Categories: 2021 Postgame Recaps

Miller walks it off after Phillies bullpen collapses following Zack Wheeler

Zack Wheeler dominated the Padres Friday. (Cheryl Pursell)

Final Score: Phillies 4, Padres 3 (10 innings)

Fernando Tatís Jr. making his first ever appearance against the Philadelphia Phillies was the pregame story at Citizens Bank Park Friday. However, one of his soon-to-be National League All-Star teammates stole the show for most of the game instead.

Just two days before he’s slated to almost certainly find out that he’s made his first National League All-Star team, Zack Wheeler was dominant Friday against the Padres, holding them to just four hits in 7 2/3 scoreless frames. He outpitched San Diego’s Chris Paddack, who turned in a strong effort of his own.

Unfortunately for the Phillies, the duo of José Alvarado and Ranger Suárez was not able to close the win out. While the Phillies would ultimately walk things off in extras, another blown save took the shine off of what would have otherwise been one of the best wins of the 2021 season.

The Phillies will look to clinch a series victory over one of the National League’s best teams Saturday evening, when they send Zach Eflin to the mound to face four-time All-Star Yu Darvish.

Top Plays

Odúbel Herrera and Jean Segura both led off the game with singles into center field. Herrera advanced to third base when Padres center fielder Trent Grisham made an error on Segura’s single. Both would ultimately be plated by consecutive RBI groundouts from J.T. Realmuto and Bryce Harper off of Padres starter Chris Paddack.
In his first game back from the injured list, Didi Gregorius took Paddack deep in bottom of the fifth inning, a 379-foot solo shot:

José Alvarado came on for the four-out save, but was unable to convert. Two batters after a leadoff walk to start the bottom of the ninth, Fernando Tatís Jr. doubled into left-center field, plating Jake Cronenworth. Alvarado then walked Grisham, with led to his removal from the game in favor of Ranger Suárez:

Suárez induced a groundball off the bat of Eric Hosmer with his first pitch, but it was hit too slowly for Segura to try to turn a double play, so he instead took the out at first. The next batter, Jurickson Profar, doubled down the left-field line, tying the game at 3:

To his credit, Suárez was able to come in for the top of the 10th inning and strand the ghost runner at second base. In the home half of the ninth, the Phillies walked it off on a one-out double by Brad Miller, which scored McCutchen – the ghost runer – to win the game:

Shibe Vintage Sports Starting Pitching Performance

Chris Paddack’s peripherals suggest he’s been better than his back-of-the-baseball card stats in 2021, and he pitched that way Friday. Despite allowing two runs in the first inning, the 25-year-old went seven innings, allowing just four hits and three earned runs. His ERA was lowered to 4.56, which is still quite a bit higher than some of his advanced stats.

Zack Wheeler allowed just four hits in 7 2/3 shutout innings against the Padres Friday. His ERA now sits at a minuscule 2.05. Wheeler has been workhorse to this point in 2021, as he leads baseball with 114 innings pitched.

Postgame Notes

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