GAME RECAP: Padres Beat Phillies 9-4
The Padres avoided a season sweep to the Phillies on Sunday,
thanks to a little star power. Matt Kemp and Justin Upton homered while James Shields allowed just one run in seven innings
in a 9-4 victory at Citizens Bank Park. It was the Padres' only victory in six
games this season against the Phillies. "I'm not worried about who we
play, I'm worried about how we play," Padres interim manager Pat Murphy
said. "We didn't play well in Washington but we squeaked out with a win.
We didn't play well here, but we played better today. What I learned is that
these guys still have a little fight in them. They are excited about playing
[the Dodgers in the next series]. I know they are." Phillies right-hander
Alec Asher made his big league debut. Asher, whom the Phillies acquired from
Texas in the Cole Hamels trade,
allowed a two-run homer to Kemp in the first inning to make it 2-0 and a solo
homer to Upton in the third to make it 3-0. Asher then allowed a two-out single
to Shields in the sixth, which scored the Padres' fourth run. "I liked
him," Phillies interim manager Pete Mackanin said about Asher. "I
liked his stuff. I liked his approach. He got behind too often, he left the
ball up in the zone a little too often. It's understandable when a guy is in
his first Major
League appearance in front of his home
[fans]."
OTHER
NOTES FROM THE DAY:
- Phillies second baseman Cesar Hernandez
entered the game hitting .133 (8-for-60) in his last 17 games, but he went
2-for-4 with one triple and one RBI. Mackanin hopes it is a sign. Mackanin
thought about keeping on Hernandez on the bench to clear his head, but he
decided against it. "I just decided to make him battle out of
it," Mackanin said. "That's what we need to see. If he's going
to be the everyday second baseman, we want him to play 160 games."
- The Phillies could not get anything
going offensively against Shields, except for Cameron Rupp's
solo home run to right field in the second. It was Rupp's fourth home run
in his last six games, and his seventh homer in August. He is the first
Phillies' catcher to hit seven or more homers in a month since Mike
Lieberthal hit eight in Aug. 2002. He is the first Phillies rookie catcher
to have seven or more homers in a month since Butch Henline had seven in
Sept. 1922. "Comfortable, seeing the ball, timing is there,"
Rupp said. "I'm getting a lot of playing time, and I think that just
makes a huge difference, when you're getting everyday at-bats and you're
seeing guys [for a second time]. I think that's been huge."
- Phillies center fielder Odubel Herrera
went 4-for-4. It was the first four-hit game of his career. He has hit
safely in 26 of his last 31 games. He is hitting .344 (42-for-122) in that
stretch.
- The Phillies claimed left-handed reliever Ken Roberts off
waivers from the Rockies. He could join the Phillies on Tuesday when
rosters expand. The Phillies' only left-hander in the bullpen right now is
Adam Loewen.
- The Mets scored 40 runs during their four-game sweep of the
Phillies last week. Tensions rose Tuesday when the Phillies bench didn't
take kindly to Hansel Robles' quick pitch to Darin Ruf. New York is 12-1
this season against Philadelphia.
- New York expects to have newly acquired reliever Addison Reed
activated for Monday's game. The Mets sent two minor league pitchers to
Arizona to acquire Reed over the weekend. Reed owns a 4.20 ERA in 40 2/3
innings this season, and will receive high leverage chances in middle
relief.
NEXT
GAME:
When Jerad Eickhoff made
his Major League debut earlier in the month, everything was new. Suddenly,
somehow, it's all already much of the same. Eickhoff and Bartolo Colon will
square off for the second time in six days on Monday when the Mets and Phillies
open a three-game series at Citi Field. Two of Eickhoff's three career starts
have now come against Colon, who is making the 462nd start of his 18-year
career. The rookie allowed four runs (three earned) over six innings to New
York on Wednesday, after shutting out the Marlins over six in his MLB debut. Colon,
meanwhile, is fresh off an emergency bullpen appearance on Saturday, his first
in more than four years. The veteran is 2-1 with a 3.51 ERA in August.
PHILS PHACTS:
Enjoying The Moment – At the very least, Phillies rookie Alec Asher had a
memorable afternoon at Citizens Bank Park. Asher is one of five prospects the
Phillies acquired from Texas in the Cole Hamels trade in July. He became the second of
those prospects to make his big league debut, when he started Sunday's 9-4
loss to the Padres. Asher allowed eight hits,
four runs, one walk, two home runs and struck out three in 5 2/3 innings. "I
liked him," Phillies interim manager Pete Mackanin said. "I liked his
stuff. I liked his approach. He got behind too often, he left the ball up in
the zone a little too often. It's understandable when a guy is in his first
Major League appearance in front of his home [fans]." Asher acknowledged
he had some nerves early in the game, but he became more comfortable the more
he pitched and he left feeling like he can succeed at this level. "I
thought I was all right," he said. "I made a couple of bad pitches
that I paid for. But I mean, I wouldn't take back the experience. It was great.
You obviously want to win. But you take the experience and learn from it."
Padres right fielder Matt Kemp hit a 1-0
fastball to left field for a two-run home run in the first inning to hand the
Padres a 2-0 lead. Padres left fielder Justin Upton then ripped a 2-0 fastball to left field
for a solo homer to make it 3-1. Asher allowed a two-out single to James Shields in the sixth to make it 4-1. Mackanin
said he liked how Asher kept his composure after the homer to Kemp in the
first. Asher kept calm. He kept pitching. And he almost escaped with a quality
start, if not for the hit to Shields. "You don't really expect a guy
making his first appearance at the Major League level to be that poised and
have that kind of a mound presence," Mackanin said. "We're fortunate
that we've got [Aaron] Nola who did, [Jerad] Eickhoff who did it and actually
so did Asher today. He really came back after struggling in the first
inning." Asher joked Saturday that he might be more nervous to hit than
pitch. He had not hit since he signed with the Rangers following the 2012
Draft, when he was a fourth-round selection. Deep down, maybe Asher felt a
little more comfortable when he realized his father Bob Asher introduced his
first at-bat over the PA system. Bob is the PA announcer for the Class A Advanced
Lakeland Flying Tigers. It was a nice touch on a milestone day. "I didn't
realize it until after it happened," Asher said. "I got in the box,
looked up and saw his face on the big screen. But it made sense
afterward."
Adding Bullpen Depth – The Phillies acquired some bullpen depth Sunday when they
claimed left-hander Ken Roberts off waivers from the Rockies. Roberts has been
optioned to Triple-A Lehigh Valley, but he could join the Phillies on Tuesday
when rosters expand. The Phillies are thin on left-handed relievers. They
traded Jake Diekman to Texas
in July. They designated Cesar Jimenez for
assignment recently, and the Brewers claimed him off waivers. Then last week Elvis Araujo strained his left groin and landed on
the disabled list. Roberts, 27, pitched the last six seasons (2010-15)
primarily in the Rockies' Minor League system, going 22-10 with a 2.61 ERA in
216 appearances (two starts). He went 1-3 record with a 5.12 ERA this season
for Triple-A Albuquerque, but appeared in only 23 games after spending time on
the DL for left elbow inflammation. He posted a 5.79 ERA in nine appearances
this year with the Rockies. The Rockies designated him for assignment Friday.
THE BEGINNING:
The
Phillies have returned to their lackluster ways and regained their grip on last
place in the NL East with a record of 52-79. Given the departures, aging stars,
injuries, and bipolar performances this season, this could still end up
being the worst team in franchise history… at least that is something to hope
for this year! All time, the Phillies are 48-61-0 on this day.
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