The Fightin’ Phils would look to get back in the win column tonight against Kapler and the Giants. The Phillies would start Zach Wheeler who comes in with an ERA of 2.70, 20 K’s in 20 innings of work (1-2 record) to counter the Giants’ Logan Webb who comes in with an ERA of 4.26, 12 K’s in 12.2 innings of work (0-1 record).
The first inning started with some flair on the first pitch as rookie Mickey Moniak made a terrific diving catch in front of the Giant sign in left center. Then the Phillies made it interesting early in the first as Joyce reached on an infield single followed by a Segura fielder’s choice, his hustle showing again. They would load the bases via a Harper single and Realmuto walk. Unfortunately, it proved to no avail as Brad Miller, starting in place of Rhys Hoskins, rolls into a double play.
Wheels would set the side down in order in the second and the Phillies would finally score a run again. Mickey Moniak would end the streak of 13 games without a hit from the starting center field position as he’d slap one through the left side of the second base bag, opposite the shift. Unlike a repeating patter the night before, Nick Maton would rip one down the line for a double, plating the hustling Moniak, his first career RBI. The two rookies starting their nights off right after a poor performance the night before. Wheeler would go down swinging, followed by a Joyce walk, Segura would bounce a slow one to Crawford and end it. Segura would come up limping after, ending his night. Hoskins would come in to play first, Miller moved to second. Segura’s injury was later diagnosed as a quad strain, needing further evaluation.
Wheeler wouldn’t get his first strikeout until the third inning and it came at a great time. He found himself into some trouble as allowed a single that soon turned into two men on and two out. Leaving Yastrzemski up with a chance to be the equalizer. Wheels had other plans in mind as he struck him out on a 2-2 slider in, ending the inning and threat. Bryce Harper stayed hot with another infield single and JT followed with a bloop, just escaping the grasp of La Stella. Brad Miller followed them up with a big blast to right center as he reached across the plate and yanked the ball over the fence. The extension of Miller was incredible. A big home run needed for the Phillies after being dry for so long as a team at the dish. The lead would stay at 4-0 as Bohm lined out to right, Moniak ground out and Maton strikeout.
The Giants would fight back as they would finally get to Wheeler. Veteran catcher Buster Posey still has that pop in his bat. He took a pitch left over the middle far and deep over the forementioned Giant sign to make it 4-1, how poetic. Wheeler would come back with two strikeouts on Crawford and Slater. He would walk Ruf to extend it, leading to a Tommy La Stella two-run blast that seemed to be headed towards the moon. La Stella wasn’t going to be robbed this time. Wheeler would walk Yastrzemski on 4 pitches after a meeting with Bryan Price. He’d get Longoria to ground one up the left side of the second base bag, however Maton flashed the leather and flipped the ball to Miller while ever still falling to his chest. The 24-year-old short stop making plays in both aspects of the game.
Who but Bryce Harper would find his way on base to start the inning again. He would work a full count walk to start the 5th. Right away it felt like it wouldn’t matter. JT would sky a routine fly ball to left and Miller would follow with a backwards K, after being up in the count 3-1. Alec Bohm came up and delivered with the smoothest swing he’s had in a while. A changeup left right down the middle was belted to left field to expand the game to 6-3. Bohm hadn’t hit a home run since April 7th and since that day he hit just .229 with 3 RBI’s and 11 K’s. Despite that, he is now at 10 RBI’s on the young season. Buster Posey would continue to be a problem for Wheeler in the next half inning, taking a 3-2 pitch high and deep to about the same location as Bohm. Wheeler would exit after giving up another 2-out homer. Sam Coonrod would come in to put out Crawford on one pitch with a pop out to Bohm. The game would be 6-4 through 6 ½.
The Phillies would follow with a 1-2-3 inning which included, yet again, another Roman Quinn strikeout in his first at bat. Coonrod would set the Giants 1-2-3 as well in the top of the 7th, leading to the Phillies going down quietly in the bottom half with just another Harper walk. Connor Brogdon would relieve Coonrod after a solid 1.1 innings of work. Yastrzemski would start with a routine fly to left. Evan Longoria would take Brogdon to the left center wall on a hop, surrendering just his 4th hit of the season. He would battle Belt for 8 pitches before surrendering the walk, putting 2 on with just 1 out. Brogdon finally cracked as he gave a 3-run bomb to Dickerson to the second deck in right field, his first runs of the season. The punishment wouldn’t end, Brogdon would stay in. Posey would get an infield hit; Crawford singled to right in what seemed like Harper could’ve caught but bailed last second to grab it off a hop. A fielder’s choice by Slater led to another fastball right down the middle corked into left for another 3-run home run. Brogdon completely imploded after getting the first batter out on one pitch for a gut-wrenching 8th inning.
Rosso would end the inning for Brogdon, then the Phillies would go down in order to the submarine-style pitching of Tyler Rogers. Rosso would set down the Giants quickly after giving up a single, getting a line out on a diving snag by Roman Quinn and then a double play. Interesting enough Andrew Knapp was playing second and made a good throw to Maton to turn it. The Phillies would go down with a slight fight in the bottom half of the 9th. Quinn grounded out, Joyce lined out to left and Hoskins ripped a long line drive homer into left center. Harper would strikeout to end it.
In a game filled with promise and excitement, took a sudden and sickening turn for the worst. The Giants big 6-run inning left the Phillies depleted and haunted with shades of the 2020 bullpen. A loss that hurts to the core. One night, the offense was as quiet as a mouse, the next they explode for 7 runs, but the pitching gives up a 10-piece. Phils look to salvage the series with a matinée win on Wednesday.
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