(Best E Casino) - At 45 years old, Jamie Moyer still plans to pitch next season. With the way the left-hander has been pitching this year, his current season might just stretch into October.
Moyer will lead the Philadelphia Phillies tonight in the opener of a three- game series with the Atlanta Braves at Turner Field.
Moyer has been his team's most consistent starter this year, as he leads the Phils with 14 wins to go along with a 3.68 earned run average in 30 starts. He has allowed three runs or fewer in 17 of his last 18 starts, including his previous time out.
Pitching on just three days' rest, Moyer won his third straight start on Thursday after holding the Milwaukee Brewers to three runs on four hits over 5 2/3 innings.
The ageless southpaw won his fourth straight decision and hasn't lost since August 5. He is 3-8 with a 5.29 ERA in 13 games (12 starts) lifetime versus the Braves, getting a no-decision against them on June 6 in his only start in the series this year.
Moyer's victory last Thursday came in the opener of a four-game set with Milwaukee, which led the National League wild-card race by four games heading into that set.
However, the Phillies were able to pull off a sweep of the series, including taking both games of Sunday's day-night doubleheader, to draw even with Milwaukee for the final playoff spot. Philadelphia is also just a half-game back of the Mets thanks to its winning run as well as New York's loss to Washington on Monday.
Ryan Howard hit his major-league leading 44th homer in Sunday's first test, a 7-3 Phils win, upping his MLB-best runs batted in total to 133, but also went 0-for-4 in the nightcap to snap a seven-game RBI streak.
Brett Myers played the hero in Sunday night's 6-1 win, as he tossed his second complete game of the season despite also pitching on three days' rest.
The Phils now head to Atlanta, where they are 6-0 this season. Overall, Philadelphia has won 10 of 12 versus the Braves in 2008 and the last two matchups.
The club will get its first look tonight at James Parr, who makes his third career start for the Braves tonight.
Parr has yet to allow a run over his first two starts. He made his major- league debut on September 4, tossing six shutout frames to record his first- career victory.
The 22-year-old righty then pitched against Colorado last Wednesday and got a no-decision despite another six scoreless frames. In 12 total innings, he was allowed seven hits and three walks while fanning eight.
Atlanta did help the Phillies over the weekend, taking two of three from the Mets. That includes a 7-4 victory in Sunday's rubber match, as Greg Norton connected on a three-run homer to highlight a five-run ninth frame.
Chipper Jones finished 3-for-5 with an RBI and a run scored for the Braves, who have won five of their last six games. Jones leads the majors with a .365 batting average and is 4-for-11 (.364) lifetime against Moyer with a pair of doubles and two RBI.
