Monday, March 29, 2021

Spring Training Game 27 - 2020 Topps Big League #234 Scott Kingery

Phillies 6
, Yankees 2
Spring Training Game 27 - Sunday Afternoon, March 28th in Clearwater
Record - 12-14-1

One Sentence Summary:  Zack Wheeler threw three scoreless innings in his final appearance of the exhibition season as the Phillies defeated the Yankees, 6-2.

What It Means:  After one final game on Monday afternoon, the Phillies will make the trip back to Philadelphia where they'll open the season on Thursday.

What Happened:  Wheeler struck out 4 in his outing and allowed only one hit.  The new and improved Phillies bullpen combined for six innings, allowing only 2 runs on 5 hits while striking out 10.  Vince Velasquez, David Hale, Archie Bradley, Connor Brogdon and Brandon Kintzler will all be in the 'pen to start the season.  A group of mini-campers came through in the seventh driving in three runs.  Nick Maton doubled home Matt Vierling who had hustled to reach on a ground ball to avoid a double play.  Luis Garcia then doubled home Maton, with Bryson Stott singling home Garcia.

Featured Card:  See below.

Camp Head Count:  53 - 6 = 47.  Or 27, if you don't count the 20 mini-camp invitees still around.  The Phillies haven't had very many surprising roster moves lately, but this one came as a bit of a surprise.  Scott Kingery (inf-of), JoJo Romero (lhp) and Rafael Marchan (c) were all optioned to minor league camp.  The Kingery move makes sense, as he's struggled mightily for over a year now.  This will allow him to get some regular at-bats and hopefully figure out what's going on.  The Romero move surprised me.  He's been a reliable and consistent reliever since last year's shortened season and his demotion leaves Jose Alvarado as the only lefty in the bullpen to start the season.

In additional moves, Rodolfo Duran (c) and Travis Jankowski (of) were reassigned to minor league camp and Christian Bethancourt (c) was released.

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