The Philadelphia Phillies had a hot 6-1 start to the 2021 campaign. That was interrupted by a 1-2 series versus Atlanta and getting swept in 3 games by the Mets (4th game rained out). The Phillies hadn’t faced a non-NL East team all year until Friday when the St. Louis Cardinals came to town.
The Fightin’s came out hot off the slump they had previously been in. Everyone who had an at-bat was able to find a way to get on base, including Eflin who was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. The second inning, a 6-spot was put up by the offense. Segura got things going with an RBI double that seemed to be a routine fly ball, but the wind was on Philadelphia’s side as it forced Carlson to lose track of the ball and land roughly 20 feet away from him. Following would be Eflin’s RBI HBP, then Andrew McCutchen came through with an opposite field single that plated 2 runners, something he needed as he has struggled this year to get going. Hoskins would walk leading to a Harper double that would score 2 more, putting the Phils up 6-0. Zach Eflin would go on for 7 strong innings, allowing 6 hits, 2 runs, both earned and 6 strikeouts while giving up a 2-run blast to Justin Williams, the only real blemish on Eflin’s night. JT Realmuto would provide 2 more runs with a 2-run homer of his own that just got tucked into the left field foul pole, his second of the season. The Phillies would go on to win 9-2 in a must needed win.
The following night would be one to forget. A little bit of a reversal effect as the Cards’ bats came alive and out for vengeance. They would go on to put up a 6-spot of their own in the 3rd inning. Down 1 due to a Bohm RBI single early, with 2 outs the Cardinals future Hall of Fame catcher Yadier Molina laced a 3-run home run to left field to take the lead back. Following Molina, Paul DeJong would take Matt Moore deep for a solo shot of his own. A walk to Austin Dean would lead to a redeeming double into left field by Dylan Carlson as Dean was fly around the bases from first to score. Moore would intentionally walk Justin Willimas, throw a wild pitch to the next batter and get yanked. An abysmal start for Moore whose ERA is now up to 10.64 in 11 IP. JoJo Romero would come on in relief, but the defense wouldn’t help him out right away as a throwing error by Alec Bohm would score the 6th runner of the inning before Edman grounds into a fielder’s choice. The Phillies would fight back in the next half as JT scored Segura on a swinging bunt followed by a sac fly by Bohm to score Hoskins. However, the following inning Nolan Arenado would homer off of Romero to make the score 8-3 and then Molina would hit another home run the next at bat making it 9-3. Velasquez, Hale and Neris would be the next three pitchers the Phils would throw against the Cards, not allowing anymore runs. However, they would only plate one more run on a Gregorius RBI double, losing the second game 9-4.
The biggest game of the season to date would come this afternoon in the finale of this series as Phillies’ ace Aaron Nola would take the mound and was he ever dominant. Nola would toss 10 strikeouts, allow 2 hits, no walks and go all 9 innings for his first 9-inning complete game shutout (had thrown a 7-inning CG SO in 2020 as part of a double header). The only blemish on the day for Nola would be an error on a PFP when he dropped the ball covering first (Edman the hitter). Phil’s Bryce Harper was out on Saturday due to lower back soreness but came out swinging hot with a solo home run to the second deck in right field. Harper would go a perfect 3 for 3 on the day with a walk, 1 RBI and only a triple away from a cycle. The only other run on the day would be another sac fly from Alec Bohm in the 5th inning. The Phillies would go on to win 2-0 and take the series 2-1 from the Cards, a big pick-me-up series win at that.
Some items to take away from this series and early part of the season, McCutchen has still been struggling at the plate apart from Friday night. In 47 at bats, Cutch has hit just .170 with 1 HR and 5 RBI’s and 10 BB’s. He has just one extra base hit aside from his home run. His 13 strikeouts have been a bit troubling along with his constant ground outs. He has still yet to get back to the 2019, pre-ACL injury Cutch. Although catcher JT Realmuto has hit .304 with 2 HR, 9 RBI’s and an OPS of .918, JT hasn’t come through as much in the clutch like we are accustomed to seeing. Today we saw him roll over on a ball that wound up hitting Rhys Hoskins to end the 3rd, strikeout twice today, something we’ve seen him do 14 times on the season now. Phillies hot corner man, Alec Bohm, has also been struggling at the plate. Bohm batting just .222 with 1 HR, 8 RBI’s and an OPS of just .565. Bohm has been able to plate runners on occasion this year, but there is still much needed room for improvement for the second-year third baseman. His sac fly in today’s game was nice but would have been better if he’d gotten a hit instead of just missing the ball, skying it for a routine fly ball. His 18 strikeouts shave been rough to deal with for a guy we are used to seeing square up the baseball like it’s nothing. He is still just 24 years old, so he has time to get things situated.
Again, an absolute DOMINANT performance from 2-7. Nola was on a mission, set out to do better, did better and absolutely routed the Cards. Big win to get this series. All in all a good series for the Phillies as they look forward to a 3-game home series with former manager Gabe Kapler and his San Francisco Giants.
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