On the verge of securing his team’s first National League East division championship since 2011, Phillies manager Rob Thomson summoned Carlos Estévez, the imposing closer that has continued to fill up the strike zone in the second half of the season.
Philadelphia acquired the 6-foot-6-inch right-hander to take down the ninth inning in big spots for the club, giving up two valued prospects in a midseason trade with the Angels to do so. And after Jeff Hoffman, the Phillies’ fireman, finished Friday’s playoff clincher, Monday night was Estévez’s turn to end an important game.
He worked around a walk and a dropped fly ball in left field to throw a scoreless top of the ninth inning, closing out a 6-2 victory over the Chicago Cubs in front of a sellout crowd at Citizens Bank Park. Estévez’s teammates celebrated the 12th division title in team history around the mound.
“It was great,” Thomson said Tuesday. “We gave it to Hoffy the other night in New York to clinch a playoff berth. And then Estévez gets last night, and he’s never done that before. We had (Zach) Eflin, two years ago, do it. So, any time you do that (with) somebody that hasn’t done something like that, it’s pretty special.”
Estévez, an eight-year big leaguer, has not had many opportunities like that in his career. He pitched for the Rockies for six seasons, then spent two years with the Angels before coming to Philadelphia. With the Phillies, he’s in the midst of just his second winning season in the majors. He’s pitched in one career playoff game, surrendering a run and recording just one out in the 2017 Wild Card Game for Colorado.
Now 31, Estévez is a much improved pitcher since then. He’s awaiting another chance at playoff baseball.
“It feels amazing, being in a situation like this,” he said after Monday’s game. “I’ve been working to get back to the playoffs; it only took me six years. But we’re here and I’m ready.”
Estévez’s division-wrapping outing could be viewed as a postseason preview for the righty, a quick glimpse of what a high-stakes relief appearance could feel like in red pinstripes. He looked the part, just as he has throughout this season.
In 53 games between Los Angeles and Philadelphia, Estévez has a 2.33 ERA in 54 innings with 26 saves. He’s walked only 2.0 batters per nine innings. He throws the ball over the plate and with conviction. He’s been a steady hand that should be reliable come October.
Estévez will still have to prove it as the Phillies head into their third straight playoff run, but he’s earned the chance to handle big innings. He’s longed to compete for a World Series, and he’s excited to be able to do that in Philadelphia. Maybe Monday was the start of his path there.
“I feel like every reliever in this game dreams about it, dreams about getting the last out of the World Series,” he said. “That would be really great to do. We’re just going to keep working. This is only the first step, and looking forward to that.”
Destiny Lugardo contributed to this report.
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