The Giants were one game away from a clean sweep of the Fightin’s going into a Wednesday afternoon. The pitching matchup is between a pair of right handers in Zach Eflin (3.15 ERA, 16 K’s in 20 IP; 1-0) versus Anthony DeSclafani (1.06 ERA, 16 K’s in 17 IP; 1-0)
Eflin settled in quickly through the first two, setting down the Giants in order fast, including a PFP on a liner right at him. In the 2nd he’d surrender a single on an almost amazing catch by Nick Maton. Something to consider is why wasn’t Mickey Moniak there to make the catch? It seemed deep enough. Eflin would get another one back to him and able to turn a double play then end the inning on the next batter. The Phillies would get a single out of Harper in the first but that’d be it. The bottom half of the 2nd would be one to remember for Moniak. Brad Miller poked a check swing single through the left side, followed by a Maton single to right. Moniak would deliver on a blast to left field for his first career home run to put the Phils up 3-0. The only question for that is, how was a staff member supposed to go up to a toddler to retrieve the ball back for Moniak? The inning would end quietly after an Eflin ground out, McCutchen walk and Rhys strikeout.
The game would be paused after one pitch due to a weather delay.
As the rain came and went, Eflin returned after a roughly 40-to-45-minute delay. He settled down Crawford on a fly to center, following he allowed a single to Mauricio Dubon where he tried to stretch it into a double. Miller kept the glove on him as Dubon over slid to his left, ruled safe but then overturned upon further review. The Phil’s slugger Bryce Harper opened the next half with a ground out, something that was surprising to see from the hot bat of Harp. Bohm would walk then reach second from a grounder from Miller, beating Crawford to the bag. Knapp would fly out to left on one pitch followed by a Maton backwards K to end the little momentum they mustered up.
Eflin would roll through the fourth, giving up just a single. DeSclafani doing set down the side in order with ease right after. Eflin would run into trouble as Buster Poser, still drinking from the fountain of youth, doubled to left field. Flores would single to the right side of the diamond as Hoskins couldn’t come up with a tough hop, Miller recovered for him, but the throw was too late. Crawford would strikeout looking on a wicked 2-seamer in from Eflin. Dubon hit a short liner to right that fell too fast for Harper to catch, he faked it a bit, posing that he was going to be able to make the catch, fooling Flores who would be thrown out at second on a force. The result is a 9-6 force out for Dubon, but an RBI as Posey would score. The Phillies would go down in order again on a Hoskins fly out to center (wind may have factored into it staying in), Harper shallow fly out and Bohm swinging strikeout. Through the first 5 the score stood 3-1 Phillies.
Eflin found himself into some trouble after giving up a 1-out double to Solano. Dickerson would loft one to left, unfortunately for Solano, he started for third but started to limp and barley made it to third. He was taken out immediately. Up came Posey yet again. He’d get
ahead in a 3-0 count, but in a 7-pitch battle he would fly out to Harper at the warning track. The wind made it difficult for Harper, but he made the catch to put out the fire. The Phillies would get a run back in the next half as Miller singled then scored two batters later. Maton flared one to left that died on Dickerson, who played it terribly, and the ball skipped to the wall. Maton would get to third, ruled a single E6 with no RBI. Moniak would strikeout on again then Scott Kingery would make his 2021 debut pinch hitting for Eflin. He wouldn’t last long as he’d be punched out on 4 pitches.
The bullpen looked like 2020 all over again to start the top of the 7th inning. Brandon Kintzler relieved Eflin, who threw 86 pitches through 6. Wilmer Flores got it started with a double off the top of the wall to center. Crawford would single on the infield as they shifted him, forcing Maton to go to his right. Unable to get a good grip on the ball, his throw was wide, and Hoskins snagged it off the bag. Kintzler would strikeout Dubon on a momentum changing called strike three. No momentum would affect pinch hitter Darin Ruf. He’d take a fastball left over the plate all the way over the centerfield wall, tying the game at 4. This is the third 3-run homer given up by Phillies relievers in a 24-hour span. That’d be all for Kintzler as JoJo Romero would relieve him. It would only get worse. He’d get La Stella on a hard grounder, saved by a diving Hoskins. Yastrzemski would flare one to left that hung up there long enough for McCutchen, but he made a bone-headed error as it popped out of his glove, Yastrzemski to second. Always remember, always use two hands on a fly ball. Dickerson would come up and lace a single up the middle on a hanging breaking ball to take the lead, 5-4. Spencer Howard would come in for Romero and be the only reliever to do his job properly. He set down Posey on a popup foul as Hoskins made a nice basket catch along the net. In what looked to be a 1-2-3 bottom 7, Bryce Harper took Camilo Doval deep to right center on an absolute laser beam to tie the game up at 5. Bryce Harper staying hot, putting the team on his back when needed the most.
Spencer Howard would continue into the 8th inning striking out the side in order. Flores looking at a fastball low to start, followed up by palm ball that was swung on and missed Crawford and finally getting Dubon looking at a fastball just like Flores. A dominant performance for Howard, facing 4 batters. He made a case today to remain with the team, whether it’d be served in the bullpen or rotation. The Phillies’ rookie shortstop Maton would get on with an infield hit after a Knapp fly out. Realmuto would pinch hit for Howard with a walk. With 2 on to start the Phillies would squander it as Kingery would fly out to shallow center without moving Maton, McCutchen would beat out a Crawford as he fumbled with the ball before getting the throw across. Unfortunately, Hoskins would go down swinging to leave the bases loaded going into the 9th.
Hector Neris would come into the game in a non-save situation. He would mow through the Giants batters just fine as he struck out two and got one man to fly out to left center. This time, McCutchen, still just the one hand, made the catch. Harper would lead off the 9th with a walk on 5 pitches, one of which got a bit close to his head that knocked him backwards. Alec Bohm would battle Wandy Peralta but would ultimately strikeout swinging. Brad Miller picked him up with a poked single to left, moving Harper to second. Andrew Knapp went hitless all day
until it mattered most. He singled to left to score Harper who swept his fingers across the plate to win in some style.
The Phillies went through a delay, got a solid start from Eflin, not perfect but solid, tossing 6 IP, 7 H, 1 ER and 3 K’s. The pen made everyone say “Here we go again” as they blew the 4-0 lead. Bryce Harper’s game tying home run was no surprise at all as he is the hottest bat in the lineup, pushing his average from .231 up to .357 in a matter of one week’s time. They never gave him a pitch to hit in the 9th, to no surprise, but the men behind him brought him home. Brad Miller had a great day at the dish, going 4-5, scoring twice. Moniak’s one 3-run homer paid dividends as he led the Phil’s in RBI’s with 3. Another impressive day from rookie shortstop Nick Maton going 3-4 on the day, scoring once.
A much-needed win for the Phillies brings them back to .500 (9-9) and avoid being swept by former manager Gabe Kapler and his San Francisco Giants. They get the day off to travel to Colorado Thursday, looking for a rebound series against the Rockies.