GAME
RECAP: Phillies Shock Giants 3-2
For four innings, Madison Bumgarner had a no-hitter in sight. Though that
prospect dissolved, a shutout seemed possible, or at least a Giants victory. However,
all of this ultimately eluded Bumgarner as Cameron Rupp's
two-run homer capped a three-run seventh inning Saturday for the Philadelphia
Phillies, who prevailed, 3-2. The Giants (48-28) missed a chance to pass the
Chicago Cubs as the Major Leagues' winningest team. "I crushed it,
yeah," Rupp said. "I don't know if you do feel it [off the bat]. At
that moment, the adrenaline, the time of the game, a big hit against a guy like
that, no, I don't think I really did." San Francisco clung to a 2-0 lead
when Tommy Joseph, a
former Giants prospect, lashed a leadoff double in Philadelphia's seventh. He
scored on Andres Blanco's
single up the middle. Up came Rupp, who ripped a full-count fastball over the center-field barrier and onto the canopy covering the
organic vegetable garden. It ended Bumgarner's streak of 12 consecutive starts in which he
yielded two or fewer runs. Falling behind 3-0 on the count to Rupp made a
difference, Bumgarner pointed out. "I don't want to put the lead run on
base," he said. "I just have to go after him and he got us." Regarding
the fateful fastball that Rupp hit, Bumgarner said, "I thought it was a
pretty good pitch. I know he's a good fastball hitter, but I felt confident
throwing it."
PHILS PHACTS:
- Phillies
right-hander Jeremy
Hellickson needed
a big night, and he delivered. He allowed five hits, two runs (one earned)
and one walk and struck out three in six innings. He would have pitched
longer, except he tweaked his back swinging at a pitch in the sixth
inning. "I don't know why I'm trying to swing so hard,"
Hellickson said. "You can't even see it out of that guy's hand. But
it's fine."
- The Phillies
needed a shutdown inning after scoring three runs against Bumgarner in the
seventh, and they chose rookie right-hander Edubray
Ramos for
the job. He delivered. He needed just 10 pitches to retire the side, using
a fastball that hit 96 mph and a sharp breaking ball. "That guy has
got fire coming out of his hand," Rupp said.
- "It was huge. You could tell they wanted to beat this team
because they're such a good team and because the guy that was pitching is
such a good pitcher. It showed me a lot because it makes you a competitor.
You know we've got a bunch of competitors there." -- Phillies manager Pete Mackanin, on beating Bumgarner.
- Phillies closer Jeanmar Gomez led the National League in saves at one point. He picked up his
20th save of the season with a perfect ninth. It was his first save since
June 7.
- Maikel Franco broke up Madison Bumgarner's no-hitter in
the top of the fifth Saturday with a double. He's tallied an extra-base
hit in each game of the series.
- Tommy Joseph was back in the lineup as the Phillies'
starting first baseman Saturday. Joseph hadn't started since Wednesday due
to a minor illness.
- Giants manager Bruce Bochy gave closer Santiago Casilla a rest Saturday, meaning he should be ready if needed Sunday. Casilla has gone 17-for-21 in save chances, with his most recent coming Friday.
NEXT
GAME:
Right-hander Aaron Nola hopes to reverse his recent fortunes in Sunday afternoon's series finale
against the Giants at AT&T Park. Nola had a 2.65 ERA through his first 12
starts before posting a 15.83 ERA in his last three. Mackanin plans to have Carlos Ruiz catch Nola for the first time in his career, hoping his game-calling
prowess gives Nola a bump.
PHILS PHACTS:
Rupp’s Big Night – Cameron Rupp crushed
it. But it is whom he crushed his two-run home run against in the seventh
inning Saturday night in a 3-2 victory over the Giants at AT&T Park that made it more
impressive. Rupp mashed a 3-2 fastball to center field against Giants ace Madison Bumgarner,
who had not allowed more than three earned runs in a start since April 15. "Big
Head, he's come up with some big hits for us," Phillies manager Pete
Mackanin said. Rupp hit this ball so hard and so far -- it left his bat at 109
mph and traveled 433 feet, according to Statcast™ -- he could not remember if he felt
the ball leave the bat. "I don't know if you do feel it," he said.
"At that moment, the adrenaline, the time of the game, a big hit against a
guy like that, no, I don't think I really did." Rupp entered the game tied
for fifth among big league catchers in OPS (.773) and tied for fourth in
slugging percentage (.468). In a season when the Phillies' front office is
evaluating players for the future, Rupp is solidifying himself a spot in the
team's plans. "He's really put in action what he's working on with his
swing path," Mackanin said. "I'm trying to take my batting practice
into the game, trying to drive the ball into the gaps," Rupp said.
"For me, getting on first base, it takes three hits to score me because I
can't run, so driving the ball is something I've been working on, hitting the
ball in the gap, driving in runs and hitting the ball out of the ballpark when
I get pitches to do it. I feel like that's the guy I need to be and that's what
I'm going to continue to work on." But Rupp will not be starting Sunday's
series finale. Carlos Ruiz will be behind the plate, catching Aaron Nola for the first time in his career. Nola
has a 15.83 ERA in his last three starts and Mackanin hopes Ruiz's game-calling skills can snap Nola out of his funk. Mackanin
said Rupp is in a learning process behind the plate. "Catching is first
for me," Rupp said. "Anything I do at the plate is a plus. And I want
to be back there every day, but I respect [Mackanin's] decision. And Chooch
could help Nola. This is a guy that's never struggled in the big leagues.
Chooch has been back there, World Series, no-hitters, perfect game, it's a guy
that could get him back on track. And I'm all for it. We need him to be on his
'A' game every fifth day, and if that's what it takes, absolutely, you
know?" But if Rupp continues to hit, he will remain the No. 1 guy. He
proved again Saturday night why he has become just that.
Future Closer? – The
moment the Phillies traded Ken Giles in December, more than a few Phillies
fans wondered about the future of the ninth inning. Who the heck would close? The
Phillies' potential future closer pitched a scoreless seventh inning Saturday
night in a 3-2 victory over the Giants at AT&T Park. Phillies rookie
right-hander Edubray Ramos,
making the second big league appearance of his career, needed just 10 pitches
to retire the side, coming up with a big shutdown inning after the Phillies
scored three runs against Giants ace Madison Bumgarner in the top of the seventh. "I'm
pretty excited about what I saw, cautiously optimistic," Phillies manager
Pete Mackanin said. "That guy has got fire coming out of his hand,"
Phillies catcher Cameron Rupp said. Ramos got Conor Gillaspie to pop out for the first out before
striking out Gregor Blanco looking and Denard Span swinging on a foul tip. His fastball
touched 96 mph. He showed a sharp breaking ball, too. "For a guy to throw
that hard and throw his breaking stuff and throwing everything for strikes and
attack the hitter, that's pretty special," Mackanin said. "Hopefully
that'll continue." The Phillies are looking for effective late-inning
relievers. While it is too early to be certain about Ramos, if he can pitch
like he pitched Saturday, he could work himself into regular work late in the
game. They are looking for people. Phillies right-hander David Hernandez has struggled recently, allowing runs
in each of his previous four appearances. In fact, he got bumped out of his
usual seventh-inning role Friday in favor of Severino Gonzalez and Elvis Araujo. But
Hernandez pitched the eighth because setup man Hector Neris had pitched the past three days. Hernandez
allowed a leadoff single to Joe Panik, who
advanced to second on a wild pitch. Hernandez then walked Buster Posey with
one out to put runners on first and second. Brandon Crawford followed and ripped a line drive to
left field. Phillies left fielder Tyler Goeddel made a nice catch, which surprised
Panik, who was on his way home. Goeddel threw to second to double up Panik to
end the inning. "Goeddel bailed us out," Mackanin said. "That
could have been disastrous, obviously."
Set To Return – Phillies
right-hander Vince Velasquez is officially back in the rotation. Manager
Pete Mackanin announced before Saturday night's game against the Giants at
AT&T Park that Velasquez will pitch Monday night against the D-backs at
Chase Field. Velasquez has been on the 15-day disabled list since June 9
because of a strained right biceps. He made a rehab start Wednesday with
Double-A Reading. Velasquez will take left-hander Adam Morgan's spot
in the rotation. Morgan will be available to pitch out of the bullpen Sunday,
and his fate will be determined after that. Mackanin said Morgan could remain
in the Phillies' bullpen. "We're not sure we're going to do that,"
Mackanin said. "It's an option we're mulling."
Earning Playing Time – Cameron Rupp is
quietly establishing himself as a piece of the Phillies' future. He entered
Saturday night's game against the Giants at AT&T Park hitting .269 with 14
doubles, one triple, six home runs, 21 RBIs and a .773 OPS in 46 games. He was
tied for fifth among big league catchers in OPS and is tied for fourth in
slugging percentage (.468). And that was before he hit a go-ahead, two-run
homer in the Phillies' 3-2 victory over the Giants.
He figures to be behind the plate in some capacity in 2017, but Carlos Ruiz, who is
in the final year of his contract, is not going away silently. In fact, his
game-calling prowess is pushing him back into the lineup. He will catch
struggling right-hander Aaron Nola for the first time in his career in
Sunday's series finale. Ruiz has caught right-hander Jerad Eickhoff five times this season, including four
times this month. Eickhoff earned the win in three of those starts, three of
the Phillies' only five wins in June. Mackanin indicated Ruiz could catch
Eickhoff more in the future. It isn't exactly Sam Bradford vs. Carson Wentz,
but could there be a catching controversy brewing behind home plate? "Possibly,"
Phillies manager Pete Mackanin said. "That's the hard part about this job.
You have to give up something to get something, and right now we need offense.
At least right now Cam offers more offense. However, is it more important to
guide the young pitcher and bring him along with some veteran experience?
Winning games is important, too, for the health of the players, the coaches and
the manager, too." Asked if the Phillies' coaches can help a catcher call
a game from the dugout, Mackanin said, "[The catchers)] have meetings,
they have charts. Sometimes it surprises you. You go over it in a meeting and
there's input back and forth, and you get in a game and it's, 'What are you
doing? Pitch according to the book we have here.' Sometimes guys don't do
that." So Ruiz is calling a better game? "Let's put it this way, with
the years of experience he's had, I'd like to think, yeah, I would say
that," Mackanin said. "Rupp's in a learning process. I'm not going to
say he calls a better game than Chooch because Chooch has had a lot of success
with a lot of different types of pitchers."
Full Circle – Philadelphia
Phillies first baseman Tommy Joseph was ruled out of Thursday's game
against the Minnesota Twins because of a cold. But, as Joseph noted before
Saturday's game against the San Francisco Giants, it was going to take much
more than a minor illness to keep him from playing this weekend against the
club that drafted him. "I was going to do everything I could to be healthy
when I got here," Joseph said. "This series means a lot to me. I'm
always going to have something special for the Giants because they're the first
organization to give me the opportunity to play professional baseball." The
Giants took Joseph in the second round of the 2009 Draft as a catcher, only to
send him to Philadelphia in 2012 as part of a trade that sent Hunter Pence to San Francisco. Joseph returned
Friday, this time as a first baseman coming off the bench in the Phillies' 5-4
loss in the series opener. For Joseph, the night served as his career coming
full circle, especially considering the difficult path he took to get back to
AT&T Park, a journey that included two concussions, a wrist surgery and a
change in positions. The last time he'd been at the ballpark was just after the
Giants drafted him. "It's fun to be back," Joseph said. "Just
getting the opportunity to play against guys I played with in the Minor
Leagues. It's fun to get the opportunity." Joseph was back in the starting
lineup Saturday for the Phillies. He entered Saturday batting .095 (4-for-42)
in his last 11 games.
Today
In Phils History – The
Phillies saw a master at work on this day in 1915 when Grover Cleveland
Alexander threw a 1-hitter, beating the Dodgers 4-0. In what could be considered
the opposite of a masterpiece, in 1991 starting pitcher Pat Combs walked 5 of
the 6 batters he faced, all of whom scored, in a 14-1 loss to the Cardinals.
And in what is simply an odd picture, Carlos Ruiz stole home on the back end of
a double-steal against the Reds in 2007. Lastly, happy 50th birthday
to Jeff Conine and happy 30th birthday to Lou Marson, 2 players with
short lived Phillies careers.
THE BEGINNING:
The
Phillies are currently 32-44 this season putting them on pace to beat most
preseason predictions. The Phillies finished the spring exceeding most
expectations compiling a record of 15-11-3 (18-11-3 if you include the
exhibition games against Reading and the University of Tampa). All time, the
Phillies are 55-61-0 on this day. I expect the Phillies to finish in the bottom
half of the division but not last in the NL East by finishing the season with a
77-85 record. Let the rebuild begin!
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