We all love a game that lets us comfortably sit back and enjoy it. Stressful, yet successful games are good ones to watch, but every now and then, a stress free glide to victory is what we need.
Having a team on the schedule like the Marlins, one that showed some mettle and pluck in the middle of year, had to be something of a relief for the team. They have been hurt as of late and with a bullpen game in the cards for their staff, it was the chance for the Phillies offense to get going. They started
by beginning the game against Valente Bellozo with three straight singles, the third of which by Bryce Harper got them a run to take the lead. In the second inning, Max Kepler continued making his case to remain the primary option in right field by hitting a baseball into the second deck to make it 2-0.
The Marlins got one back of their own in the bottom of the third when Javier Sanoja doubled in Victor Mesa, Jr. for their first run, but it looked like it would be the only run Miami would score on the night. Cristopher Sanchez was on the mound for the Phillies and looked like he was just toying with them at times. He went seven quite strong innings, solidifying his case to finish second in the Cy Young vote.
Meanwhile, the offense for the Phillies continued to put up runs. In the fourth, facing a new pitcher, Brandon Marsh and Harrison Bader continued their torrid run by going back to back, Marsh’s the two-run variety, making the score 5-1.
Frustratingly though, that would remain the score for quite a while, even with the opportunity to break the game open there at multiple chances. The bases were left loaded in two consecutive innings and even though the game didn’t feel as if it were in danger getting away from them, those are the chances the team needs to cash in on.
Fortunately, these are the Marlins. Those chances would come back around and this time, the team capitalized.
In the seventh, Kepler had an RBI single, making it 6-1. Two men were still on base when Bryson Stott stepped to the plate, drilling a pitch to right for a three-run home run and icing the game (just about) for the Phillies.
The offense ended up having a stellar night in the hits department, collecting 16 for their season’s ledger.
There was a good moment coming still for the Marlins when, in the eighth, Brian Navarreto hit his first home run since 2020 when he was a brief Covid callup for Miami. Those players that had their chance in a weird season, never to really be heard from again, deserved something a little more, so good for Navarreto.
It was a good, solid showing by the offense, another outstanding outing by Cristopher Sanchez and a game that we all needed after being up late and getting worked up by the football team last night.
These are the good ones.
