After nearly 600 minor-league appearances, Cameron Perkins made his major league debut Tuesday night with a 10th-inning at-bat as a pinch hitter. Tonight, he'll make his first start in the big leagues - manager Pete Mackanin has the former sixth-round pick batting leadoff and playing left field.
The 26-year-old Perkins, a Purdue product who was a sixth-round pick by Phils in 2012, got the call he'd been waiting for Tuesday after the Phils DFA'ed struggling Michael Saunders, who was batting just .205 with six homers and 20 RBI after signing a one-year, $9 million deal in the offseason.
Perkins, who has the ability to play multiple positions, will slide into Saunders spot in the outfield rotation starting tonight.
This season with Lehigh Valley, Perkins hit .298 with six homers and 21 RBI.
There aren't too many other changes, though. Odubel Herrera slides back down to the six spot in the order and Andrew Knapp will be back behind the plate, hitting eighth in front of starting pitcher Nick Pivetta.
St. Louis sends Michael Wacha to the hill. He's struggled mightily as of late - except against the Phils, that is (see tonight's game notes).
Philadelphia Phillies
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Here is the Phillies' full lineup tonight:
1. Cameron Perkins, LF
2. Howie Kendrick, 2B
3. Aaron Altherr, RF
4. Tommy Joseph, 1B
5. Maikel Franco, 3B
6. Odubel Herrera, CF
7. Freddy Galvis, SS
8. Andrew Knapp, C
9. Nick Pivetta, SP
