GAME RECAP: Philadelphia Tops Toronto 3-2
Ken Giles settled into
his newly minted role as closer on Tuesday, helping the Phillies seal a 3-2 win
over the Blue Jays at Rogers Centre. Hours after former closer Jonathan Papelbon was traded
to the Nationals, Giles came on to protect a
one-run lead and threw a scoreless ninth inning as Philadelphia took the opener
of a two-game set. After allowing a leadoff single to Edwin Encarnacion, Giles retired Chris Colabello and Russell Martin on flyouts before Danny Valencia grounded into a forceout to end the
game. It was Giles' first save of the season and the second of his career. "I
can't thank him enough for guiding me through the way of the closer,"
Giles said about Papelbon. "I think I'm going to be a great closer." The
Phillies rallied for three runs in the fifth to erase a two-run deficit,
driving Blue Jays starter Felix Doubront from the
game with four hits in a row, three of them for extra bases. Doubront lasted only
four-plus innings, allowing six hits and three runs with two walks and three
strikeouts. Lefty Adam Morgan took the
win. Morgan allowed a leadoff homer to Devon Travis and surrendered another run on a pair of
hits in the second, but he settled in and allowed only two more baserunners
before he was lifted in favor of Jeanmar Gomez when the Phillies took the field for
the seventh inning. Morgan tossed six innings and allowed five hits and two
runs with two strikeouts and two walks.
OTHER
NOTES FROM THE DAY:
- The Phillies picked up 21 extra-base
hits in their weekend sweep of the Cubs, their most in a three-game
stretch since 2001. The power continued against the Blue Jays. After Ryan Howard
started the fifth inning with a single, which appeared to carom off his
leg, Darin Ruf, Cody Asche and Andres Blanco each
doubled to hand the Phillies a 3-2 lead.
- The Blue Jays have crushed left-handers this season, posting
an .832 OPS against them. No other team had as much as a .771 OPS against
left-handers. But Morgan handled himself well. After he served up the
homer to Travis, he allowed one run in his final five innings to post his
third quality start of the season. "It's challenging to face a lineup
of all righties," Morgan said. "I just stuck to my game plan.
This is a good hitting lineup, but if you keep the ball down and mix
speeds, you give your team a chance to win. I learned pretty quick that
anybody in that lineup can hit a home run. Just from then on, I really
focused on keeping the ball down and mixing speeds in and out."
- "It was hard to mentally prepare
myself when I was already as nervous as I was. I think I did an OK job. I
think it was the jitters, I was nervous up there. Just getting that first
one out of the way, and hopefully the next one and beyond will be a lot
smoother." -- Giles, on batting nerves as the team's new
closer.
- Troy Tulowitzki will make his
much-anticipated Toronto debut when the Blue Jays and Phillies wrap a
two-game series at Rogers Centre on Wednesday. The All-Star shortstop was acquired from the Rockies,
along with reliever LaTroy Hawkins, early Tuesday, but he wasn't able to
arrive in time to be in the lineup for the series opener later that day.
He's expected to be activated ahead of the series finale. The
addition of Tulowitzki is a clear upgrade at shortstop over Jose Reyes,
who was sent to Colorado along with three Minor League pitchers in the
blockbuster deal. Tulowitzki, 30, is hitting .300 with 12 homers and
53 RBIs this season. It's not immediately evident where he fits into the
Blue Jays' batting order, but manager John Gibbons said that will become
clear Wednesday.
- Blue Jays rookie second baseman Devon
Travis is questionable after exiting Tuesday's game with left shoulder
irritation. Jose Bautista, who exited late due to a leg cramp, said he'll
be ready to play Wednesday.
NEXT
GAME:
Right-hander Jerome
Williams will make the start for the Phillies, his second since returning from
the disabled list after he suffered a strained left hamstring. Williams is 3-7
with a 6.28 ERA this season. In four career games (three starts) against the
Blue Jays, he's 2-0 with a 3.72 ERA. Knuckleballer R.A. Dickey will get the
start for the Blue Jays. The right-hander has surrendered three earned runs or
fewer in all but one of his last 10 starts.
PHILS PHACTS:
Taking Over – Ken Giles seemed destined to pitch the ninth inning
in a save situation Tuesday night, right? Less than an hour after the Phillies
announced they had traded Jonathan Papelbon and
cash considerations to the Nationals for Double-A right-hander Nick Pivetta,
Giles picked up the save in a 3-2
victory over the Blue Jays at Rogers Centre. "You
know, the ball always seems to find you when you go in a game," Phillies
interim manager Pete Mackanin said. "I was talking to [pitching coach Bob]
McClure, and he said, 'The ball is going to find Giles tonight.' The baseball
gods work that way." Giles allowed a leadoff single to Edwin Encarnacion before retiring the next three
batters for the second save of his career, but his first as the full-time
replacement for Papelbon, who ended his tumultuous three-plus seasons with the
Phillies as the franchise's all-time leader with 123 saves. "I can't thank
him enough for guiding me through the way of the closer," Giles said about
Papelbon. "I think I'm going to be a great closer." The Phillies hope
so. They need one. But while Giles certainly is confident in his abilities, he
could not help but feel nervous Tuesday. It is one thing to be a setup man
picking up a save for Papelbon late last season, when Papelbon was suspended
for an indecent gesture after blowing a save. It is something entirely
different to save a game as the man. "Yeah, I started to get a
little nervous," Giles said. "The first one is the hardest. And even
though I did it last year, I was way more nervous in this one, because I was
the guy, I needed to get three outs to conserve that win. The eighth inning is
way different. All I have to do is conserve that lead or come out with the tie.
Closer, you just want to go 1-2-3, shut them down, let's go home." Papelbon
had made his feelings known about his desire to be traded for more than a year.
He said he enjoyed playing the role of villain in Philadelphia. He obviously
had his detractors, but pitchers in the bullpen generally seemed to enjoy
Papelbon's mentorship over the years. Giles is included in that group. "Pap
was guiding me and teaching me the way," he said. "I knew he wanted
to be traded, and I knew it was only a matter of time. It was just to the point
of when he was going to get traded and when he felt like he was satisfied with
where he wanted to go and stuff like that. I wish him all the best of luck, and
hopefully we'll all cross paths once again and I'll see how he's doing then. "But
being a closer feels great, it's a once in a lifetime dream for me to be a
closer. Now it's my opportunity to show what I've got." So what's his
intro music going to be? "I guess we'll wait and see."
One Down – Jonathan Papelbon finally got his wish. The Phillies
announced Tuesday night they had traded Papelbon and cash considerations to the
Nationals for Double-A right-hander Nick Pivetta, ending Papelbon's tumultuous
Phillies career without the trips to the postseason he expected when he signed
a four-year, $50 million contract in November 2011. MLBPipeline.com ranks
Pivetta as the Phillies' No.
10 prospect. "We didn't want to just get
rid of him," Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said in a news
conference in Philadelphia. "He had an extraordinary career with us. The
fact of the matter is, he was as good as advertised and maybe better. We just
didn't play very well around him. Unfortunately, we didn't have the kind of
club that was the reason for him to be here. "No, I don't believe in just
getting rid of the guy. Not for me. The ultimate goal was to do what's right
for the Phillies. That's what I have to do. I think, ultimately, this will work
out for everyone." Amaro said the Phillies are paying a "significant"
portion of Papelbon's salary for the remainder of the season. The Washington
Post reported it is $4.5 million, which is essentially the rest of his 2015
salary. But Amaro said they will pay none of the $11 million Papelbon will make
in 2016. Papelbon, who waived his no-trade rights, actually took less money to
leave the Phillies, forgoing a $13 million club option that would have
automatically vested if he finished just 14 more games this season. Papelbon
flew home to Mississippi following Sunday's game against the Cubs at Wrigley
Field, so he never made it to Toronto. Papelbon recently had made it a habit to
fly home for off-days, packing his bags each time and hoping he would get that
call from the Phillies that he had been traded. He finally got that call
Tuesday. Papelbon and his agents negotiated the new contract directly with the
Nationals, and the Phillies and Nationals agreed on Pivetta. "I think
every trade has its challenges," Amaro said. "This had a variety of
different challenges because we had to get approval from him, and there was
some complication in converting the contract. I think, at the end of the day,
hopefully this works out for everybody." The Nationals selected Pivetta,
22, in the fourth round of the 2013 Draft. He went 7-4 with a 2.29 ERA in 15
games (14 starts) this season with Class A Advanced Potomac before being
promoted to Harrisburg, where he is 0-2 with a 7.20 ERA in three starts. "A
strapping, big arm," Amaro said about Pivetta. "A guy who our scouts
liked quite a bit. We have seen him quite a bit over the last couple of years.
We like the arm. Hopefully, Nick can continue his development and continue his
way up the ladder so he can help us in Philadelphia sometime soon." Amaro
said Pivetta's ceiling is as high as a No. 3 starter. "He's still got some
upside," Amaro said. "Our projections are a middle to the bottom of
the rotation type of pitcher. Could be as high as a three. Could be as low as a
five. A lot of it depends on how he develops. He's got great stuff to work
with, and I like the way our development people are working with our
pitching." Coincidentally, Papelbon's trade came two years to the day that
he told MLB.com in Detroit: "I definitely didn't come here for this."
Papelbon had been vocal about wanting to leave Philadelphia ever since, most
recently campaigning for a trade at the All-Star Game. He will leave the
Phillies as the franchise's all-time saves leader, with 123. He finished his
Phillies career 14-11 with a 2.31 ERA in 234 appearances, making the National
League All-Star team in 2012 and 2015.
Trade Talk – Jonathan Papelbon is
headed to the Nationals, but what about Cole Hamels? Sources told MLB.com on Tuesday that
Hamels is expected to be traded before Friday's 4 p.m. ET non-waiver Trade
Deadline, although nothing is imminent. But the Phillies moved Hamels'
scheduled start from Thursday to Friday, which erases any risk of a freak
injury and allows the acquiring team to pitch him almost immediately. The
Phillies would not have bumped Hamels if they did not hope to trade him.
ESPN.com reported the Phillies have told teams to make their best offers for
Hamels by Wednesday. "I guess I'm pretty valuable to them right now,"
Hamels said with a smile before Tuesday night's 3-2
victory over the Blue Jays at Rogers Centre.
"I understand. It's OK. I just do what they tell me to do. But I
understand them. I guess if I were in their position, I'd do the same thing,
too." The Rangers and Dodgers remain the frontrunners for Hamels, but a
source told MLB.com on Tuesday that the Giants have escalated their efforts.
San Francisco has the financial flexibility to facilitate a trade, although it
is difficult to see how they will come up with the prospects to satisfy the
Phillies. The Astros also have emerged as a suitor. FOXSports.com reported that
Phillies scout Charley Kerfeld scouted Houston's Double-A affiliate on Tuesday.
Phillies president Pat Gillick leans heavily on Kerfeld's opinions, so the fact
he has been watching Texas' and Houston's Double-A affiliates this week is
worth noting. Sources said the Yankees, Cubs and D-backs also have expressed
interest in Hamels. But the Rangers continue to make the most sense for the
Phillies because they like the young power hitters in their farm system. Hamels
can block trades to 20 teams, but he cannot block trades to the Rangers,
Dodgers, Yankees, Cubs, Nationals, Cardinals, Braves, Padres and Mets. But
there are more hurdles to clear than just the no-trade list. First, the
Phillies need to get some prospects they like, preferably power hitters.
Second, there is Hamels' salary. Hamels will be paid $22.5 million each of the
next three seasons, which includes a $6 million buyout on a 2019 club option
worth $20 million. "We've had really fluid conversations with a bunch of
teams on a variety of players," Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr.
said in a news conference in Philadelphia.
Minor Update – Players of the
Week: Player - 1B Brock Stassi, Reading…Stassi, 25, was
named Phillies Minor League Player of the Week after batting .444 (12-27) in
seven games with three doubles, two home runs and eight RBI. He has hit safely
in eight of his last nine games, and in five of those games has recorded
multiple hits. Stassi's 66 RBI are most in the league, and he also ranks among
the top four in average (.315), on-base percentage (.406), total bases (156)
and walks (54). His home run on July 23 was his ninth of the season, which is a
new career high. Stassi was selected by the Phillies in the 33rd
round of the 2011 draft out of The University of Nevada-Reno, and was signed by
Joey Davis. Pitcher - LHP Ranger Suarez, GCL Phillies…Suarez,
a 20-year-old lefthander, started one game last week, tossing 6.0 scoreless
innings while allowing only two hits and a walk against the GCL Yankees. He
struck out five batters en route to Phillies Minor League Pitcher of the Week
honors. Suarez now has scoreless outings of 6.0 innings or more and three hits
or fewer in three of his four starts. He has allowed only two earned runs in
27.2 innings pitched this season (0.65 ERA) and has a 0.69 WHIP (15 hits, four
walks), both of which rank in the top four in the league. Suarez was signed as
an amateur free agent in April of 2012 by the Phillies and Jesus Mendez.
Lehigh
Valley IronPigs - International League North Division…46-56, 4th place…The
IronPigs have improved to 5-0-3 in their last eight series after splitting a
four-game set with the Toledo Mud Hens and then taking two of three from the
Syracuse Chiefs. They have gone 24-14 since June 14 after posting a 22-42
record through that date. Top hitting performers - OF Aaron
Altherr recorded RBIs in five of seven games, including three multi-RBI
efforts. He clubbed two home runs, scored four runs and tallied 17 total bases
for Lehigh Valley…In his return to the Phillies' farm system, C Erik Kratz
batted .500 (7-14) with four runs scored, two doubles, a triple and a pair of
RBI. Top pitching performers - LHP Anthony Vasquez won
his third straight decision after tossing 6.0 innings of one-run ball against
Toledo on July 21…LHP Jesse Biddle impressed for the second straight
start, this time surrendering a run on four hits in 5.2 innings of work. He has
allowed one run in his last 12.1 innings…LHP Adam Loewen appeared in
four games, all in relief, and struck out five while allowing just three base
runners (a hit and two walks) in 4.1 innings. He also converted his lone save
opportunity. Reading Fightin Phils - Eastern League Eastern
Division …54-47, T-2nd place…Reading's week began strong with
a series win over Bowie, but quickly turned as they won just one game in a
four-game series with New Britain. The Fightins sat in first place in the
division briefly two weeks ago, but have now lost four of five and sit 1.5
games behind the first-place Binghamton Mets. Top hitting performers - 1B
Brock Stassi was named Phillies Minor League Player of the Week after
compiling a .444 average with two homers, eight RBI, a .531 on-base percentage
and 1.309 OPS in seven games. He has seven RBI in his last five games and 66
for the season…SS J.P. Crawford doubled three times, homered, scored
seven runs and knocked in two more while hitting .308…C Andrew Knapp
batted .364 with six RBI and a team-high four doubles in six games. He had
multiple hits in three of those games…OF Kelly Dugan went 7-24 (.292)
with four runs scored, two doubles and two RBI. Top pitching performers - RHP
Colton Murray had a 2.0-inning relief appearance and a 3.0-inning relief
appearance and did not allow a base runner in either. He struck out six batters
in those 5.0 innings combined…RHP Edubray Ramos combined for 4.0 innings
and one unearned run in his two games out of the bullpen…LHP Tom Windle
struck out five in 3.2 innings of work, allowing just one unearned run on two
hits. Clearwater Threshers - Florida State League North Division…20-11,
1st place, 57-44 overall… The first-place Threshers started
their week with three straight wins, scoring 20 combined runs in those games.
They were unable to carry that momentum, however, as they dropped two of their
last three against Jupiter and the series opener with Bradenton to finish 4-3
for the week. Top hitting performers - 1B Rhys Hoskins recorded
10 hits in 25 at-bats (.400) while reaching base in half of his plate
appearances. He scored five runs, walked five times and has hit safely in nine
of his last 10 games…OF Carlos Tocci also batted .400, recording three
multi-hit games with four doubles, four runs scored and four RBI…C Willians
Astudillo is now batting .310 for the season after going 8-24 (.333) with
five RBI and three runs scored…OF Andrew Pullin reached double digits
with his 10th home run of the season and also drove in a team-high
six runs while batting .320 in six games…OF Dylan Cozens may have only played
in five games, but he still managed to hit a home run, triple and double while
batting .412 with 13 total bases. Top pitching performers - LHP
Brandon Leibrandt threw 7.0 strong frames, yielding just two runs on three
hits to Jupiter. He has 11 quality starts in 15 total starts this season…RHP
Victor Arano allowed two runs on seven hits in 6.1 innings during his lone
start of the week. Lakewood BlueClaws - South Atlantic League
Northern Division…19-11, 2nd place, 52-46 overall…Lakewood
sits just a game back in the division after a dominant 5-1 week which included
a series win over first-place West Virginia. The Blue Claws will finish their
series with Kannapolis before heading to West Virginia to try to gain more
ground on the Power in a four-game series. Top hitting performers - 2B
Scott Kingery hit .346 with a home run, four RBI and four runs scored in
six games. He has eight hits in last 17 at-bats (.471 average)…1B Kyle
Martin continues his torrid season after batting .348 with four extra-base
hits (two doubles, a triple, and a home run). Martin set a career-high with
four hits on July 25, and is batting .372 this season…OF Jiandido Tromp
went 7-21 (.333) with three doubles and two RBI. Top pitching performers
- RHP Ranfi Casimiro has now won four straight decisions after
throwing 7.2 shutout innings with six strikeouts against the West Virginia
Power on July 22…RHP Will Morris lasted 7.0 innings for the second
straight start, allowing three runs in his win over Kannapolis…RHP Tyler
Viza tossed 7.0 scoreless frames and scattered six hits in his lone start…LHP
Elniery Garcia tied his season-best with just three hits allowed in a
6.0-inning scoreless start on July 24…RHP Matt Hocknberry appeared in
three games, combining for 4.0 scoreless innings and two saves in as many
chances. Williamsport Crosscutters - New York-Penn League Pinckney
Division…24-12, 1st place…The Crosscutters rebounded
nicely from an 0-3 start to the week to win three of their last four games by a
combined score of 19-10. They allowed three runs or fewer in each of their
three wins and remain four games ahead in the division. Top hitting
performers - OF Zachary Coppola hit safely in his first six
games of the week, finishing with a .357 average and five runs scored to go
along with a .400 on-base percentage…2B Josh Tobias hit .345 with two
doubles, a triple, a home run and three multi-hit games…OF Jose Pujols
went 8-27 (.296) with five runs scored, two driven in and a double. He is tied
for the league lead with 11 doubles this season…OF Mark Laird batted
.318 with four RBI and hit safely in all but one of his six games played…1B
Brendon Hayden reached base at a .435 mark thanks to six hits (three
doubles) and a team-high four walks. Top pitching performers - RHP
Mitch Gueller held Aberdeen to two runs (one earned) in 6.2 innings on the
mound on July 24. He has allowed one earned run or fewer in four of his six
starts…LHP Tyler Gilbert did not allow a run and surrendered only three
hits in 5.0 innings of work during his one start…RHP Anthony Sequiera
had outings of 2.1 innings and 2.0 innings, both of which were scoreless. He
nailed down his only save opportunity, and now has five straight outings of at
least 2.0 innings pitched. GCL Phillies - Gulf Coast League,
Northwest Division…20-8, 1st place… Bad weather held the
Phillies to just five games last week, as they had three contests, including a
doubleheader, postponed due to rain. They took their first two games of the
week against the Yankees by scores of 7-5 and 3-0, but then dropped three
straight to the GCL Blue Jays on Wednesday and Thursday. Top hitting
performers - OF Juan Luis raised his average 48 points in three
games after going 6-9 with a home run, three RBI and four runs scored…3B
Lucas Williams batted .556 (5-9) in three games and now has a seven-game
hit streak…SS Jonathan Arauz hit .364 with a walk in three games. Top
pitching performers - LHP Ranger Suarez's ERA sits at
0.65 after yet another scoreless outing. He pitched 6.0 innings and allowed two
hits, giving him three starts of 6.0 innings, no runs and three hits or fewer
this season. His dominant start earned him Phillies Minor League Pitcher of the
Week…RHP Edgar Garcia made his first start of the season, yielding two
runs (one earned) in 4.1 innings of work while striking out four…RHP Kevin
Walsh did not allow a run in his season-high 3.1 innings of relief on July
23.
THE BEGINNING:
The
Phillies are starting the season as expected and are now at the bottom of the
NL east at 38-63. Given the departures, aging stars,
injuries, and performance so far this season, this could end up being the
worst team in franchise history! All time, the Phillies are 55-50-0 on
this day.
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