The Phillies finish their past week of baseball with a 4-3 record over 7 games. They lost 2 of 3 to the Pirates on the road and won 3 of 4 against the Marlins in Miami. Over the 7 games for the week, they outscored opponents 31-28. After a frustrating series in Pittsburgh where they lost two winnable games, the Phillies responded well in Miami to help give them some separation in the Wild Card standings. They are 6-4 in their last 10 games and remain in 2nd place in the NL East with a 59-50 record, 11.5 games behind the Braves and 1.5 games ahead of the Marlins.
They are currently in the second Wild Card position and find themselves facing a great opportunity to gain separation this week as they play 3 games against the Royals and 4 against the Nationals.
The Phillies made just two moves at the trade deadline. They sent second base prospect Hao Yu Lee to Detroit for starting pitcher Michael Lorenzen. After designating utility man Josh Harrison for assignment, they traded pitcher Bailey Falter to the Pirates in exchange for young infielder Rodolfo Castro. Lorenzen has been having a great year and should help bolster the Phillies’ rotation and starting pitching depth. Castro, who is adept at hitting left-handed pitching, will fill a bench role. The Phillies have decided to implement a 6-man starting pitching rotation with the addition of Lorenzen, at least until their next off-day, which is August 14th.
NL Wild Card Standings
Hitting Stats (last 7 days)
Pitching Stats (last 7 days)
Injury Updates
Jose Alvarado - Alvarado was placed on the 15-day injured list (retroactive to July 7) with left elbow inflammation. Alvarado has now thrown two bullpen sessions and is scheduled to throw another August 4th. After that he will need to face live-hitters and then go on a rehab stint so he is likely at least a couple of weeks away from returning.
Results:
7/28 @ Pittsburgh Pirates - W (2-1)
Zach Wheeler got the start against Pirates ace Mitch Keller. The scoring began in the top of the 3rd when Kyle Schwarber hit a 2-run home run on deep fly to center field. Pittsburgh was able to get a run in the 4th inning on an RBI double by Ji Man Choi, making the score 2-1. Wheeler was excellent in the game, finishing with 6.2 innings pitched, 11 strikeouts, 1 walk, and 1 earned run on 3 hits.
His day was cut short when a downpour struck in the bottom of the 7th, forcing a rain delay. Jeff Hoffman and Gregory Soto kept the door shut in the 7th and 8th innings, and Craig Kimbrel pitched the 9th inning, earning his 17th save of the year. Schwarber was 2 for 2 with a double, home run, 3 walks, 2 RBI, and a run. Stott was 2 for 4.
7/29 @ Pittsburgh Pirates - L (6-7)
Aaron Nola took the mound against Pirate’s rookie Quinn Priester. Liover Peguero hit a solo home run in the 3rd to give Pittsburgh a 1-0 lead. In the 4th inning, Brandon Marsh hit a 3-RBI double and Jake Cave followed with an RBI double to put the Phillies up 4-1. In the bottom of the 4th, Endy Rodriguez hit an RBI double and Peguero hit an RBI single to make the score 4-3. Endy Rodriguez hit a 3-RBI triple in the bottom of the 5th and Alika Williams followed with an RBI single to give the Pirates a 7-4 lead.
A bases-loaded walk by Schwarber in the top of the 6th brought the score to 7-5. In the top of the 8th, Johan Rojas hit an RBI single to cut the score 7-6. After recording 2 outs in the 8th, Pirates closer David Bednar stayed in the game to pitch the 9th and closed out the game. Nola was not at his best, going 4.2 innings with 6 strikeouts, 3 walks, and 7 runs (5 earned) on 9 hits. Bryson Stott was 3 for 5 with a run scored. The Phillies only managed to score 6 runs in a game where they tallied 9 walks and 8 hits.
7/30 @ Pittsburgh Pirates - L (4-6)
Christopher Sanchez got the start against veteran left-hander Rich Hill. Alec Bohm put the Phillies on the board with a 2-run home run in the 4th inning to make the score 2-0. Sanchez had a no hitter through 5 innings and was removed from the game. Rob Thomson later said it was partially due to him dealing with a stomach illness. Bryan Reynolds hit a 2-run homer in the 6th inning to tie the game at 2-2.
In the top of the 7th, Bryce Harper hit an RBI single which was followed by a Bohm RBI single as the Phillies took a 4-2 lead. In the bottom of the 7th, Connor Joe reached on an error due to a miscommunication between Sosa at third and Turner at short. Bryan Reynolds then hit a single to center field in which Rojas misplayed the ground ball, allowing Joe to score, making the score 4-3. The Pirates scored another run in the bottom of the 8th on a sacrifice fly to tie the game at 4-4.
David Bednar and Craig Kimbrel both pitched scoreless 9th innings, taking the game into extras. The Phillies were unable to score a run in the top of the 10th. In the bottom of the 10th, with Andrew Vasquez pitching, Josh Palacios hit a deep fly to right field for a walk-off, 2-run home run to end the game. Sanchez finished with 5 innings, 3 strikeouts, 2 walks, and 0 runs allowed on 0 hits. Alec Bohm was 3 for 5 with a home run, 3 RBI, and a run.
7/31 @ Miami Marlins - W (4-2)
Taijuan Walker got the start against Edward Cabrera. In the bottom of the 1st, Jorge Soler hit a 2-run home run before an out was recorded to put the Marlins up 2-0. Walker was able to get out of the 1st and really settled in after a shaky first frame. In the top of the 4th, Johan Rojas hit a line drive down the left field line for a 2 RBI double to tie the game at 2-2. Bryson Stott hit a sacrifice fly in the top of the 7th to give the Phillies a 3-2 lead.
In the top of the 8th, Alec Bohm hit a 2-out RBI single for an insurance run, extending the Phillies lead to 4-2. Strahm and Hoffman combined to keep the door closed in the bottom of the 8th, and Craig Kimbrel pitched a scoreless 9th inning for the save. Taijuan Walker finished with 6.2 innings, 4 strikeouts, 2 walks, and 2 earned runs on 6 hits. Alec Bohm was 2 for 3 at the plate with an RBI and 2 walks.
8/1 @ Miami Marlins - W (3-1)
Ranger Suarez took the mound against reigning NL Cy Young winner Sandy Alcantara. In the bottom of the 3rd inning, Avisail Garcia hit an RBI double to give the Marlins a 1-0 lead. Scoring was few and far between, as there were no more runs scored by either team until the 9th inning. Ranger Suarez battled and was helped by some great defensive plays, as he scattered 10 hits over 6.1 innings with 3 strikeouts, 2 walks, and only 1 run allowed.
Alcantara was excellent, as he allowed only 4 hits and 1 walk throughout the first 8 innings of the game. Alcantara was taken out after the 8 innings, and former Phillie David Robertson was brought in for the save in the top of the 9th with a 1 run lead. Schwarber led off the inning with a walk, then Harper hit a deep fly to left field for an RBI double that scored pinch runner Jake Cave from first base.
Castellanos was the following batter, who ripped an 0-2 pitch to left field for a 2-run home run, giving the Phillies a 3-1 lead. Seranthony Dominguez came in to pitch the bottom of the 9th and shut it down for the save. The Phillies as a team compiled just 6 hits compared to 11 for the Marlins. Bryce Harper was 2 for 4 with a double, RBI, and a run scored.
8/2 @ Miami Marlins - L (8-9)
Zach Wheeler got the start against left-hander Braxton Garrett in what would turn out to be a roller coaster of a ballgame. The Phillies put two on the board in the top of the 4th with a Castellanos RBI single followed by a Stott RBI single of his own. The Phillies then scored 3 more in the top of the 6th after chasing Garrett out of the game thanks to a bases loaded walk and a 2-RBI double from Bohm. Wheeler looked very sharp after 5 innings, preserving a shutout and allowing only 2 hits.
Josh Bell and Jazz Chisolm went back-to-back with home runs in the 6th to shorten the Phillies lead to 5-2. Strahm pitched a scoreless 7th and was removed in the 8th after getting into some trouble. Jeff Hoffman was unable to escape the inning unscathed, as the Marlins scored 2 on a bases loaded walk and an RBI groundout. Thomson went with Gregory Soto in the 9th to close out the game with a 1 run lead, and Jorge Soler hit a solo shot on a missile to right field to tie the game.
In the top of the 10th, Brandon Marsh hit a pinch-hit 2-run home run to put the Phillies up 7-5. Kimbrel then came in to close out the bottom of the 10th. Kimbrel used the very rare intentional balk strategy to move the automatic runner from 2nd to 3rd, in fear that he may be signaling pitches to the hitter. A ground out brought that runner home, followed by a single and double by Jesus Sanchez to put runners on 2nd and 3rd. Sanchez was clearly signaling pitches to the hitters, who after two loud foul balls were able to drive in the tying run.
Alec Bohm drove in the automatic runner with a single to put the Phillies up 8-7 in the top of the 11th. Josh Bell then hit a 2-out ground ball to Trea Turner’s right, and he was unable to field it cleanly or knock it down, driving in the tying run with Dylan Covey pitching. The Phillies were blanked in the top of the 12th and after an intentional walk and hit-by-pitch, Jesus Sanchez hit a walk-off RBI single to end the game. Bohm was 4 for 6 with 3 RBI and a run. Stott was 3 for 5 with a double, walk, RBI, and a run. After the Phillies “stole” a win yesterday, the Marlins were able to steal one back.
8/3 @ Miami Marlins - W (4-2)
Recently acquired pitcher Michael Lorenzen made his debut on the mound against Johnny Cueto. In the 2nd inning, JT Realmuto hit a 2-run home run to right-center field to give the Phillies a 2-0 lead. Jazz Chisolm hit an RBI double in the 4th inning to make the score 2-1. In the top of the 7th inning, Brandon Marsh hit a 2-RBI single as the Phillies took a 4-1 lead. Bryan De La Cruz responded with a solo home run in the bottom of the 7th to make the score 4-2.
Seranthony Dominguez came on in the 9th inning and closed it down for the save. Michael Lorenzen went deep into the game and had a great debut, finishing with 8 innings pitched, 5 strikeouts, 1 walk, and 2 earned runs on 6 hits. Realmuto was 2 for 4 with a home run, 2 RBI, and a run. Bryce Harper was 2 for 4.
Looking Ahead
The Phillies begin Week 18 of the season with a 3-game series at home against the Kansas City Royals (33-75) over the weekend. They then play a 4-game home series against the Washington Nationals (45-63) Monday through Thursday.
Friday, 8/4 7:05pm vs. KC - Aaron Nola (9-7, 4.43 ERA) vs. Jordan Lyles (2-12, 6.15 ERA)
Saturday, 8/5 6:05pm vs. KC - Christopher Sanchez (0-3, 2.66 ERA) vs. Alec Marsh (0-5, 6.75 ERA)
Sunday, 8/6 1:35pm vs. KC - Taijuan Walker (12-4, 3.99 ERA) vs. Zach Greinke (1-11, 5.32 ERA)
Monday, 8/7 6:40pm vs. WAS - Ranger Suarez (2-5. 4.01 ERA) vs. Josiah Gray (7-9, 3.54 ERA)
Tuesday, 8/8 6:40pm vs. WAS - Zach Wheeler (8-5, 3.71 ERA) vs. Mackenzie Gore (6-8, 4.34 ERA)
Wednesday, 8/9 6:40pm vs. WAS - Michael Lorenzen (6-7, 3.48 ERA) vs. Patrick Corbin (7-11, 5.07 ERA)
Thursday, 8/10 6:40pm vs. WAS - Aaron Nola vs. Trevor Williams (5-6, 4.72 ERA)
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