Losers in eight of their last nine games, the Phillies just needed a win. However they could get it, and what could happen around it didn’t matter. Just walk away with a win to start a new month that hopefully won’t end in a 9-15 record.
Cristopher Sánchez struck out eleven Baltimore Oriole, allowing just two hits in a bizarre six shutout innings. The Orioles did not stand a chance unless a dribbler beat a shift or if Sanchez couldn’t throw a strike. It was not his most efficient outing but it was enough.
His fourth and sixth innings might be studied for science. In the fourth, Sánchez walked Gunnar Henderson, Tyler O’Neill, and Christian Encarnacion-Strand to put men on the bases with two outs. Leody Taveras then struck out on a comeback two seam that could’ve cut through iron.
In his sixth and final inning of work, the Orioles again threatened with walks from Taylor Ward and Encarnacion-Strand with a Tyler O’Neill single into shallow right field. With two outs, Sánchez was once again able to get Taveras on a groundball to Trea Turner.
The Phillies offense only scratched one run against Shane Baz and Rico Garcia over the first seven innings of work, a Bryan De La Cruz single in the fifth that scored Bryson Stott from second base.
It took until left hander Grant Wolfram entered from the Orioles bullpen for the Phillies to capture life. After a Trea Turner groundout, Wolfram walked Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper. Craig Albernaz has seen enough and went to right hander Andrew Kittredge to try and get out of the jam. After a wild pitch that put both runners in scoring positon, Alec Bohm punched a single into left field that doubled the Phillies lead.
After a Brandon Marsh single into right field that made it 3-0, Bohm and Marsh timed Kittredge up perfectly for a double steal with JT Realmuto at the plate. It didn’t matter because Realmuto walked, but letting Alec Bohm steal third base is pretty embarrassing.
Anyway, Justin Crawford extended the Phillies lead with a single barely past Orioles second baseman Jackson Holliday to give the Phillies a 5-0 and seal a victory. Everyone in the bullpen threw strikes behind Sánchez for the Phillies to win a normal baseball game to start August.
The trade deadline is already off to a crazy start. The Dodgers scratched Zyhir Hope, Angels scratched Jose Soriano, and two trades broke out during the game.
Lane Thomas and old friend Bailey Falter are heading to the Braves. Seranthony Domínguez is part of a salary swap in a White Sox-Mariners trade that has Luis Castillo joining the South Side. The Phillies are interested in Jo Adell, apparently. Buckle up.
