After a sweep against the Minnesota Twins where they scored a combined 23 runs over three games, they pull out a solid win as the Marlins try to cling to the wildcard race.
It was all of the makings of a good team win. It started on the first ball in play of the night, Trea Turner made a classic Derek Jeter-like jump throw to nail Esteury Ruiz. Cristopher Sánchez did not have his normal velocity tonight but it didn’t matter too much. He still got six strikeouts and made plenty of Marlins hitters look silly on the changeup but there were breaks. The Marlins offense recorded eight hits, including three straight innings with at least one leadoff baserunner.
It was not always pretty but he gutted it out. Sánchez did catch a nice break in the fifth. After back-to-back singles to start the inning, Heriberto Hernández squibbled a a grounder right to Bryson Stott on the third base bag, who fired a rocket to second base for a double play. Xavier Edwards then hit a weak ground ball to Alec Bohm to end the threat.
Meanwhile, the Phillies’ offense hit Janson Junk around for five innings but struggled to deliver the final blow. They were able to capitalize in the bottom of the third, with an excuse-me groundball that dribbled down the third base line for a Justin Crawford leadoff double. After a Kyle Schwarber strikeout, Trea Turner slapped a single to put the Phillies on the board.
After a Bryce Harper walk, Luis Arraez then punched a single into right field to double the Phillies lead to two.
It become more about the battle of the bullpens as the game went on. After Junk exited the game after five innings, John King struggled to keep the game close.
After a Bryson Stott walk, sacrifice bunt by Brandon Marsh, and a JT Realmuto walk, Don Mattingly went to his bench for Derek Hill.
Like he has all season, Derek Hill was bound to come up clutch, taking a sinker right past Otto Lopez into center field to give the Phillies a 3-1 lead. After a sacrifice flyout by Schwarber, the Phillies went to their bullpen with a three-run lead.
Jonathan Bowlan, the Phillies most-trusted setup man was tasked with the seventh and it looked as comfortable as it’s been after his first two hitters, getting Jakob Marsee to strikeout and a flyout from Heriberto Hernández.
But with two outs, the Marlins recorded back-to-back singles from Xavier Edwards and Agustín Ramírez to bring the tying run to the plate with two outs. Otto Lopez worked a five pitch walk to load the bases to give Javier Sanoja a chance to get the Marlins back in the game.
After Bowlan got a head 0-2, he hung a slider that Sanoja punched down the first base line but was called foul. All three Marlins runners did the smart thing and kept running and would’ve scored if the umpire didn’t initially call the ball foul. But instead of trying to correct an understandable missed call, the umpires just made a second mistake instead, awarding only two runs for the Marlins and putting Lopez at third with Sanoja at second base with two outs. Leo Jiménez then struck out.
After Derek Hill worked a bases loaded walk to give the Phillies a two run lead again, it was time for Mattingly to go back to the bullpen.
Brooks Raley did part of his job in getting two left handed hitters to record outs before being lifted but in between, he surrendered a solo home run to Brian Navarreto on a cutter that didn’t cut.
The Phillies once again got to the Marlins bullpen, with Alec Bohm slapping a Cade Gibson slider that scored Bryce Harper and then the game turned to Jhoan Duran for the final three outs.
After throwing 33 pitches against the Twins on Sunday, Duran returned tonight on a back-to-back because he is the glue that is sort of keeping the bullpen, and maybe the entire team, from unraveling. He wasn’t perfect, far from his world class standards. Xavier Edwards hit a Baltimore chopper for an infield knock and later took second base because closers as good as Duran forget runners are on base. After a groundout, Otto Lopez punched a splinker into center field to make it a one-run game.
But that was the last of the Marlins magic for the night. Sanoja and Jiménez were no match for Duran and the Phillies escaped with a narrow win to keep them in a wildcard spot.
It was not the prettiest win and it is not one that should allow you to ignore their flaws but the Phillies are 11-5 in the month of August with a completely new offensive approach and identity this month. It might not last, the last time things felt this good, they did not last but with a month and a half to go, there is a chance this team is hitting it’s stride.
Tonight could’ve been categorized as lucky, the Phillies probably shouldn’t have won this game. Some would say this is a game good teams win, grabbing insurance runs when needed to help a struggling pitching staff. Who knows. Eat Arby’s.