Categories: 2021 Postgame Recaps

Phillies escape Miami with win thanks to superb effort from bullpen

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

Because the Phillies lack a capable No. 5 starter, Joe Girardi has decided to throw out the bullpen once every five games for the time being. It worked on Sunday.

Héctor Neris struck out one and allowed an inherited runner to score in Sunday’s game. (Photo by John Adams/Icon Sportswire)

The parade of arms did their job and kept the Phillies in the game. Two earned runs through 10 innings of work is impressive. The offense did not hold up their end of the bargain, but they did just enough to win.

The most impressive performance from the bullpen came from the last guy out. Ian Kennedy threw two shutout innings, struck out four batters in the ninth and tenth innings and earned the win for the Phillies.

The bullpen game didn’t get off to a good start. Opener Sam Coonrod pitched a 1-2-3 first inning, but struggled in the second. He was lifted with the bases loaded and one out for Bailey Falter. Falter got the all important ground ball double play, but didn’t attempt to cover first on the play. The runner Isan Díaz may have beaten the throw anyway, but nonetheless, the Marlins took an early 1-0 lead.

The two teams combined to homer three times in the fourth inning. Bryce Harper’s solo home run tied the game. A two-run shot from Freddy Galvis gave the Phillies a two-run lead.

A half-inning later, Bryan De La Cruz cut the lead in half with a solo shot to left. De La Cruz was hit in the shoulder with a high-heater from Coonrod in the second.

The Phillies had a chance to add on runs in the sixth. J.T. Realmuto began the inning with a double. Harper decided to bunt Realmuto over to third instead of swinging and it cost the Phillies dearly as McCutchen and Gregorius went down easily in the sixth.

Girardi’s take on Harper’s decision to bunt? “No comment.”

José Alvarado had the ball in the sixth. The first batter Jazz Chisholm reached on a fielding error. After a walk and a groundout, Alvarado was replaced by Héctor Neris with runners at second and third and one out. He induced a ground ball to short and while the tying run scored, the runner Brinson was tagged out in a rundown between second and third. Neris went on to strikeout Joe Panik to end the sixth.

The Phillies finally put a run across to score in the top of the tenth. With Galvis on second, Odúbel Herrera hit a sharp ground ball pass the diving Chisholm. Galvis held up at third, but he came home to score after right fielder Jesús Sánchez bobbled the ball as he charged toward it.

With a Mets win and a likely Braves victory, the Phillies remain two games out of first place in the National League East.

Shibe Vintage Sports Starting Pitching Performance

Elieser Hernández: 5 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 6 SO, 2 HR, 72 pitches

Hernández found success early on in the outing by filling up the zone and getting Phillies hitters to swing early. It didn’t work as well the second time through as Harper and Galvis were able to drive his mistakes out of the ballpark.

Phillies Bullpen

Sam Coonrod: 1 1/3 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 3 SO, 28 pitches
Bailey Falter: 2 1/3 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 2 SO, 1 HR, 27 pitches

Ramon Rosso: 1/3 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 SO, 5 pitches
Connor Brogdon: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 SO, 12 pitches
José Alvarado: 1 IP, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 0 SO, 9 pitches
Héctor Neris: 2/3 IP, 0 H,0 R, 0 BB, 1 SO, 11 pitches
Cam Bedrosian: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 SO, 32 pitches
Archie Bradley: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 SO, 12 pitches
Ian Kennedy: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 SO, 26 pitches

Phillies Nugget Of The Game

According to the broadcast, the Phillies won their 10th extra-inning game of the season on Sunday. It’s the most they have won in extra frames since 2014 (10).

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