What a night of Phillies baseball.
At any time in recorded Major League Baseball history, if a team is without their lead-off hitter, their MVP candidate No. 3 hitter, and their cleanup hitter – all of whom are one step closer to receiving an All-Star nod – you would expect minimal offensive output. Friday night at Citizens Bank Park was no different.
After Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber joined J.T. Realmuto on the injured-list, the club had to figure out how to navigate the muddy waters ahead. It started with recalling Johan Rojas and activating Kody Clemens who was on a rehab stint of his own at Triple-A Lehigh Valley. The question immediately was, what will they do with the lineup?
Tonight saw Nick Castellanos DH for the first time this season while Brandon Marsh took over in right field and Whit Merrifield manned left. Rojas took center, Clemens took first, and the rest was what you might expect.
Pitching and Defense wins
The Phillies have relied heavily on their strong pitching to put them in the position they currently reside. With an eight-game lead over the Atlanta Braves, they had the cushion necessary to survive the next few weeks without two-or-three of their top stars but to keep as much of that cushion in place – they would need that pitching to not miss a beat.
Tonight, if the Phillies biggest ailment is now the offense, the arm of starting pitcher Cristopher Sánchez is just what the doctor ordered. In his second start since signing a four-year extension, Sánchez dominated the Marlins – throwing a complete game shut out on just 101 pitches. Christopher had never completed eight innings, let alone gotten to the ninth.
He kept the ball out of the air, striking out nine Marlin hitters and inducing 13 outs via the ground ball. His effort allowed the bullpen to get the day off. The additional run manufactured by the offense in the bottom of inning No. 8 – and his pitch count – allowed Thomson the luxury of sending him back out there for another inning.
Thomson sounded like a proud father when talking about the success Sánchez has had this season during his post game press availability:
“I’m so proud of this kid, because he’s come so far and now he’s a dominant pitcher, really, in major league baseball. You see him a couple years ago and I didn’t think he’d be able to do it, but he’s worked hard. He’s trusted his coaches in the minor leagues and his coaches here, and it’s phenomenal.”
The Phillies manager was asked about the growth his starting pitcher has shown, and what’s been most impactful:
Command of the baseball really, and development of the change-up. There’s so many things with him. Mentally and emotionally, he;s grown up before our eyes. I’m really proud of him, I really am”
Rob Thomson post game, June 28, 2024
Even Phillies owner, John Middleton, was ecstatic when he saw reporters leaving Thomson’s press conference after the game. He said to us all, “we got a pretty good pitcher there, huh?” with a grin who’s width would rival that of The Joker, but with much more joy behind it.
The defense played really well as well, and the Phillies will need that to continue if they want to maintain the lead they hold in the National League East. Brandon Marsh, playing right field for the first time this season and just the eighth time during his Phillies tenure, flagged down three fly balls.
Sánchez added three 1-3 put-outs of his own, and Alec Bohm handled six grounders for outs with ease. Bryson Stott made a double play liner look easy for the defensive highlight of the night:
Scoring runs however you can
The Phillies may have an offense problem compared to what they are used to. If their pitching continues to do what it did tonight, the offense still may not be able to just follow suit. There were signs of life, however. the first man of the inning reached base in six-of-eight innings, but the team finished 0-for-10 with runners in scoring position.
It was two guys who are having less-than-stellar starts to the season who got things going in the fifth, as Merrifield and Stubbs led the inning with back-to-back singles. Bryson Stott would ground into a fielder’s choice to drive in the first run of the game. In the eighth, it was the returning Rojas who essentially manufactured the run on his own.
He hustled to turn a dribbling single into a double, and advanced to third on a pitch that got away from the catcher, but bounced towards third base – an aggressive move that paid off for the speedy outfielder in his return to the big leagues. It was Stott out of the lead-off spot who would once again drive in the runner on a sac-fly to deep left field for a little insurance.
Thomson spoke about Rojas after the game:
“I told him when he came in, just play like you did in Triple-A. Be aggressive, but under control. And he did it…if there are times he can move a runner by bunting, steal a base, steal third base, get an infield hit – that’s all we need”
Rob Thomson, post game June 28, 2024
What’s next for the Phillies?
What’s next for the lineup? Tomorrow will tell. Next for the club is Game 3 against the Marlins, tomorrow at 4:05. Aaron Nola (9-3, 3.39 ERA) will take the mound for the Phillies. He will be opposed by rookie Roddery Muñoz (1-3, 5.80 ERA).
Photo Credit: AP Photo/Laurence Kesterson
