PHILADELPHIA — Rafael Marchán hasn’t had the best start to the season after being named the backup catcher out of Spring Training. Perhaps it is not all of his doing. Penciled into the starting lineup for the first time in a week and only playing in 12 games this season, opportunities to get on a roll at the plate or get in a groove overall are a tough task for backup catchers, especially with seldom playing time.
On Thursday, Marchán may have turned a corner, showing a glimpse of what he is capable of in his backup role. The 26-year-old homered and drove in three of the five runs for the Phillies, matching a career-high that he set back in 2020 in game two of a doubleheader against Toronto.
Rafael Marchan
“Really impressed,” Thomson said on his catcher’s afternoon. ”I’ve been saying it all along he’s a really good player. Although there’s not many numbers there he’s still giving us good at-bats. He understands the strike zone, he’s really disciplined, he can really throw, obviously. He calls a great game. This was just a huge day for him.”
In the third inning, he swatted his first home run of the season providing an early 2-0 lead with his first home run of the season. It was his first homer since July 3 of last season.
Marchán has now hit six home runs in 162 MLB plate appearances. In 1,174 minor league plate appearances, he hit just nine. He also walked and scored on a Trea Turner infield single in the fifth inning to give the Phillies a 3-0 lead. Behind the plate, he threw out a pair of baserunners, including Ozzie Albies in the ninth inning for the first out.
“He’s always in the book, always looking at video,” Thomson said after the game. “He’s always talking to J.T. [Realmuto] and talking to the pitching coaches. He’s a real student. Very diligent.”
Phillies battle back late
The Phillies could have had more runs on the board. From multiple deep fly balls dying on the warning track to Max Kepler being robbed of a three-run shot by Michael Harris II, the Phillies had ample chances to break the game open.
Cristopher Sanchez remained steady, cruising through five scoreless innings with five strikeouts before running into some trouble in the sixth. He was taken out of the game with two outs in the inning with runners at the corners for Orion Kerkering, who allowed one of his two inherited runners to score on an RBI single by Ronald Acuna Jr. to make it a 3-2 game before striking out Harris II looking to end the Braves’ threat.
Kyle Schwarber continued his power surge, crushing his 19th homer of the season in the seventh. A no doubt shot at 431 feet that Ronald Acuña Jr. did not even flinch when it sailed into the seats. Schwarber is tied for the second-most home runs in the league with Seattle’s Cal Raleigh.
Taking a 4-2 lead into the eighth, Matt Strahm was unable to protect the lead, surrendering a pair of back-to-back RBI doubles from Acuña Jr. and Harris II. The lefty has allowed a pair of earned runs in two of his last three appearances.
“It’s lack of execution more than anything,” Thomson said on Strahm’s struggles as of late. “His velocity is starting to creep up. Think it’s just more the execution.”
Jordan Romano got himself in a precarious situation in the ninth, ultimately slamming the door shut, striking out Eli White to end the game.
With the win, the Phillies have won 11 of their last 12 games and improved to 36-19 on the season. Game two of the doubleheader is slated for 6:45 p.m. with Zack Wheeler (6-1, 2.42) taking on Chris Sale (2-3, 3.36 ERA).
Mandatory Credit: Mike Watters-Imagn Images
