Sánchez deals against Padres as Phillies collect another series win originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
The fireworks celebration the Phillies wonderfully put on at this time every year were almost threatened to be delayed Wednesday night in Game 2 of a doubleheader with the San Diego Padres.
Surprisingly, not because of rain or even the threat of it. No, it was all Christopher Sánchez’ fault. The left-hander mowed through the Padres lineup time and time again with such quick efficiency that it was feared the game would be completed well before darkness set upon Citizens Bank Park.
The threat of a delay was put to rest, really in one at-bat by the Padres, and while it differed from the efficiency of Sánchez, it featured his resilience.
With Gavin Sheets on first and two outs, Sánchez and Padres third baseman Jose Iglesias had an epic 10-pitch battle that had Iglesias foul off six pitches. With the count 2-2, Sánchez froze Iglesias with a 96-mile-an-hour sinker for the final out of the inning. He threw 7.0 innings on an 85-pitch gem.
He allowed just five hits, one earned run, struck out five and didn’t allow a walk in the Phillies 5-1 win. Sánchez improved to 7-2 on the season and the Phillies to 51-36 after the day/night split.
“He’s been, just like the rest of them, just wonderful,” said manager Rob Thomson of Sánchez’ night. “The changeup is swing and miss and the sinker… He had some balls hit hard off him but so much soft contact. He’s just attacking. Attacking the zone, trusting his stuff.”
Orion Kerkering and Matt Strahm each pitched a scoreless inning as the Phils took two of three from the Padres.
First baseman Bryce Harper was not in the lineup for Game 2, as he continues to ease back from the wrist injury that kept him sidelined for 22 games. So far in his two starts since his return on Monday, Harper is 1-for-6 with a couple of strikeouts, a walk and was hit by a pitch. More importantly, he has taken hard cuts at the plate and has shown no hesitation in doing so. There has been no apparent flinching after a swing, no matter the result.
“I didn’t want to risk it,” Thomson explained. “He was available to pinch-hit. He felt fine. I just didn’t want to get him heated up again. Now if the game’s on the line, we’d go. That was the only reason, just precaution.”
Otto Kemp took over first base in the nightcap and provided a couple of singles, a walk, and some nice fielding plays.
Sánchez, like others on the starting staff, had a phenomenal month of June. In his five starts totaling 34 innings, he allowed just 25 hits and seven earned runs (1.85 ERA), while he struck out 33 and walked just six.
Normalcy returned to the Phillies starting rotation in the form of Cristopher Sánchez after a shaky start from Mick Abel in Game 1. Abel allowed five earned runs after getting just five outs in the 6-4 loss, while seven of the first nine batters Sánchez faced were retired on ground balls.
Sánchez breezed through the Padres lineup to start the game on just 23 pitches. He then gave up a run in the fourth, though through no fault of his, really.
Fernando Tatis, Jr. led off the inning by beating out a dribbler to third. Sánchez then had him picked, but Otto Kemp’s throw to Trea Turner at second was awry and wound up in center field. Tatis went to third then scored when Jackson Merrill squeezed a single through the right side on a drawn-in infield for a 1-0 Padres lead.
“I always go out and compete and do the best that I can and I always aim to not walk anyone,” said Sánchez through the team interpreter. “The important part is that we (starting pitchers) all act the same when we’re doing well and when we’re not. We’re just out here to support our team and to be the best of ourselves and go out and compete.”
The Phillies responded to the Padres’ go-ahead run immediately, as Alec Bohm led off the bottom of the inning with a single, moved to second on a groundout by Nick Castellanos and scored. Then came Max Kepler, who launched a bomb into the seats in right for a 2-1 lead. Kepler perfectly back-footed a 2-2, 90-mile-an-hour slider 379 feet off starter Dylan Cease for his 10th home run of the season.
After Sánchez worked his way out of a two on, one out jam with consecutive strikeouts to end the fifth, Brandon Marsh led off the bottom of the fifth with a bomb to dead center for a 3-1 lead. Trea Turner reached on an infield single. He moved to second on a foul out by Bohm on a wonderful, sliding snare by third baseman Iglesias near the tarp. Turner scored on a Nick Castellanos single for a seemingly commanding 4-1 lead, considering the way Sanchez was waltzing through the San Diego lineup.
“I like the way that I’m attacking,” said Marsh of his at-bats. I can definitely improve a lot more on a lot of things. But, for what it’s worth, I like where I’m at personally and just have to continue to take it day-by-day and at-bat by at-bat.”
The Phillies added another in the seventh when Kyle Schwarber worked a two-out walk. Pinch-runner Johan Rojas stole second then crossed home on a triple to right by Bohm.
The Phillies secured a 5-1 victory over the Padres, closing out Wednesday’s doubleheader and another series win.
They have Thursday off before welcoming the Cincinnati Reds in for a three-game series, beginning Friday at 1:05 p.m.
