The Phillies started their series against the Arizona Diamondbacks on a seven game winning streak. Unfortunately, you can’t win them all and the streak ended at nine.
Aside from game three, there isn’t much to complain about in regards to the pitching at all this series. Gibson started game one and only allowed one run. Brad Hand made the game interesting by allowing the game to get within one, but an insurance run from Rhys as well as the other bullpen guys (Dominguez, Brogdon, Knebel) made sure the phenomenal Gibson effort didn’t go to waste.
The offense did their job in games one and two. Game one had a healthy amount of home runs (three). They started in the first inning when Hoskins blasted one 423 feet to center field. Schwarber then hit a three run home run in the second. The bullpen made the game within one, so Hoskins decided to take the game into his own hands in the seventh to add an insurance run.
Wheeler pitched his usual gem-of-a-game in game two of the series. He and the bullpen combined for nine shutout innings allowing six hits with 11 strikeouts (eight of those from Wheeler).
The second game had less offense, but it was enough to get the ninth straight win. Castellanos was the offensive guy of this game. He had an RBI single in the first inning that brought Hoskins home, then he had a check-swing double in the eighth inning that brought Harper home. Stott also contributed with a home run in the second inning. Stott is getting hot and it’s amazing to see.
The pitching in game three was less than ideal from the beginning. Ranger started and allowed four runs in 4.1 innings. We had our back of the bullpen options (Nelson, Bellatti, Alvarado, Norwood, then Stubbs) relieve each other. One was even a catcher, so that should tell you how the game went right there. They allowed as many walks as earned runs – 11 and only had a combined four strikeouts.
Game three consisted of almost zero offense. The only run the Phillies had was off of a Bohm single to bring Realmuto in.
Disappointing ending to the win streak, but it’s onto Miami. We tend to struggle against them, so this will be a true test of the new manager. Seeing how they bounce back from such a stalemate will be a major test.
Go Phillies.
