Bryson Stott’s bomb helps Phillies to overcome defensive woes, snap losing streak
Final Score: Phillies 6, Braves 4
When president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski added both Kyle Schwarber and Nick Castellanos to an already poor defensive team this past offseason, he bet that the Philadelphia Phillies would be able to consistently outhit their shortcomings in the field.
What Dombrowski didn’t bet was that both Bryce Harper and Jean Segura would miss large chunks of the season. But on a night where Rhys Hoskins had multiple defensive misplays, it was Bryson Stott who played the hero for the Phillies, helping them to snap a three-game losing streak.
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The most notable blunder in the field came on what should have been an inning-ending groundout in the top of the second inning. Instead, Johan Camargo was charged with a throwing error on a play that allowed two runs to score, although you can certainly make a case that Hoskins shouldn’t have assumed the throw would be to the front side of the bag:
But Stott’s bat alone helped the Phillies to overcome a night that also featured other questionable defensive plays from Hoskins and Realmuto.
In the bottom of the second inning, Stott was credited with a two-run double on a ball that ate up first baseman Matt Olson and allowed both Alec Bohm and Nick Castellanos to score:
If the Phillies had a right-handed bat on the bench, it’s entirely possible that Stott wouldn’t have gotten the chance to face lefty A.J. Minter with two on and two outs in the bottom of the eighth inning. But without an obvious option to pinch hit, Stott got to swing and he connected on a go-ahead three-run home run:
Seranthony Domínguez set the Braves down in order in the top of the ninth inning, helping to secure a crucial victory.
With the win, the Phillies improve to 50-46, a half game back of the idle St. Louis Cardinals for the final Wild Card spot in the National League. Meanwhile, the Braves drop to 58-40. Atlanta still controls the top Wild Card spot in the senior circuit, and are now two games behind the New York Mets in the NL East.
Aaron Nola will make his first start of the second half of the season Tuesday evening. He’ll be opposed by electric rookie Spencer Strider, as the two division rivals continue their series.
Shibe Vintage Sports Starting Pitching Performance
- Max Fried managed to scatter nine hits and three runs over six innings. The All-Star certainly didn’t have his best stuff Monday, but he did a good job of giving the Braves a chance to win.
- Ranger Suárez pitched very well Monday, limiting the Braves to just four hits over five frames. While the 26-year-old did allow three runs, none of them were earned. Quietly, Suárez’s ERA is now down to 3.84.
Alec Bohm recorded three hits Monday night, and is now hitting .429 in July.
Ticket IQ Next Game
- Tuesday, July 26 vs. Atlanta Braves at Citizens Bank Park
- 7:05 p.m. ET
- TV: NBC Sports Philadelphia
- Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP
- Spanish Radio: WTTM 1680
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