Categories: 2020 Postgame RecapsNews

Harper, Realmuto lead win over Yankees in Game 1 of doubleheader

Final: Phillies 11, Yankees 7

The Philadelphia Phillies found themselves in an early hole in Game 1 of Wednesday’s doubleheader at Citizens Bank Park, one where they served as the away team. Fortunately for the Phillies, the usually fundamentally sound Yankees turned in a rather disastrous performance in the first of two games Wednesday, both in terms of throwing strikes and making routine plays in the field. Even then, the Phillies narrowly held on.

Bryce Harper is in his second season. (Andy Lewis/Icon Sportswire)

Top Plays

Between a botched double play by Jean Segura at shortstop and some questionable calls by home plate umpire Angel Hernandez, the Yankees were set up pretty well for success early on Wednesday. Fortunately for the Phillies, Wheeler limited the Yankees to just one run in the first inning, which came on a double play that Gleyber Torres grounded into.
For the second consecutive game, Brett Gardner homered for the Yankees, taking Wheeler deep for a two-run home run:

The Phillies would cut into the Yankees early lead with a 383-foot bomb off the bat of Bryce Harper, a two-run shot that you only needed to hear to know it left the park:

Phil Gosselin, who started the game at third base, brought home a fourth run in the top of the third inning, as he drew a bases loaded walk. He perhaps lacks a true defensive position, but Gosselin remained hot in his two at-bats in Game 1. In addition to his RBI walk, he also had a double earlier on in the game.
In the fifth inning, J.T. Realmuto crushed his second home run of the season, this one a 398-foot shot that tucked inside the foul pole:

Rhys Hoskins collected his first RBI of the 2020 season, singling with the bases loaded in the top of the sixth:

Harper then followed with an RBI fielder’s choice, one where the Yankees didn’t actually record an out because of an error on catcher Kyle Higashioka, who had a pretty rough day altogether when you factor in a baserunning mistake.
Realmuto plated Hoskins with an infield single.
Scott Kingery broke out of what’s been an early funk in a productive sixth inning for the Phillies. He brought Harper to the plate with a single into right field.
Didi Gregorius, who didn’t start the game, then got into the action, bringing Segura to the plate on an infield single of his own. In total, the Phillies scored six runs in the top of the sixth inning.
The Yankees would add a fourth run in the bottom of the seventh inning, with Thairo Estrada bringing home Mike Tauchman on a flair single. That was a precursor to Aaron Judge hitting a three-run home run off of Austin Davis, already Judge’s seventh home run of the season:

After Trevor Kelley got the benefit of a pretty awful call by Angel Hernandez to record the second out, Hector Neris had to come into the game. He threw one pitch, got a fly out off the bat of Miguel Andujar and saved a game that was bordering on a disastrous outcome.

Shibe Vintage Sports Starting Pitching Performance

Zack Wheeler had a fairly rocky first two innings, but really settled in after that. Across six innings, the 30-year-old righty induced three double plays (one thanks to a baserunning miscue by the aforementioned Higashioka). According to Ryan Speader

, Wheeler became the first Phillies pitcher to induce three or more double plays in consecutive starts since Vicente Padilla in May of 2002. In total, Wheeler scattered six hits and two earned runs over six innings.
After a disappointing 2019 season, former Phillie J.A. Happ is off to another rough start in 2020. He got hit hard in his first start against the Orioles, and really struggled again Wednesday. In just three innings, the 37-year-old lefty walked six batters and gave up four runs. The big blow was a 383-foot home run by Bryce Harper in the third inning, which brought home three runs.

Phillies Nuggets Player of the Game: J.T. Realmuto

As he continued to be serenaded by “Sign J.T.!” chants, the 29-year-old catcher had a big game Wednesday afternoon. Relamuto went 2-3 with a home run, two RBIs and two walks.

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