Categories: 2022 Postgame Recaps

Phillies win on Garrett Stubbs’ miraculous walk-off home run

Garrett Stubbs’ third home run of his career was a walk-off. (Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire)

Final Score: Phillies 3, Marlins 1

For the second time this month, the Phillies were a strike away from defeat and an unlikely hero rose to the occasion. More than a week ago, Bryson Stott won it with a three-run shot, completing a stunning late-inning comeback against the Angels.

On Wednesday, the Phillies entered the ninth inning 0-for-9 with runners in scoring position. They had their chances, but they were ultimately shut down by Marlins starter Daniel Castano, who was making a spot start for one of the best pitchers in the National League this year in Pablo Lopez. The offense looked lethargic after scoring nine runs and losing the previous night.

Then came the lovable backup catcher Garrett Stubbs, who came into the at-bat with only two home runs in his career. He had the final swing of the series and he buried a hanging slider from Tanner Scott into right field to deliver a 3-1 victory and the fourth-consecutive series win for the Phillies.

“[Stubbs] is a baseball player,” manager Rob Thomson said after the game. “He knows how to play the game. He’ll bunt for a base hit. He’ll do anything to win, so I’m really happy for him to have that walk-off hit.”

Another solid Gibson outing

Wednesday was Kyle Gibson’s best outing as a Phillie. He threw eight plus innings with the only run coming off of a Miguel Rojas solo home run in the fifth. He entered the ninth inning with an absurdly low pitch count (86). It seems like Gibson has upped his game this year after a rough first two months with the Phillies last season. He’s getting more swing-and-miss on his pitches and he’s able to pitch deep and eat innings. It’s exactly what the Phillies need in a backend starter. It’s something they’ve lacked for years.

Phillies-killer Miguel Rojas

Rojas is a solid player to have on any ballclub. He’s a veteran leader, a solid defensive shortstop and is able to come up with big hits at the bottom of the order. For some reason, Rojas performs like a top-five player when he plays he against the Phillies.

He went 2-for-3 with a home run in Wednesday’s game and made an incredible tag as he left his feet on a stolen base attempt to get Castano out of the fourth inning. His 20-career RBIs at Citizens Bank Park is the most he has in an opposing ballpark.

Smart Baseball

There were two notable mental mistakes made in Wednesday’s game. The team’s hottest hitter, Rhys Hoskins, hit a triple into the Pat Burrell corner in left-center field. The ball grazed off the top of the wall and traveled all the way to just outside the bullpen gate in center field. If Hoskins ran out of the box from the get-go, he might have had an inside-the-park home run. Then again, the Phillies should have easily driven him home with the 3-4-5 hitters due up. Instead, Harper, Castellanos and Gregorius all grounded out.

An inning later, Bryson Stott was batting with a runner on first and one out. He hit a ground ball to the right side of the infield and due to the Marlins’ shift, Jazz Chisholm Jr. had to step on the bag at second to get the first out. The runner Odúbel Herrera ran past both Chisholm and the bag and was tagged out trying to get a hand on the bag. Maybe a slide underneath would have worked for Herrera.

Shibe Vintage Sports Notes

Per Elias Sports Bureau, Stubbs is the third Phillie ever to hit a walk-off home run while starting in the ninth spot. Stott and Chick Fraser (1903 vs. the New York Giants) are the only other players to do so.
Kyle Schwarber extended his on-base streak to 19 games on Wednesday. He went 0-for-3 with a walk.
The Phillies have won 11 of 13 for the first time since April 9-22, 2018.
Thomson said after the game that Stubbs could be an option to play both the corner outfield and second and third base. The team has been working him out in the infield, but he has yet to play another position besides catcher (and pitcher).

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