Categories: 2021 Postgame Recaps

Matt Moore shines as Phillies win in extras in Game 2

Final Score: Phillies 2, Mets 1

After a tough loss in Game 1 of Friday’s doubleheader, the Phillies desperately needed Matt Moore, who had not started a game in over two months, to deliver.

Bryce Harper hit a big home run in Friday’s game. (Dustin Bradford/Icon Sportswire)

Moore did exactly what the Phillies needed, pitching five scoreless innings. And despite another tough game for the Phillies offense, Bryce Harper’s sixth inning home run appeared like it would be enough to give the team the win.

But the Mets scored against Archie Bradley in the seventh inning, and for the second time on Friday, the game headed to extra innings. But this time, the Phillies came out on top, thanks to a much-needed shutdown inning from Hector Neris.

The Phillies are now three games under .500 and five games back of the first-place Mets.

Top Plays

After a quiet first inning from both teams, the Mets nearly got on the board in the bottom of the second. With a runner on first and two outs, Albert Almora hit a fly ball to left field that looked like it would give the Mets a 2-0 lead. But Andrew McCutchen made a brilliant leaping catch to preserve the scoreless tie and end the inning.

Moore and Mets starter David Peterson both pitched well through the fifth inning. Neither team seriously threatened to score, and no baserunners made it to third through this point. The Phillies only had two hits — both by Rafael Marchan.
In the top of the sixth, the Phillies finally struck. Bryce Harper connected on a fastball for a solo home run, and the Phillies took a 1-0 lead.

Connor Brogdon allowed a baserunner in the bottom of the sixth but escaped with an inning-ending double play off the bat of Dominic Smith.
Archie Bradley came in to close out the seventh inning. After a single, a fielding error by Alec Bohm and a walk, the Mets loaded the bases before an out was recorded. Bradley allowed just one run on a James McCann sacrifice fly, and the game — tied 1-1 — went into extra innings.
The Phillies scored one in the top of the eighth on an Odubel Herrera groundout that was bobbled just long enough for Travis Jankowski to score from third.
Hector Neris, who has strugled so much of late that he was no longer the team’s closer, retired the side 1-2-3 in the bottom of the eighth to earn the save and finish the game for the Phillies.

Shibe Vintage Sports Starting Pitching Performance

Matt Moore: 5 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 2 SO, 73 pitches

Moore was excellent on Friday night — but more on that below.

David Peterson 6 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 5 SO, 95 pitches

Peterson was excellent on Friday. Outside of the home run he allowed to Harper — which proved to be the difference in the game — the Phillies struggling offense managed just four baserunners against him. His ERA improves to 4.95 on the season.

Phillies Nuggets Player of the Game: Matt Moore

The Phillies desparately needed a solid outing from Moore on Friday, and he gave them that — and then some. It was by far his best start of the season, and aligned more with what the Phillies expected from him when they signed him to a $3 million deal this offseason. If this version of Moore continues to show up, it will be a huge development for the Phillies rotation, which has been anything but consistent beyond Aaron Nola, Zack Wheeler and Zach Eflin.

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