The Phillies headed to Citi Field for an important three-game series against the Mets. We just wanted to win one, but when you win the first game unexpectedly, you want to win the series and when that doesn’t happen, you get disappointed.
GAME ONE
With Suarez on the mound against Scherzer, very little was expected. Much to our surprise, Suarez kept our Phils to a 1-1 game and they won in the 10th 2-1.
The offense was expected to not do too well given the fact that Scherzer is one of the best to ever do it, but they ended up having a total of 10 hits. Stott was the leadoff guy due to Schwarber being banged up and he did not disappoint. He went 3-4 including a double to start the game. Bohm is the other guy that came up big this game. He hit Stott in from second to start the game, then in the 10th inning, he hit a sac fly to bring in Stott again, which ended up being the winning run. 10 Hits with 11 strikeouts and no walks is certainly an interesting stat line, but it’s one that ended with a win, so I’m not complaining.
Pitching is the story of this game. Ranger got the start and had a phenomenal outing. He went seven innings and only allowed one run off of three hits with two walks and four strikeouts. Alvarado, Dominguez (W), and Robertson (S) pitched innings 8-10 with each pitching a full inning. Alvarado and Dominguez both allowed one hit and Robertson had a strikeout. Overall, an excellent performance from our pitchers. That’s a total of five hits, one run, three walks, and five strikeouts.
The win wouldn’t have been possible if it weren’t for Vierling’s throw to home in the bottom of the ninth that got Marte out and ended the inning. It was a nailbiter of a game, but we won at the end of it and that’s the most important part.
GAME TWO
This was a game to watch. deGrom and Nola were set to go against each other and if you like a low-scoring, dominant pitching game from time-to-time, this was the game for you. Unfortunately, the result was a 1-0 loss for the Phillies, but it was still a good baseball game.
This was an important test for Nola. Having to go up against one of the best in the game at a time where your team is trying to solidify a playoff spot is no easy task and he stepped up big time. He allowed four hits, one walk, and one run to go with eight strikeouts in as many innings. A complete game, one run loss is heartbreaking.
The offense just couldn’t get anything done against deGrom. They only had three hits and two walks to go with an astonishing 14 strikeouts, 10 of which were from deGrom. Can we really get that mad? I don’t think so. It is disappointing, though.
The silver lining to this is that Schwarber was able to DH late in the game.
GAME THREE
Out of all the games this weekend, this was the one I had written off as a win. Wheeler did not have any of his stuff working this game and the result was an annoying 6-0 shutout loss.
Wheeler was not his usual self. He allowed six runs, nine hits, one walk and five strikeouts in six innings. Knebel, Bellatti, then Hand came in for relief and didn’t allow any runs to a Mets team that seemed to hit everything when it mattered.
Coming back from a six-run deficit is not a small task and the offense made it seem like an impossible task. They managed to get nine hits with three walks but struck out 11 times and got shutout… again.
Another annoying game and one we should have won given how our offense has been lately.
Two total runs in three games is inexcusable even if you’re going up against two of the best pitchers in the game. This offense is paid to produce and just couldn’t get it done.
A very disappointing Phillies weekend ends and now it’s time to focus on the three game we have against Cincinnati where a sweep would be ideal.
