Categories: 2021 Postgame Recaps

Phillies lose in ugly fashion thanks to Machado, Neris

Final Score: Padres 11, Phillies 1

Let’s face it: The Phillies are not the kind of team many would expect to sweep the star-studded San Diego Padres.

Manny Machado had two home runs and five RBIs in Sunday’s game. (Cheryl Pursell)

In games one and two, the Phillies were able to limit the amount of baserunners around both Manny Machado and Fernando Tatis Jr. Stopping the duo from taking over the game a third day in a row was not an easy task for starter Vince Velasquez, who gave up two home runs with two outs and two strikes to Machado.

After today, Machado, who is famously remembered in Philadelphia for not signing with the Phillies, is tied for the league lead in two-strike home runs (10). Meanwhile, the Phillies have given up the third-most home runs in MLB with two strikes this season (41).

The game seemed like a relatively normal defeat up until the ninth inning. Héctor Neris was scheduled to pitch the ninth just to get in some work. He ended up giving up six earned runs. Backup catcher Andrew Knapp was summoned to pitch following Neris. The Phillies just couldn’t resist losing in dramatic fashion.

The Phillies will begin a seven-game roadtrip starting Monday to wrap up the first half of their regular-season schedule. The first stop will be in Chicago for a four-game series at Wrigley Field. Matt Moore will pitch against Zach Davies in the opener.

Top Plays

The beginning of Sunday’s game followed a similar script to Saturday’s. Tatis doubled and Manny Machado brought him home with a deep fly ball into the bushes in center field. Velasquez threw Machado two center-cut pitches in the at-bat and the Padres third baseman capitalized on the second after getting in front of the first.

Velasquez walked two consecutive hitters with two outs in the third. As everyone expected, Machado crushed yet another home run to give the Padres a five-run lead.

The Phillies got on the board in the sixth with a solo home run from J.T. Realmuto. They had another chance to get back in with Hoskins at third following a double and error on right fielder Jurickson Profar, but Alec Bohm and pinch-hitter Odúbel Herrera struck out to end the frame.

A ground ball from Padres catcher Webster Rivas deflected off the glove of Brad Miller at third. Good thing Ronald Torreyes was there to back it up. He made an incredible leaping throw to first to get the runner. It was the easiest 5-4-3 putout you’ll see.

Neris was inches away from throwing an immaculate inning. Instead, his ninth inning turned out to be an adventure. Two walks and an infield hit led to a bases-clearing double for Hosmer. Then he allowed a two-run home run to the catcher Rivas. The inning ended with Knapp pitching.

Shibe Vintage Sports Starting Pitching Performance

Blake Snell: 4 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 4 BB, 3 SO, 81 pitches

The former Rays ace has struggled mightily on the road this season. He pitched poorly today, throwing only 39 strikes on 81 pitches while give up five free baserunners. The Phillies’ inability to capitalize on Snell’s lack of command is a big reason why they will miss out on a sweep against San Diego.

Vince Velasquez: 6 IP, 9 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 3 BB, 4 SO, 2 HR, 112 pitches

The difference between a good and bad outing for Velasquez probably lies within what went down in the third inning. He got the struggling Tommy Pham to ground into a double play after surrendering a leadoff single to the pitcher Snell. He walked both Tatís and Cronenworth with two outs. With two strikes, both Realmuto and Velasquez got overtly aggressive and offered Machado a high fastball. Just like that, the Phillies were down five runs as opposed to two. On a positive note, Velasquez did give the Phillies six innings.

Phillies Nuggets Player of the Game: Manny Machado

The Padres slugger had five opportunities to drive in a run with runners in scoring position. In those situations, he had two homers and three walks with two of those being intentional. That tells you all you need to know about the day Machado had.

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