The Phillies finish their past week of baseball with a 2-3 record over 5 games. They lost 2 of 3 against the Twins at home and split a two-game series with the Blue Jays in Toronto. Over the 5 games for the week, they outscored opponents 24-19. While a sub .500 record for the week doesn’t look great, the Phillies managed to pick up a few wins while facing four good starting pitchers in a row: Pablo Lopez, Sonny Gray, Yusei Kikuchi, and Kevin Gausman.
They are 6-4 in their last 10 games and remain in 2nd place in the NL East with a 66-55 record, 12.5 games behind the Braves and 3.5 games ahead of the Marlins. They are currently alone in the first Wild Card position with a 2 game lead over the Giants as they go into a week that features winnable games in a series with the Nationals, and a pivotal series against the Giants.
NL Wild Card Standings
Hitting Stats (last 7 days)
Pitching Stats (last 7 days)
Injury Updates
Brandon Marsh - Marsh suffered a left knee bruise after colliding with the center field fence during the game August 5th. He began a rehab assignment with Triple-A Lehigh Valley Thursday..
Jose Alvarado - Alvarado has been on the injured list since July 7. He began a rehab assignment with Triple-A Lehigh Valley Tuesday and threw 1 inning with 1 strikeout and no hits.
Christian Pache - Pache has been on the injured list since July 17. He began a rehab assignment August 8th and has been with Lehigh Valley since August 12th and is nearing a return.
Results:
8/11 vs. Minnesota Twins - W (13-2)
Christopher Sanchez got the start against veteran left-hander Dallas Keuchel. The Twins hit back-to-back solo homers in the top of the 2nd from Jorge Polanco and Max Kepler to go up 2-0. The Phillies responded by scoring 6 runs in the bottom of the 2nd on a Stott RBI double, Realmuto RBI single, Rojas RBI ground-out, Schwarber RBI single, Bohm sacrifice fly, and a Trea Turner RBI single.
In the bottom of the 4th, the Phillies added 3 more runs on a Turner RBI double, Castellanos RBI single, and Stott sacrifice fly. In the bottom of the 6th, Bryson Stott and JT Realmuto hit back-to-back solo homers, as the Phillies extended their lead to 11-2. The Twins went with position player Jordan Luplow to pitch the bottom of the 8th inning. Luplow was clearly enjoying the moment, as he impersonated Phillies closer on the mound, and then proceeded to allow a 2-run homer to Johan Rojas (the first of his Major League career).
Dylan Covey pitched two scoreless innings in the 8th and 9th innings, as the Phillies won 13-2. Christopher Sanchez got his first win of the 2023 season, going 6 innings with 5 strikeouts, 3 walks, and 2 earned runs on 6 hits. The Phillies offense exploded, totaling 15 hits. Big nights at the plate were had by many, including Castellanos (3 for 4, double, RBI, run), Turner (3 for 5, 2 doubles, 2 RBI, run), Stott (2 for 4, double, home run, 3 RBI, 2 runs), and Realmuto (2 for 4, home run, 2 RBI, 2 runs).
8/12 vs. Minnesota Twins - L (1-8)
Taijuan Walker took the mound against former Marlin Pablo Lopez. After scoring 1 in the top of the 1st, the Twins added 2 more on back-to-back homers by Matt Wallner and Joey Gallo. The Twins put up 5 runs in the top of the 7th inning due to a Carlos Correa solo shot, Wallner RBI single, and a 3-run home run by Joey Gallo. Pablo Lopez was extremely effective over 6 innings, and the Phillies were able to put a run on the board after he came out in bottom of the 7th on an RBI groundout by Rodolfo Castro.
The Phillies were kept at bay in the 8th and 9th innings as they fell 8-1. Taijuan Walker struggled with command and his velocity was down, but he was able to get through 5 innings with 2 strikeouts, 6 walks, and 3 earned runs on 3 hits. After the game, Rob Thomson said that they are going to give Walker extra rest before his next start. The Phillies scattered 9 hits as a team on the night, but were only able to score 1 run. Trea Turner was 3 for 3 with a walk and a run, and Castellanos was 2 for 4.
8/13 vs. Minnesota Twins - L (0-3)
Ranger Suarez took the mound in a series rubber match against Sonny Gray to finish the series Sunday. The Twins got on the board first in the top of the 1st with a solo home run. Jorge Polanco hit an RBI single in the top of the 3rd to go up 2-0. The Phillies loaded the bases in the 7th inning with 1 out.
After Schwarber popped out in the infield, Alec Bohm was called out on a pitch that was inside with a full count, ending the inning. Bohm was clearly frustrated and was ejected from the game. Kimbrel pitched a scoreless 8th and the Twins added an extra insurance run off Dylan Covey in the top of the 9th on a Polanco RBI single. The Phillies then went 3-up, 3-down in the bottom of the 9th against Jhoan Duran as they fell 3-0.
Ranger Suarez had some of the best swing and miss stuff he’s shown all year, as he finished with 6.1 innings pitched, 8 strikeouts, 3 walks, and 2 earned runs on 6 hits. Sonny Gray and the Minnesota bullpen was excellent throughout the game, holding the Phillies to just 5 hits as a team. Jake Cave had the lone multi-hit day with a 2 for 4 effort. Trea Turner was able to get a hit to extend his hitting streak to 10 games.
8/15 @ Toronto Blue Jays - L (1-2)
Zach Wheeler took the mound against left-hander Yusei Kikuchi in a game that would turn out to be a pitchers duel. Both pitchers kept the game scoreless through 5 innings, and then in the top of the 6th, Johan Rojas hit a double down the left field line that would score Sosa from 1st. In the bottom of the 6th, George Springer hit a 2-out RBI single up the middle to tie the game at 1-1.
In the bottom of the 8th with the bases loaded, Alec Bohm made a great play to get the force at home for the second out. Seranthony Dominguez then hit the following batter in the foot to bring in the run, giving Toronto a 2-1 lead. Closer Jordan Romano came on to pitch the 9th and threw a 3-up, 3-down inning, earning the save.
Wheeler had a great outing, going 7 innings with 5 strikeouts, 4 walks, and 1 earned run on 3 hits. The Phillies offense was kept at bay all game, with just 4 total hits as a team. Edmundo Sosa was 2 for 2 with a run scored. Trea Turner saw his 10-game hitting streak come to an end as the Phillies lost their 3rd straight game.
8/16 @ Toronto Blue Jays - W (9-4)
Aaron Nola got the start against Kevin Gausman in a matchup of former LSU teammates. The Phillies struck first in the top of the 2nd on a Jake Cave sacrifice fly. In the bottom of the 2nd, Daulton Varsho hit a 2-run home run to take a 2-1 lead. Bryce Harper hit a solo home run in the top of the 3rd to tie the game at 2.
In the bottom of the 3rd, Cavan Biggio hit a 2-RBI single to go up 4-2. The Phillies scored 3 runs in the top of the 5th on an RBI double by Castellanos and plated 2 on a throwing error by Blue Jays third baseman Santiago Espinal. Gausman was taken out of the game in the top of the 6th with 1 out, and the Phillies scored 2 on a Schwarber sac fly and a Bohm single, giving them a 7-4 lead. In the top of the 8th, Jake Cave hit a solo home run followed by Harper’s second solo homer of the game in the 9th, giving Philly a 9-4 lead.
Gregory Soto then pitched a scoreless 9th to end it. Nola wasn’t at his best, but pitched well enough to earn the win, going 5 innings with 7 strikeouts, 4 walks, and 4 earned runs on 4 hits. Harper went 3 for 4 with 2 home runs, 2 RBI, and 3 runs. Castellanos was 2 for 5 with 2 doubles, 1 RBI, and 2 runs. Jake Cave went 2 for 3 with a home run, 2 RBI, and 2 runs.
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