Categories: 2023 Postgame Recaps

Behind solid Sánchez outing, Phillies drop series to Braves

Cristopher Sánchez threw a career high 7 1/3 innings in a loss against the Braves. (Don Otto)

Final Score: Braves 4, Phillies 1

The Atlanta Braves clinched their sixth consecutive National League East championship with a win over the Phillies on Wednesday night in South Philadelphia.

Sure, it stings to watch a division rival celebrate on home field, but the division was decided in May. It was going to happen either way.

“I mean, they’re going to celebrate it wherever they’re at, right?” Bryce Harper said after Tuesday night’s game. “I mean, if they end up doing that tomorrow … then great for their organization, great for their team.”

Overall, the Phillies dropped three of four against Atlanta over the week. They fall to 79-67. Luckily for them, they’re not losing much ground in the NL Wild Card race. The Cubs dropped the series finale to the Rockies in Colorado and the Diamondbacks are down by seven against the Mets as of the bottom of the sixth inning.

Depending on your outlook, you can take two different approaches with this result. For the optimist, the Phillies pulled off two dramatic comebacks against the Braves in the first and third games of the series. Outside of tonight’s game, the Phillies offense put up a good fight against the Braves pitching staff. Cristopher Sánchez pitched perhaps the best start of his career against the best lineup in baseball. It’s not as if the Phillies were ran out of town.

You could also look at this series and say that the Phillies’ best effort will never be enough against this juggernaut Braves team in the playoffs. Max Fried and Spencer Strider dominated the Phillies’ lineup. The Braves lineup hit eight home runs and scored a combined 26 runs in four games. Phillies pitchers made mistakes that they paid for, but it wasn’t a poorly pitched series.

The Phillies will hope for better results when they see the Braves again next week for three in Atlanta.

“You just got to make it in any way possible,” Kyle Schwarber said after the game. “We’re gonna make sure that everyday, we’re going to be really prepared when we go out there because we know what’s at stack. Nothing’s guaranteed and we got to keep pushing forward.”

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Strider did not have his command early in the game, but he was able to settle in and retire nine straight Phillies hitters following the RBI single by Bryson Stott in the first inning.

Strider threw 14 balls out of the zone in the first inning. He threw only 19 balls over the remainder of the outing.

The key for Strider was that he was able to manage his pitch count and complete seven innings to save a taxed Braves bullpen. Multiple relievers, including top lefty A.J. Minter and closer Raisel Iglesias, were not available to pitch on Wednesday after pitching three straight days. Brad Hand and Kirby Yates threw scoreless innings in relief of Strider.

Sánchez threw the ball really well, but a couple mistakes in the first inning and some bloops did him in. Austin Riley hit a 447-foot two-run home run to give the Braves a 2-0 lead in the first. He drove in another run two innings later on a sacrifice fly in the third.

Marcell Ozuna hit a double that carried over Nick Castellanos’ head in right in the fourth inning. It was a close play, but Ozuna reached second base safely. Kevin Pillar drove Ozuna home two batters later on a double to right that just fell in front of Castellanos.

Despite the results, it was an encouraging outing for Sánchez. He struck out a career high 10 batters and went 7 1/3 innings.

His changeup was lights out. He induced 21 swings and misses on the night. Eighteen came on the changeup. Sánchez thinks the changeup was effective against the aggressive Braves lineup because the pitch looks like a fastball out of his hand.

“I don’t really care about the lineup that I’m facing,” Sánchez said. “I just want to go out there and do my best. It doesn’t matter who is at the plate. It doesn’t matter who the team is. I just want to go out there and compete and give the team a chance to win.

His best starts have come against the best offenses in baseball. He allowed one run over six innings in a win against the Rays on July 6 and allowed two runs over seven innings in a no decision against the Orioles.

Sánchez could get another start out of the rotation. The rotation is set through Monday. It’s Aaron Nola on Friday, Ranger Suárez on Saturday, Taijuan Walker Sunday and Zack Wheeler Monday. The Phillies will think about what to do beyond that in the next few days.

“He was fantastic,” Thomson said after the game. “He really was. I mean, that kid, I’m so proud of him from where he’s come from. He just pitched.”

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