Categories: 2021 Postgame Recaps

Buster Posey, Giants tee off on Phillies pitching

Final Score: Giants 10, Phillies 7

Zack Wheeler struggled Tuesday night. (Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire)

If we told you before Tuesday night’s Phillies-San Francisco Giants game that the first three pitchers Joe Girardi would use were Zack Wheeler, Sam Coonrod and Connor Brogdon, you’d feel especially good about Philadelphia’s chances of winning.

But that’s exactly what happened at Citizens Bank Park Tuesday, and despite Bryce Harper remaining hot at the plate, the Phillies lost in large part because Wheeler and Brogdon combined to give up five home runs.

The Phillies will now try to avoid being swept by Gabe Kapler’s Giants Wednesday afternoon, following two very winnable losses to open their three-game set.

Top Plays

Brad Miller came to the plate in the bottom of the first inning with the bases loaded after Matt Joyce, Bryce Harper and J.T. Realmuto had reached base in front of him. Unfortunately for the Phillies, while Miller hit a ball hard, it was right at second baseman Tommy La Stella, who turned an inning-ending double play. La Stella had been robbed of an extra-base hit in the top half of the first on a tremendous catch by Mickey Moniak.
In the bottom of the second inning, Moniak became the first Phillies center fielder since April 4 to record a hit, singling into left field. That was followed by the first Major League extra-base hit and RBI from Nick Maton, who doubled into the right field corner, plating Moniak. Maton advanced to third on the throw home:

The Phillies were unable to push across another run in the bottom of the third inning, however. Zack Wheeler struck out with Maton on third, and following a Matt Joyce walk, Jean Segura grounded out to end the inning. Segura would leave the game with a right quad strain after sprinting to first base. Brad Miller, starting at first base for the night, moved to second base, with Rhys Hoskins coming in to play first:

Miller made up for failing to come through with runners in scoring position earlier in the game by launching a three-run home run, one that travelled 384 feet:

The Giants got on the board in the top of the fifth inning when former National League MVP Buster Posey hit a 428-foot home run to left center:

Later in the inning, La Stella would add two more on a home run of his own:

In the home half of the fifth, Alec Bohm broke out of his slump, launching a two-run home run. Bohm’s home run Wednesday went 407 feet, and it’s hardly the first no-doubt-about-it home run that he’s hit. His first four Major League home runs have tavelled an average distance of 414.8 feet:

Posey would tag Wheeler for a second home run in the top of the sixth inning, a 396-foot blast for the six-time All-Star:

Alex Dickerson hit a titanic three-run home run in the top of the eighth inning, allowing the Giants to take a 7-6 lead, their first of the game:

Brogdon, who had yet to give up a run this season coming into the night, hung around long enough to give up another three-run home run, this one off the bat of Wilmer Flores:

With two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning, Hoskins, initially slated to be off Tuesday, connected for a 431-foot home run off of Giants reliever Jake McGee. Hoskins’ home run didn’t prove indicative of a comeback as Harper struck out to end the game in the next at-bat.

Shibe Vintage Sports Starting Pitching Performance

Logan Webb went four innings Tuesday, surrendering four runs and two walks. The 24-year-old, a fourth-round pick in 2014, did strike four batters out.
Zack Wheeler struggled in his fourth start of the season, allowing three home runs and four total runs in 5 2/3 innings. As Crossing Broad‘s Bob Wankel noted, Wheeler gave up three home runs tonight, after giving up just four in his first 14 starts as a Phillie. Since dazzling in his first start of the season, Wheeler hasn’t been nearly as sharp, and his ERA now sits at 3.80 because of it.

Phillies Nuggets Player of the Game: Buster Posey

At the height of his powers, Posey was one of the best all-around catchers that the sport has ever seen. Still, right or wrong, the 34-year-old probably could stand to put up another few more productive seasons to cement his Hall of Fame case. After opting out of the 2020 season, Posey is off to quite the start in 2021, with Tuesday serving as his best game of the season. Posey, who is now hitting .316 on the season, homered twice and recorded three hits.

Postgame Notes

Zack Wheeler on not being able to hold the lead: “That was on me tonight.”
Jean Segura left Tuesday’s game with a right quad strain. After the game, Joe Girardi said that Segura will have an MRI tomorrow. The Phillies aren’t yet sure if Segura’s injury will require an injured list stint. It will be interesting to see if Segura has to go on the IL whether the Phillies would considering recalling Scott Kingery.
Didi Gregorius remains day-to-day with a right elbow injury. Girardi said the shortstop was feeling better today, but they remain unsure if he’ll be able to play tomorrow afternoon. If not, the expectation is that Gregorius would return this weekend in Colorado.

Ticket IQ Next Game