of his elevated fastball.”The 29-year-old has a 5.30 ERA and 1.420 WHIP in seven starts since the All-Star break. Quintana is 0-1 with a 5.94 ERA and 1.500 WHIP in three career outings against the Phillies. He had 10 strikeouts against the Phillies in just 5 2/3 innings on June 6.Pivetta has surrendered at least five runs in both of his two previous starts. In 6 2/3 innings, he allowed five runs on seven hits, including two homers, against the Toronto Blue Jays last Saturday.Pivetta is 1-1 against the Cubs with a 5.40 ERA in two career starts.The Phillies and Cubs are meeting for their second and final series of the season. Chicago took two of three from Philadelphia at Wrigley Field in June. PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The Philadelphia Phillies‘ acquisition of Asdrubal Cabrera last month didn’t draw much attention. The bigger story, it seemed, was the organization’s decision not to part with key prospects to make a big splash at the trade deadline.Cabrera, though, has showed in the past couple of days that he may be the needed bat to help propel the youngest team in the majors to an unlikely division title.Cabrera hit a tiebreaking two-run homer in the eighth inning and the surging Phillies completed a four-game sweep of the Miami Marlins with a 5-3 victory Sunday.“He just looks like a guy that’s been there and done that,” Phillies manager Gabe Kapler said of the 32-year-old switch-hitter. “The big situation seems like it fits him very well.”Cabrera http://www.bravesfanproshop.com/authentic-tom-glavine-jersey , acquired in a July 27 trade with the New York Mets, crushed a 2-0 cutter from Drew Steckenrider (3-2) into the second deck in right field for his 20th homer and his second in as many days.“When you do something like I did today to help the team win, you feel good,” Cabrera said.Pat Nehsek (1-0) pitched a perfect eighth and Tommy Hunter worked the ninth for his second save as the Phillies overcame a mediocre outing from Aaron Nola for their fifth straight win. Philadelphia improved to an NL-best 38-18 at home and maintained its 1½-game lead over Atlanta atop the NL East.“What I see from this team is they fight every inning,” Cabrera said. “They never put their head down.”Derek Dietrich hit a two-run home run off Nola and Justin Bour tied it with a solo shot off Seranthony Dominguez in a three-run seventh for the Marlins, who have dropped six straight and 10 of 13.“When we needed a big out or a big hit this series, we weren’t able to do it,” Miami manager Don Mattingly said. “I think we’re better than this.”The Phillies took a 3-0 lead on Odubel Herrera’s two-run single and Maikel Franco’s RBI single in the sixth.On a 90-degree day in which the Phillies’ 2008 World Series-winning team was honored, Nola didn’t have his best stuff and was lifted after Dietrich’s 14th homer with no outs. Nola allowed seven hits and two walks while striking out two as he was denied his 13th win.“It was a grind for me Chipper Jones Jersey ,” Nola said.Marlins starter Dan Straily surrendered only one hit but was replaced after 5 1/3 innings following five walks and a hit batter that pushed his pitch count to 103. Herrera and Franco then delivered ground singles off lefty Adam Conley.TRAINER’S ROOMPhillies: SS J.P. Crawford (broken left hand) had a scheduled day off in his rehab. He’s set to play full games Monday and Tuesday for Class A Clearwater. . RHP Pedro Florimon (broken right foot) said he was pain-free after a morning workout while wearing a brace.CHEERING 2008Jayson Werth acknowledged that the “elephant in the room” was how he’d be greeted during the 10-year reunion of Philadelphia’s last World Series title. Werth went from hero to villain after leaving for divisional rival Washington.Werth was cheered and later rode with the Phillie Phanatic in his four-wheeler.Ryan Howard, Brad Lidge, Jamie Moyer and Jimmy Rollins also attended.HARPER & PHILLYWerth was asked what he’d tell former Nationals teammate Bryce Harper if the impending free agent inquired about the Phillies.“I think he’s already asked me about Philadelphia,” Werth said.After joking it would be tampering if he revealed what he told him, Werth relented.“It’s a great place to hit. I’ve always loved hitting here,” Werth said. “I think I’ve shared that with him, among other things about this place.”HANDICAPPING WITH MATTINGLYAfter playing the Nationals, Braves and Phillies in consecutive series, Mattingly was asked to size up the NL East race. He believes the Phillies have a better rotation than the Braves but thinks the inconsistent Nationals are the most talented and “most capable of getting on a run.”UP NEXTMarlins: LHP Wei-Yin Chen (3-8 http://www.bravesfanproshop.com/authentic-john-smoltz-jersey , 5.86 ERA) was pushed back a day to start Monday night at Marlins Park against St. Louis RHP Luke Weaver (6-9, 4.75). And for good reason. Chen’s home ERA is 2.18, compared with 10.27 on the road. “We’re not going to try to explain it,” Mattingly said. “We’re going to try to ride it.”Phillies: RHP Jake Arrieta (9-6, 3.32) starts Monday night against Arizona RHP Zack Godley (12-6, 4.46) in a matchup of division leaders that kicks off a six-game trip.
