GAME
RECAP: Phillies Defeat Braves 9-5
In a matchup between two of the top pitchers who could
potentially be moved before Monday's non-waiver Trade Deadline, Jeremy Hellickson outdueled Julio Teheran on
Saturday night at Turner Field, as the Phillies defeated the Braves, 9-5.
Philadelphia jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the second on an RBI single by Cameron Rupp, but Atlanta quickly stormed back. Nick Markakis drove
in Jace Peterson with a single to tie the game in
the third before Adonis Garcia handed
the Braves their only lead with an RBI single in the next at-bat. Teheran
appeared to settle in after the second inning, retiring eight straight batters
before running into trouble in the fifth. With runners on first and second,
Hellickson provided his own support, doubling down the left-field line to score
both and give the Phillies a lead they wouldn't relinquish. Opposing pitchers
were 3-for-34 vs. Teheran this year before the at-bat. "The big hit for me
was Hellickson's double after he couldn't get a bunt down," Phillies
manager Pete Mackanin said. After the Phillies scored two more runs in the
sixth, the Braves cut the deficit to 5-3 and knocked Hellickson out of the game
on Anthony Recker's RBI single in the bottom of the
frame. After surrendering four runs on no hits to the Phillies in the eighth,
Atlanta couldn't mount a comeback despite scoring two runs in the bottom of the
frame. It fell to 8-4 against Philadelphia this season. "[Until that
inning], we were right there," Braves manager Brian Snitker said. "It
just didn't happen in that inning, pretty much. We could have kind of kept the
game right there in the eighth, but there were just a couple of tough plays
that didn't go our way."
PHILS PHACTS:
- Scouts got a
final look at Hellickson before Monday's non-waiver Trade Deadline.
Hellickson did not pitch his best, allowing nine hits and three runs in
just 5 2/3 innings, although he doubled down the left-field line in the
fifth inning to score two runs and give the Phillies a 3-2 lead, but he
also bruised his pitching hand during the same at-bat. The bruise made it
difficult to grip his curveball and cut his outing short. "Still not
really sure what it is," Hellickson said. "A bruise. Or I popped
something in there. But I felt fine, though, after I did it."
- The Phillies scored four runs in a most unusual way in the eighth
inning. They sent nine batters to the plate, but nobody got a hit. Here's
how they fared: Tyler Goeddel (walk), Freddy Galvis (fielder's choice), Taylor Featherston (walk), Cesar Hernandez (walk), Odubel Herrera (walk), Maikel Franco (error), Ryan Howard (error), Aaron Altherr (hit by pitch) and Rupp (grounded into double play). "I'll
just say this," Mackanin said, "when you score four runs without
a hit, you better win that game."
- "I can't control any of it. So I've just been focused on every
start and in-between starts. Whatever happens, happens. Hopefully I'm
still here on Tuesday." -- Hellickson,
on the Trade Deadline.
- Eickhoff is
2-1 with a 1.73 ERA in four career starts vs. the Braves.
- Freddie
Freeman will look to continue his hot hitting vs. Eickhoff, against whom
he's batted .417 (5-for-12) with a double and a homer.
- A.J.
Pierzynski enters Sunday's game with no walks in his last 104 plate
appearances. Baltimore's Jonathan Schoop leads the Majors with no walks in
his past 107 appearances.
NEXT
GAME:
Despite leading the Phillies in innings pitched and registering
a quality start in 13 of his 21 outings this year, Jerad Eickhoff is tied for
second in the Majors with 12 losses. And as he prepares to take the hill for
Sunday's series finale against the Braves at Turner Field, the right-hander
will be aiming for his first win since July 4, when he allowed two runs in an
8-2 victory over Atlanta. Eickhoff came close to snapping his winless drought
on Tuesday, when he allowed one run across seven innings vs. the Marlins. But
for the 13th time this year, he received three runs or fewer of support in a
5-0 defeat. On Sunday, Philadelphia will look to back Eickhoff against Atlanta
starter Joel De La Cruz, who will be making his first start since giving up
seven runs (four earned) against the Phillies on July 4.
PHILS PHACTS:
Last Start? – Jeremy Hellickson has made his case. Now, he waits. He
allowed three runs in 5 2/3 innings in Saturday night's 9-5 victory over the Braves at Turner Field. He
doubled down the left-field line in the fifth inning to score two and give the
Phillies a 3-2 lead, but he also left the game in the sixth with his right hand
bothering him after he got jammed fouling off a pitch during the same at-bat.
It was not Hellickson's finest performance in recent weeks, but it was his
final one before Monday's non-waiver Trade Deadline. "I have no
idea," Hellickson said when asked if he thought he would be traded.
"I'll find out Monday." Scouts from several contenders watched
him pitch, including those from the Rangers, Blue Jays and Tigers. It was the
first time Hellickson had not pitched at least six innings since June 4,
snapping a streak of nine consecutive starts of six or more innings pitched. He
seemed to be on track to pitch six again, but he bruised his pitching hand in
that fifth-inning at-bat, which made it difficult for him to throw his
curveball. "Still not really sure what it is," Hellickson said.
"A bruise. Or I popped something in there. But I felt fine, though, after
I did it." The Phillies did not want to draw attention to Hellickson
by having a full-blown conference on the mound, so Phillies manager Pete
Mackanin had pitching coach Bob McClure check on him by himself. "I don't
want to lose the game because he's got a sore hand," Mackanin said.
"In the end, it's not a big deal. It's not like his elbow was hurting, you
know what I mean? I don't care, I don't want to lose the game." Hellickson
has a 2.49 ERA (14 earned runs in 50 2/3 innings) in his last eight starts. He
has struck out 34 and walked six in that span. A contending team in need of
starting pitching might want somebody like that. But what is the asking price
for Hellickson, who will be a free agent after the season? ESPN.com reported
earlier this week that the Phillies are looking for an organization's top-five
prospect. It is believed the Phillies have a high asking price because they
could make Hellickson a qualifying offer following the season. If he rejects
the one-year contract, which could exceed $16 million, the Phillies would
receive a compensatory Draft pick if he signs elsewhere. So, in the mind of the
Phillies, they want talent comparable to a potential Draft pick. Of course,
Hellickson is not the only Phillies' starter available in a trade. The Rangers
and Phillies have been discussing a deal for Vince Velasquez,
although sources told MLB.com that a deal is unlikely. "I can't control
any of it," Hellickson said. "So I've just been focused on every
start and in-between starts. Whatever happens, happens. Hopefully I'm still
here on Tuesday."
No Hits – Sometimes
it's best not to put the ball in play. Sometimes it's
best just to put the bat on the shoulder and let the other team do the work. The
Phillies let the Braves gift them four runs in the eighth inning on Saturday
night in a 9-5 victory at Turner Field. Philadelphia sent
nine players to the plate in the inning, but not a single batter got a hit,
thanks to some wild pitching from Hunter Cervenka and Ryan Weber and some shoddy defense from the
Braves' infield. "I'll just say this," Phillies manager Pete Mackanin
said, "when you score four runs without a hit, you better win that
game." Here's how it happened: Cervenka started the inning. Tyler Goeddel walked; Freddy Galvis bunted
into a fielder's choice; Taylor Featherston walked; Cesar Hernandez was
walked intentionally; Odubel Herrera walked to score Galvis; Weber replaced
Cervenka. Maikel Franco reached on an error to score
Featherston and Hernandez; Ryan Howard reached on an error; Aaron Altherr got
hit by a pitch to score Herrera; Cameron Rupp grounded
into an inning-ending double play. ESPN said it is the first time the Phillies
have sent nine batters to the plate without recording a hit since July 17,
1992, against the Dodgers at Veterans Stadium. That inning featured three
walks, three errors, one flyout and two strikeouts. It is the first time it has
happened in a game since the Cubs did it against the Rockies on Aug. 5, 2014.
Today
In Phils History – Goldie Rapp’s 23 game Phillies rookie record
hitting streak came to an end on this day in 1931. The Phillies concluded a 20
game home stand on this day in 1944 (which was followed by a 26 game road trip
and another 20 game home stand. In 1982, Manny Trillo’s MLB record 89 game
errorless streak came to an end on this day against the Cubs. 5 years later,
Steve Bedrosian became the 1st Phillie to reach 30 saves in a single
season. Danny Jackson went the distance and recorded 3 sacrifice hits against
the Pirates in 1993. The following season, Kim Batiste recorded his only walk of
the season in 209 at bats. That same day in 1994, Steve Carlton was inducted
into the MLB Hall of Fame. It was also on this day what the Phillies traded
away Terry Mulholland (1996), Shane Victorino (2012), and Hunter Pence (2012)
while receiving Desi Delaford (1996), Ethan Martin (2012), and Tommy Joseph
(2012). Finally, Happy Birthday to John Vukovich who would have been 69 today.
THE BEGINNING:
The
Phillies are currently 48-58 this season putting them on pace to beat most
preseason predictions. All time, the Phillies are 60-52-1 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.
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