Categories: 2020 Postgame Recaps

Phillies earn gutsy win against Yankees to split home-and-home series

Final Score: Phillies 5, Yankees 4

Led by the efforts of star catcher J.T. Realmuto and closer Héctor Neris, the Philadelphia Phillies edged out a win and a four-game home-and-home split against the New York Yankees. Realmuto hit a three-run wall-scraper of a home run in the bottom of the first and threw out a would-be base stealer in the fourth to help out his batterymate Zach Eflin.

Harper went 1-for-2 with two runs scored in Thursday’s game. (Photo by Kyle Ross/Icon Sportswire)

Eflin was very good in his first start of 2020, allowing only two unearned runs in the second inning.

The Phillies’ homestand continues with a four-game series against the Atlanta Braves that begins Friday. Vince Velasquez is scheduled to pitch against Kyle Wright.

Top Plays

On a 1-2 pitch, Realmuto launched a hanging curveball from Jordan Montgomery just beyond the wall in left field for a three-run home run, giving the Phillies an early 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first:

Eflin ran into some bad luck in the second. After making a fine play on a Gio Urshela’s ground ball, Kingery failed to make the catch at second on what should have been a double play. Two batters later, Tyler Wade grinded out an 11 pitch at-bat and brought up Mike Tauchman, who singled to center and drove in two unearned runs for the Yankees.
Phil Gosselin, who has only batted fifth two other times in his career as a starter, came through with a two-out, two-strike double to left-center field, scoring Harper and Realmuto to extend the Phillies lead to 5-2 in the third:

Deolis Guerra took over for Eflin in the fifth and for only the second time this season, the Phillies bullpen delivered a painless first inning. It’s significant when considering the ‘pen has combined for 14 earned runs surrendered in just 3 1/3 innings of work prior to this game.
In his second inning of work, Nick Pivetta surrendered a two-run home run to Gary Sanchez, who was hitless in the series. The Phillies’ lead was cut to 5-4:

The Phillies wasted a golden opportunity to give the back-end of the bullpen a little more room for error in the seventh. Roman Quinn was picked-off at first base by Yankees reliever David Hale and Andrew McCutchen followed up with a hustle double that could have scored Quinn. Hoskins grounded out, Harper walked and Realmuto struck out swinging.
Pinch-hitter Aaron Judge had the tying run on third with two outs in the eighth. Neris came in the game to relieve Àlvarez and earn a four-out save. Neris came right after Judge and struck him out with a perfect splitter. Neris would go on to earn the save in the ninth.

Shibe Vintage Sports Starting Pitching Performance

Zach Eflin: 4 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 5 K, 77 pitches

Eflin had yet to push himself beyond 60 pitches since the beginning of summer camp. He was always going to be fairly limited in what he can do in his first outing, especially considering he dealt with back spasms in July. Overall, he was excellent through four innings. He allowed two unearned runs in the second but racked up five strikeouts, including three looking. His velocity wasn’t up to par, but he kept the ball on the ground consistently.

Jordan Montgomery: 4 IP, 6 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 1 BB, 2 K, 95 pitches

Like Eflin, Montgomery only lasted four innings, but the story was much different. After allowing only one earned to the Red Sox in his first start, Mongomery was burned by Realmuto’s early home run. He was also the victim of Phil Gosselin’s continued hot streak.

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

Neris earns honorable mentions, but there is a reason why the Phandemic Krew frequently yells “Sign J.T.” His three-run home run in the first gave Eflin an early lead and his strikeout-caught stealing double play put a smile on Phillies fans watching at home around the Delaware Valley.

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