Game 162 - Phils Win Final Regular Season Game Behind Nola

2024 Topps Chrome #262

Phillies 6, Nationals 3
Game 162 - Sunday Afternoon, September 29th in Washington
Record - 95-67, 1st Place, 6 games ahead of the Braves and Mets

One Sentence Summary:  The Phillies held on to win the final game of the season, riding a four-run fourth inning to a 6-3 victory over the Nationals.

What It Means:  And now they wait to see who they'll face off against in the NLDS, beginning on Saturday.  In the Wild Card Series, the Brewers will face either the Mets or Diamondbacks, and one of those three teams will come to Philadelphia for Game 1 of the NLDS in a little less than a week.  The Braves and Mets have a double header scheduled tomorrow to finalize the postseason picture.

What Happened:  The Phillies scored two quick runs in the first on RBI ground outs from Bryson Stott and Alec Bohm.  Bohm would finish the regular season with 97 RBIs.  In the top of the fifth, Kody Clemens walked, Edmundo Sosa and Garrett Stubbs singled to load the bases.  Kyle Schwarber delivered a two-run single to left to give the Phillies a 4-1 lead.  Weston Wilson would add a two-run double, putting the Phillies up, 6-1.  

It got dicey in the ninth, with Jose Ruiz on the mound.  Ruiz loaded the bases with no one out, struck out two batters and then got Juan Yepez to fly out to the warning track as Clemens made a leaping catch to save the game and end the season.

Also of note, Nick Castellanos played in all 162 games this season, the oldest Phillies player to do that since Pete Rose in 1982.

Featured Card:  Nola finished the season with a 14-8 record and just short of 200 innings, with 199 1/3 innings pitched for the year.  He struck out seven on the day and 197 for the season.

Transaction:  Buddy Kennedy (inf) was recalled and Tyler Gilbert (lhp) was optioned to the minor league complex in Clearwater.

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Game 161 - Phils Can't Deliver Wheeler's 17th Win

2024 Topps Now Orange #622

Nationals 6, Phillies 3
Game 161 - Saturday Afternoon, September 28th in Washington
Record - 94-67, 1st Place, 5 games ahead of the Braves

One Sentence Summary:  The Phillies battled back, but a rare bad outing from reliever Jeff Hoffman gave the Nationals a 6-3 win in the penultimate game of the 2024 regular season.

What It Means:  The Phillies would play one more game on Sunday before getting the week off as four teams battle in the Wild Card Series.

What Happened:  Zack Wheeler was hoping for his 17th win of the season, and he departed after 6 1/3 innings with the Nationals holding a 2-0 lead.  Wheeler struck out 11, and allowed a two-run home run to James Wood in the sixth.  In the top of the eighth, Edmundo Sosa was hit by a pitch and with two outs, Trea Turner launched his 21st home run of the year to left-center field, tying the game.  

The Nationals would quickly take back the lead in the bottom of the eighth with Hoffman on the mound.  Wood tripled, Keibert Ruiz singled him home, Dylan Crews singled and Joey Gallo hit a three-run home run to give the Nationals a 6-2 lead.  The Phillies would score once more in the ninth, but it wouldn't be enough.

Featured Card:  Here's a cool card that recently arrived as a "bonus" from Topps within an order of Topps Now cards.  Numbered to 5, it celebrates Wheeler's 100th victory back on August 31st.

Field Report:  We were home for the start of this game following two fall ball tournament games for Doug's travel baseball team.  The Phillies didn't do much at the plate, but Doug connected for a home run and a double off the fence, with three hits on the day.  His team won both games.  His agent and videographer (his mother) provided the video embedded below, as I watched on proudly from the dugout.

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Game 160 - Suarez's Struggles Continue in D.C.

2024 Topps Living #743

Nationals 9, Phillies 1
Game 160 - Friday Night, September 27th in Philadelphia
Record - 94-66, 1st Place, 6 games ahead of the Braves and Mets

One Sentence Summary:  Ranger Suarez continued a troublesome pattern of ineffectiveness and the Phillies' offense was quieted by Nationals' pitching in this 9-1 loss.

What It Means:  I meant to enjoy these final three regular season games, as they would be the last stress-free games for me (and most Phillies fans) until spring training starts up in February.  The Phillies had other plans, turning in a pair of clunkers and one final win on Sunday.

What Happened:  Suarez lasted two innings, allowing six runs on seven hits, and finishing the season with a 12-8 record.  Five relievers did their best to hold the Nationals at bay, but the Phillies' bats were quieted by starter Trevor Williams and four relievers.  Austin Hays hit a solo home run in the eighth inning.  Other than that, the Phillies had three singles.

Featured Card:  Here's one of the best Suarez cards in my collection, his card from the 2024 version of the Topps Living set.  Suarez likely won't pitch again until Game 4 of the NLDS (if needed) and hopefully by then he can figure out what's been ailing him.

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Game 159 - Win Gives Phils First-Round Bye in Playoffs

2022 Topps Now #1078

Phillies 9, Cubs 6
Game 159 - Wednesday Night, September 25th in Philadelphia
Record - 94-65, 1st Place, 6 games ahead of the Mets

One Sentence Summary:  An offensive outburst coupled with a Brewers loss gave the Phillies a first-round playoff bye and a series win over the Cubs.

What It Means:  The Phillies will now skip the Wild Card round of the playoffs and await their opponent in the NLDS, beginning on October 5th.  As of this writing (on Friday night), their opponent could be either the Brewers or Diamondbacks.

What Happened:  Trea Turner, Nick Castellanos and Kody Clemens all homered for the Phillies.  Brandon Marsh had three RBIs on a bases-clearing double in the fifth, blowing the game open.  Castellanos and Stott both had three hits.  Cristopher Sanchez didn't make it out of the fifth inning, allowing four runs (three earned) on five hits, and Jose Ruiz picked up the win in relief.

Featured Card:  Marsh had the big hit in this game, and this card from the 2022 Topps Now set celebrates his big hit in the NLDS against the Braves.  Marsh hit a three-run home run to help the Phillies shock the Braves in that NLDS, sending them to the NLCS to face off against the Padres.

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Game 158 - Hangover Game Goes Poorly for Phils

2020 Chachi Departures #9

Cubs 10, Phillies 4
Game 158 - Tuesday Night, September 24th in Philadelphia
Record - 93-65, 1st Place, 5 1/2 games ahead of the Mets

One Sentence Summary:  A day after celebrating their division-clinching win, the Phillies couldn't overcome the Cubs in this 10-4 loss.

What It Means:  One more win will give the Phillies a first-round bye in the playoffs and they would look to rebound on Wednesday night.

What Happened:  A bullpen game by design, Tanner Banks (three runs), Taijuan Walker (three more runs) and Kolby Allard (four runs) were hit hard and often.  Only Tyler Gilbert escaped unscathed, pithing two shutout innings of relief at the end of the game.  Bryce Harper (30) and Kyle Schwarber (38) both homered in the game.

Featured Card:  Former Phillie Drew Smyly got the win in relief for the Cubs.  Smyly made 12 starts for the Phillies in 2019, going 3-2 with a 4.45 ERA.  He has no official baseball cards marking his time with the club, but he appeared on a few Chachi cards, including the card featured here.

Transaction:  Austin Hays (of) was activated from the injured list and Cal Stevenson (of) was optioned to the complex in Clearwater.

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Phillies at Nationals - September 27th to September 29th

1984 Topps #300

1984 Topps Traded #103T

Friday 6:45, Saturday 4:05, Sunday 3:05
Nationals Park - Washington, DC

At the Ballpark:  On Saturday, the first 20,000 fans will receive a National hockey jersey.  Oddly enough, the Nationals don't appear to have anything special planned for the final regular-season game on Sunday.

Philadelphia Phillies 94-65
1st Place in the N.L. East, 6 games ahead of the Mets

Phillies Probables
Ranger Suarez (12-7, 3.15)
Zack Wheeler (16-7, 2.56)
Aaron Nola (13-8, 3.52)

Phillies Leaders
Average:  Trea Turner - .296
Runs:  Kyle Schwarber - 108
Home Runs:  Kyle Schwarber - 38
RBIs:  Kyle Schwarber - 102
Stolen Bases:  Bryson Stott - 32

Wins:  Zack Wheeler - 16
ERA:  Zack Wheeler - 2.56
Strikeouts:  Zack Wheeler - 213
Saves:  Jose Alvarado - 13

Washington Nationals 69-90
4th Place in the N.L. East, 25 games behind the Phillies

Nationals Probables
Trevor Williams (5-1, 2.19)
MacKenzie Gore (10-12, 4.04)
Jake Irvin (10-13, 4.22)

Nationals Leaders
Average:  Luis Garcia - .278
Runs:  CJ Abrams - 79
Home Runs:  CJ Abrams - 20
RBIs:  Luis Garcia - 68
Stolen Bases:  Jacob Young - 32

Wins:  MacKenzie Gore and Jake Irvin - 10
ERA:  MacKenzie Gore - 4.04
Strikeouts:  MacKenzie Gore - 172
Saves:  Kyle Finnegan - 38

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Game 157 - PHILS CLINCH N.L. EAST PENNANT

Phillies 6, Cubs 2
Game 157 - Monday Night, September 23rd in Philadelphia
Record - 93-64, 1st Place, 5 1/2 games ahead of the Mets

One Sentence Summary:  For the first time since 2011, the Phillies have clinched the National League East pennant, following this 6-2 win over the Cubs.

2007 Chachi #58

What It Means:  The Magic Number to clinch a first-round bye in the playoffs is down to two.  If the Phillies can finish with a better record than the Dodgers or Brewers, they'll face off against either the Brewers or Diamondbacks in the NLDS, bypassing the three-game Wild Card Series.

What Happened:  Aaron Nola delivered a much-needed steady performance, earning his 13th win and allowing a pair of runs on seven hits.  He didn't allow a home run and struck out seven.  The back-end of the bullpen trio of Matt Strahm, Jeff Hoffman and Cesar Estevez closed out the clincher.  The Phillies took a 2-0 lead in the second following J.T. Realmuto's two-run home run, his 14th of the season.  Kyle Schwarber homered in the third, recording his 100th RBI.  Trea Turner then connected for his 250th career double and came home on a Nick Castellanos single to left.  The offense would score two more insurance runs late, but the solid bullpen had all the run support they needed.

Estevez made it interesting in the ninth after Brandon Marsh dropped a fly ball in left, but he got Michael Busch to fly out to Castellanos to end the game.

Featured Card:  I made sure to take all this in, as the last time I watched the Phillies clinch a division was a relative lifetime ago.  The newest division clinching card is at the top of this post, with the prior division clinching cards from the Chachi set archives also displayed.

2008 Chachi #54

2009 Chachi #58

2010 Chachi #52

2011 Chachi #55

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2024 Chachi #65 Kyle Schwarber HL / 2024 Chachi #67 NLDS Game 1

Game 156 - Wheeler's Outing Wasted as Bats Go Quiet

2024 Choice Lehigh Valley
IronPigs #3

Mets 2, Phillies 1
Game 156 - Sunday Night, September 22nd in Flushing
Record - 92-64, 1st Place, 5 games ahead of the Mets

One Sentence Summary:  A lack of run support wasted a fine effort from Zack Wheeler in this 2-1 defeat to the Mets.

What It Means:  The Phillies dropped three out of four to the Mets, and they'll come home to face the Cubs for the final three regular season games at Citizens Bank Park.

What Happened:  Wheeler was looking for his 17th win, and would have had it if the Phillies could have delivered a few timely hits.  With the score tied 1-1, Brandon Nimmo homered to lead off the sixth and break the tie.  The Phillies had jumped to a 1-0 lead in the first when Trea Turner singled, went to second on a wild pitch and came home on an Alec Bohm single to right.  The offense would go 0 for 8 over the balance of the game with runners in scoring position.  Edwin Diaz closed it out for the Mets with a six-out save.

Featured Card:  Darick Hall, in what could be his final game in the Phillies' organization, hit a game-winning grand slam for the IronPigs on Sunday afternoon.  Hall is the all-time home run leader for the IronPigs team, and he's been their most popular player over the past four seasons.

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Game 155 - Kerkering's Rare Stumble Costs Phils

2024 Topps #520

Mets 6, Phillies 3
Game 155 - Saturday Afternoon, September 21st in Flushing
Record - 92-63, 1st Place, 6 games ahead of the Mets

One Sentence Summary:  The Phillies couldn't seal the division pennant on Saturday, losing to the Mets, 6-3, as Orion Kerkering had a rare rough outing from the bullpen.

What It Means:  I'm composing these posts after a long weekend of baseball tournaments and college visits, and sadly the Phillies were unable to celebrate a pennant win at Citi Field.

What Happened:  Ranger Suarez is still searching for his early season form.  The All-Star went five innings, allowing a a pair of home runs, and departing with the score tied, 2-2.  Kyle Schwarber launched his record-setting 15th lead-off home run to start the game and Nick Castellanos added a solo home run in the fifth.  In the seventh, Kerkering issued a lead-off walk, hit a batter and gave up a tie-breaking RBI-single to Brandon Nimmo.  A two-run double by Francisco Alvarez would plate two more runs, and the Phillies' offense couldn't make up the difference before time ran out.

Featured Card:  Kerkering had been so good for the Phillies, and I realize it's a shame I usually only feature cards of relievers when they do something bad.  In his prior 20 games and 20 innings pitched, Kerkering had a 1.35 ERA with five walks and 26 strikeouts.

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Game 154 - Phils Clinch Playoff Spot!

2024 Topps Now #429

Phillies 12, Mets 2
Game 154 - Friday Night, September 20th in Flushing
Record - 92-62, 1st Place, 7 games ahead of the Mets

One Sentence Summary:  Led by Alec Bohm's 4 for 5 night, the Phillies offense pounded out 17 hits in this 12-2 win over the division rival Mets.

What It Means:  The Phillies are back in the playoffs for the third year in a row, and they'll look to clinch the division title over the next few games.

What Happened:  Cristopher Sanchez was the beneficiary of the run support, pitching five innings and allowing two runs on three hits while striking out seven.  Jeff Hoffman was on the mound in the ninth to secure the big win with a pair of strikeouts.  The Phillies' offense scored 12 unanswered runs after the Mets jumped to a quick 2-0 lead in the first inning.  Nick Castellanos tied the score with an RBI double in the third.  Bohm made it a comfortable lead with a three-run home run in the fourth, making it 8-2, Phillies.  J.T. Realmuto, swinging a hot bat, would put an exclamation mark on the night with a two-run home run in the eighth.

Featured Card:  Bohm is having a solid season, and he was batting .290 with 15 home runs and 94 RBIs following this game.  Here's his Topps Now card issued after his participation in the Home Run Derby this summer before the All-Star Game.

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Cubs at Phillies - September 23rd to September 25th

1984 Topps #757

1984 Topps #70

Monday and Tuesday 6:40, Wednesday 6:05
Citizens Bank Park - Philadelphia, PA

At the Ballpark:  The Phillies Magic Number to clinch the National League East pennant is one.  Wednesday night is Fan Appreciation Night, with all fans in attendance receiving a 2025 schedule magnet.

Chicago Cubs 80-76
2nd Place in the N.L. Central, 9 games behind the Brewers

Cubs Probables
Nate Pearson (2-1, 3.13)
Justin Steele (5-5, 3.03)
Javier Assad (7-5, 3.34)

Cubs Leaders
Average:  Seiya Suzuki - .279
Runs:  Ian Happ - 88
Home Runs:  Ian Happ - 25
RBIs:  Ian Happ - 85
Stolen Bases:  Nico Hoerner - 30

Wins:  Shota Imanaga - 15
ERA:  Shota Imanaga - 2.91
Strikeouts:  Shota Imanaga - 174
Saves:  Hector Neris - 17

Philadelphia Phillies 92-64
1st Place in the N.L. East, 5 games ahead of the Mets

Phillies Probables
Aaron Nola (12-8, 3.54)
TBD
Cristopher Sanchez (11-9, 3.25)

Phillies Leaders
Average:  Trea Turner - .298
Runs:  Kyle Schwarber - 106
Home Runs:  Kyle Schwarber - 36
RBIs:  Kyle Schwarber - 99
Stolen Bases:  Bryson Stott - 31

Wins:  Zack Wheeler - 16
ERA:  Zack Wheeler - 2.56
Strikeouts:  Zack Wheeler - 213
Saves:  Jose Alvarado - 13

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Game 153 - Mets Mash Taijuan

2008 Topps #572

Mets 10, Phillies 6
Game 153 - Thursday Night, September 19th in Flushing
Record - 91-62, 1st Place, 6 games ahead of the Mets

One Sentence Summary:  Taijuan Walker suffered though his latest poor outing, and the Phillies couldn't overcome an early deficit in this 10-6 loss.

What It Means:  The Phillies will have to wait another day to clinch a postseason berth, and hopefully they get back on track tonight with Christopher Sanchez on the mound.

What Happened:  Walker's final line was rough - 3 1/3 innings pitched, 6 hits, 8 runs, 3 walks, a hit batter and a 4 home runs.  His ERA went up to 6.91, putting him with some inauspicious company in terms of all-time worst seasons from a Phillies' starting pitcher.  The Phillies' offense tried to battle back, but the hole dug by Walker was too large to climb out of.  Trea Turner hit a two-run home run in the third and Bryce Harper had a two-run double in the seventh.

Featured Card:  Adam Eaton's name comes up a lot when talking about rough outings from a fifth starter in the midst of a Phillies pennant race.  Eaton was 10-10 with a 6.29 ERA in 30 starts for the 2007 Phillies, and 4-8 with a 5.80 ERA in 21 games for the 2008 Phillies.

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Phillies at Mets - September 19th to September 22nd

1984 Topps Traded #105T

2024 Chachi Series Preview #9

Thursday 7:15, Friday 7:10, Saturday 4:10 and Sunday 7:15
Citi Field - Flushing, NY

At the Ballpark:  On Saturday, all fans will receive a Mets fan appreciation beanie.

Philadelphia Phillies 91-61
1st Place in the N.L. East, 7 games ahead of the Mets

Phillies Probables
Taijuan Walker (3-6, 6.29)
Cristopher Sanchez (10-9, 3.24)
Ranger Suarez (12-7, 3.13)
Zack Wheeler (16-6, 2.56)

Phillies Leaders
Average:  Trea Turner - .299
Runs:  Kyle Schwarber - 102
Home Runs:  Kyle Schwarber - 35
RBIs:  Kyle Schwarber - 97
Stolen Bases:  Bryson Stott - 29

Wins:  Zack Wheeler - 16
ERA:  Zack Wheeler - 2.56
Strikeouts:  Zack Wheeler - 205
Saves:  Jose Alvarado - 13

New York Mets 84-68
2nd Place in the N.L. East, 7 games behind the Phillies

Mets Probables
Luis Severino (10-6, 3.77)
David Peterson (9-2, 2.85)
Sean Manaea (11-5, 3.26)
Tylor Megill (4-5, 4.08)

Mets Leaders
Average:  Francisco Lindor - .271
Runs:  Francisco Lindor - 103
Home Runs:  Pete Alonso - 33
RBIs:  Pete Alonso - 86
Stolen Bases:  Francisco Lindor - 27

Wins:  Sean Manaea - 11
ERA:  Sean Manaea - 3.26

Strikeouts:  Sean Manaea - 177
Saves:  Edwin Diaz - 18

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Game 152 - Hoskins' Homer Off Nola Sinks Phils

2024 Topps #357

Brewers 2, Phillies 1
Game 152 - Wednesday Night, September 18th in Philadelphia
Record - 91-61, 1st Place, 7 games ahead of the Mets

One Sentence Summary:  Rhys Hoskins homered off Aaron Nola in the fifth inning, giving the Brewers the slight edge needed to pull off a victory.

What It Means:  The Brewers had clinched the Central division pennant prior to the start of the game when the Cubs lost.  The Phillies will head to New York next for a crucial four-game series with the Mets.  Their Magic Number to clinch a playoff spot is one and the number to win the division is five.

What Happened:  Nola bounced back from a few recent rough starts, throwing seven innings and allowing three hits while striking out nine.  Unfortunately, one of those hits was a home run by Hoskins, which gave the Brewers a 2-1 lead.  Alec Bohm hit a solo home run in the second inning for the Phillies' only run of the game.

Featured Card:  There's a chance the Phillies and Brewers could match up again in the postseason, and the person I fear who would do the most damage against the Phillies is Hoskins.  This is a photoshopped Topps card, with Hoskins originally wearing a Phillies uniform and the #17 he wore while in Philadelphia.  Hoskins wears #12 with the Brewers.

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Game 151 - Wheeler Turns in Cy Young Performance in Win

2024 Topps Chrome #25

Phillies 5, Brewers 1
Game 151 - Tuesday Night, September 17th in Milwaukee
Record - 91-60, 1st Place, 8 games ahead of the Mets

One Sentence Summary:  Zack Wheeler showed why he's a top candidate for the Cy Young Award in this 5-1 win over the Brewers.

What It Means:  The Phillies would go for the series win on Wednesday night with Aaron Nola on the mound.

What Happened:  Wheeler improved to 16-6 with seven dominating innings, allowing four hits and a run while striking out six.  Matt Strahm and Jeff Hoffman closed it out.  Nick Castellanos hit a solo home run in the second, and Bryce Harper added a two-run home run in the sixth to give the Phillies a 3-1 lead.  J.T. Realmuto and Trea Turner would add a few runs with RBI-singles in the late innings.

Featured Card:  Here's Wheeler's card from the recently released Topps Chrome set.

Transaction:  Edmundo Sosa (inf) was activated from the injured list and Buddy Kennedy (inf) was optioned back down to Lehigh Valley.  Aramis Garcia (c) cleared waivers and was outrighted to the IronPigs.

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Game 150 - Suarez, Offense Fall to Brew Crew

2024 Topps Now #257

Brewers 6, Phillies 2
Game 150 - Monday Night, September 16th in Milwaukee
Record - 90-60, 1st Place, 8 games ahead of the Mets

One Sentence Summary:  Ranger Suarez's first half form continued to elude him, as the Brewers defeated the Phillies, 6-2 in the series opener.

What It Means:  The Phillies had plenty of hits, but very few clutch hits.  The offense collected 11 hits overall, but was 1 for 9 with runners in scoring position, while grounding into two double plays.

What Happened:  Suarez dropped to 12-7.  He pitched five innings, allowing three runs on four hits.  Jose Alvarado and Tanner Banks couldn't keep the Brewers off the board, allowing three more runs over their combined two innings of work.  Brandon Marsh hit a solo home run in the fifth, and Kyle Schwarber had an RBI-single in the seventh.

Featured Card:  Rhys Hoskins was 1 for 3 in this game to raise his season average to .208.  I'll never pass up an opportunity to feature another Hoskins card.  Here's his Topps Now card from early June when he made his return to Philly.

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Phillies at Brewers - September 16th to September 18th

2024 Chachi 1984 Topps Missing Links #6

1984 Topps Traded #97T

Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday 7:40
American Family Field - Milwaukee, WI

At the Ballpark:  There are a bunch of theme nights and concession/merchandise deals for this series, but no fan-wide giveaways.

Philadelphia Phillies 90-59
1st Place in the N.L. East, 8 1/2 games ahead of the Braves

Phillies Probables
Ranger Suarez (12-6, 3.05)
Zack Wheeler (15-6, 2.60)
Aaron Nola (12-8, 3.62)

Phillies Leaders
Average:  Trea Turner - .294
Runs:  Kyle Schwarber - 101
Home Runs:  Kyle Schwarber - 35
RBIs:  Kyle Schwarber - 95
Stolen Bases:  Bryson Stott - 29

Wins:  Zack Wheeler - 15
ERA:  Zack Wheeler - 2.60
Strikeouts:  Zack Wheeler - 199
Saves:  Jose Alvarado - 13

Milwaukee Brewers 86-62
1st Place in the N.L. Central, 10 1/2 games ahead of the Cubs

Brewers Probables
Aaron Civale (4-2, 3.84)
Colin Rea (12-5, 4.21)
Freddy Peralta (11-8, 3.75)

Brewers Leaders
Average:  William Contreras - .280
Runs:  William Contreras - 94
Home Runs:  Willy Adames - 32
RBIs:  Willy Adames - 109
Stolen Bases:  Brice Turang - 43

Wins:  Colin Rea - 12
ERA:  Freddy Peralta - 3.75
Strikeouts:  Freddy Peralta - 184
Saves:  Trevor Megill - 20

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Game 149 - Sanchez Deals, while Kennedy and Realmuto Deliver Huge Hits

2023 Topps Chrome Platinum
Anniversary #44

Phillies 2, Mets 1
Game 149 - Sunday Afternoon, September 15th in Philadelphia
Record - 90-59, 1st Place, 8 games ahead of the Braves

One Sentence Summary:  Cristopher Sanchez threw another gem and J.T. Realmuto walked it off with a clutch single up the middle, as the Phillies won a hug game over the Mets, 2-1.

What It Means:  The Phillies are the first team in the majors with 90 wins this season, and their Magic Number to clinch the pennant dropped to six.  They'll head to Milwaukee next for a three-game series against the Central division-leading Brewers.

What Happened:  Sanchez was fantastic, allowing a solo home run to Tyrone Taylor as his only blemish on the day.  He allowed six hits overall while striking out seven.  Orion Kerkering and Jose Ruiz pitched the final two scoreless innings.  Weston Wilson led off the bottom of the eighth with a double, and Buddy Kennedy doubled him home to tie the game.  In the bottom of the ninth, with Mets' closer Edwin Diaz on the mound, Nick Castellanos singled to right, stole second base and came home to score the winning run on Realmuto's big hit.

Featured Card:  Realmuto's hit was obviously the bigger hit here, but Kennedy's RBI-double tied the game and set up the walk-off heroics.  Kennedy will hopefully receive a Phillies card or two in 2025, and for now, I'll settle for showing his card from the 2023 Topps Chrome Platinum Anniversary set, not released until this past May.

Transaction:  Alec Bohm (3b) was activated from the injured list and Aramis Garcia (c) was designated for assignment.

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Game 148 - Harper, Stevenson Lead Phils to Comeback Win Over Mets

2024 Topps Chrome
1989 Topps Baseball #89CB-10

Phillies 6, Mets 4
Game 148 - Saturday Afternoon, September 14th in Philadelphia
Record - 89-59, 1st Place, 8 games ahead of the Braves and Mets

One Sentence Summary:  Bryce Harper homered twice and Cal Stevenson made a leaping grab in the outfield while driving in a pair of runs at the plate in this 6-4 win over the Mets.

What It Means:  The win decreased the team's Magic Number to clinch the National League East pennant to seven games.

What Happened:  Kolby Allard continued the trend of troubling starts by the team's fifth starters.  The Mets were up 4-0 quickly, with Allard departing after three innings and turning it over to Taijuan Walker, who threw three scoreless innings.  The Phillies started chipping away when Harper hit his first home run, a solo shot, in the fourth.  He homered again in the sixth with Trea Turner on board to make it 4-3, Mets.  

In the seventh, Cal Stevenson laced a double to right, scoring two runs, and giving the Phillies the lead.  Stevenson would then bring a J.D. Martinez fly ball back into the ballpark in the top of the eighth, leaping over the center field wall to make the catch.  J.T. Realmuto added an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth with a double.

Featured Card:  Stevenson came up big, but Harper's two blasts gave the home crowd something to cheer about and woke up the team.  This is one of the newest Harper cards in my collection from the Topps Chrome release.

Transaction:  Allard (lhp) was recalled from Lehigh Valley and Max Lazar (rhp) was optioned back down.

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Game 147 - Nola's Very Bad 5th Inning Leads to Loss

1979 Topps #566

Mets 11, Phillies 3
Game 147 - Friday Night, September 13th in Philadelphia
Record - 88-59, 1st Place, 7 games ahead of the Mets

One Sentence Summary:  Two, three-run home runs in the sixth inning sunk Aaron Nola and the Phillies in this 11-3 drubbing from the second place Mets.

What It Means:  The Phillies need to win these crucial games, and hopefully Nola can figure out what went wrong.

What Happened:  The offense wasn't much help either, with the bats going quiet against Mets' pitching until the ninth inning.  Jose Quintana pitched seven shutout innings, allowing three hits and striking out four.  Brandon Marsh hit a three-run home run in the ninth following walks to Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper.  Nola went 4 1/3 innings, allowing six runs on six hits, including two big home runs to Francisco Alvarez and Brandon Nimmo in the nightmare sixth inning.

Featured Card:  Former Mets and Phillies pitcher Nino Espinosa says, "Let's flush this one and look ahead to the next game."

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Game 146 - Wheeler and Wilson Lead Phils to Win, Series Sweep

2024 Topps #658

Phillies 3, Rays 2
Game 146 - Wednesday Night, September 11th in Philadelphia
Record - 88-58, 1st Place, 8 games ahead of the Mets

One Sentence Summary:  Zack Wheeler won his 15th game and Weston Wilson delivered a tie-breaking RBI single in the sixth as the Phillies beat the Rays, 3-2, completing the three-game series sweep.

What It Means:  The Mets come to town next for a big three-game series beginning on Friday night.

What Happened:  Wheeler went six strong innings, allowing a pair of runs on four hits, while striking out nine.  Matt Strahm, a revitalized Jose Alvarado and Carlos Estevez took it from there, with Estevez recording his fifth save with the Phillies.  Nick Castellanos got some revenge, after being hit in Tuesday night's game, with a two-run home in the first.  With the score tied 2-2, Wilson singled home Castellanos with the go-ahed and eventual winning run.

Featured Card:  Here's Wilson's rookie card from Topps Series Two.

Transaction:  Nick Nelson (rhp) cleared waivers and was outrighted to the IronPigs.

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Mets at Phillies - September 13th to September 15th

1984 Topps Traded #57T

1984 Topps #229

Friday 6:40, Saturday 4:05, Sunday 1:35
Citizens Bank Park - Philadelphia, PA

At the Ballpark:  The Phillies will wear their City Connect jerseys for the final time in the 2024 regular season tonight.  On Sunday, all kids will receive a Phanatic lunch bag.

New York Mets 80-66
2nd Place in the N.L. East, 8 games behind the Phillies

Mets Probables
Jose Quintana (8-9, 4.09)
Luis Severino (10-6, 3.74)
David Peterson (9-2, 2.98)

Mets Leaders
Average:  Francisco Lindor - .268
Runs:  Francisco Lindor - 102
Home Runs:  Pete Alonso and Francisco Lindor - 31
RBIs:  Francisco Lindor - 85
Stolen Bases:  Francisco Lindor - 27

Wins:  Sean Manaea - 11
ERA:  Sean Manaea - 3.35

Strikeouts:  Sean Manaea - 171
Saves:  Edwin Diaz - 18

Philadelphia Phillies 88-58
1st Place in the N.L. East, 8 games ahead of the Mets

Phillies Probables
Aaron Nola (12-7, 3.41)
Kolby Allard (2-0, 3.50)
Cristopher Sanchez (10-9, 3.33)

Phillies Leaders
Average:  Trea Turner - .298
Runs:  Kyle Schwarber - 100
Home Runs:  Kyle Schwarber - 35
RBIs:  Kyle Schwarber - 95
Stolen Bases:  Bryson Stott - 29

Wins:  Zack Wheeler - 15
ERA:  Zack Wheeler - 2.60
Strikeouts:  Zack Wheeler - 199
Saves:  Jose Alvarado - 13

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Game 145 - Schwarber Sets Record, Tempers Flare, Phils Prevail

2023 Topps Heritage #508

Phillies 9, Rays 4
Game 145 - Tuesday Night, September 10th in Philadelphia
Record - 87-58, 1st Place, 8 games ahead of the Braves and Mets

One Sentence Summary:  Kyle Schwarber set a home run record and the Phillies plated five runs in the eighth inning, eventually winning the game, 9-4.

What It Means:  This game had a little bit of everything, including a good, old-fashioned bench clearing in the eighth.

What Happened:  Schwarber started the bottom of the first with this 14th lead-off home run of the season, breaking the single-season record set in 2003 by the Nationals' Alfonso Soriano.  The Rays kept battling, tying the game at 2-2 in the top of the third before Trea Turner hit a two-run home run in the bottom of the third to make it 4-2, Phillies.  The Rays would tie it again in the sixth, chasing the struggling Ranger Suarez from the game after 5 1/3 innings.

2024 Chachi #65

In the eighth, Brandon Marsh drew a walk and Kody Clemens doubled him to third, with the Rays then bringing in Edwin Uceta from the bullpen.  Pinch-hitter Cal Stevenson laced a two-run double to right, scoring both runners and giving the Phillies a 6-4 lead.  Buddy Kennedy then collected his first hit with the Phillies, driving home Clemens, and Turner followed that with his second two-run home run of the game.  With Uceta still on the mound, Bryce Harper doubled and Uceta then drilled Nick Castellanos in the back, causing both benches and bullpens to empty.  Uceta was ejected and would later receive a three-game suspension.

Featured Cards:  I went with a few cards for this game, with Turner getting the shaft even though he was 3 for 5 with two home runs.  Stevenson received a Phillies card last year in the Topps Heritage High Number release, even though he had yet to play a game with the team.  And I wanted to pay tribute to Schwarber's record breaking home run with a special highlight card.

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2024 Chachi #64 Seth Johnson / 2024 Chachi #66 Phils Clinch East HL

Game 144 - Clemens Walks It Off!

Phillies 2, Rays 1
Game 144 - Monday Night, September 9th in Philadelphia
Record - 86-58, 1st Place, 7 games ahead of the Mets

One Sentence Summary:  After the Rays tied the game in the top of the ninth, Kody Clemens came through in the bottom of the ninth with a walk-off single to right to give the Phillies a 2-1 win.

What It Means:  The Phillies are riding some great vibes right now, and hopefully it continues for the next month and a half.

What Happened:  Cristopher Sanchez and the Rays' bullpen were locked in a pitchers' duel, with the first run of the game coming in the sixth when Kyle Schwarber hit his 34th home run of the season.  Orion Kerkering and Jeff Hoffman kept the Rays from scoring in the seventh and eighth, but Carlos Estevez allowed a lead-off home run to pinch-hitter Brandon Lowe in the bottom of the ninth.  Center fielder Johan Rojas almost made a spectacular catch of the ball, but it bounced out of his glove and over the fence.

In the bottom of the ninth, Bryce Harper was on first with two outs when Bryson Stott singled him over to second.  Pinch-hitter (and Millville's own) Buddy Kennedy drew a huge six-pitch walk to load the bases, and Clemens came through with his game-winning hit.

Featured Card:  Our youngest son Ben had met Clemens back in July at a poorly organized autograph signing at the Deptford Mall that also featured John Kruk and Jose Alvarado.  All autograph seekers were made to wait in one multi-hours long line whether they had tickets for Clemens, Alvarado or Kruk.  Still it was nice to briefly meet Clemens and he was kind enough to pose for a quick picture.

Field Report:  Doug and I were at this game, enjoying the company of several distinguished guests of ALS United Mid-Atlantic in the executive dining room prior to the game.  The annual sponsor's night has been pared down quite a bit, as the Phillies used to have us down on the field prior to the game for a pre-game ceremony.  I have a feeling the change is largely due to the Phillies actually fielding a competitive team in recent years as compared to the pre-pandemic lean years.

Transaction:  Tyler Gilbert (lhp) was recalled from Lehigh Valley, taking the place of Seth Johnson (rhp) who was optioned back down.

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Rays at Phillies - September 9th to September 11th

2024 Chachi Series Preview #8

1984 Topps #252

Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday 6:40
Citizens Bank Park - Philadelphia, PA

At the Ballpark:  There are a bunch of theme nights scheduled for this series for holders of special theme night tickets.  The newest offering appears to be Pickleball Night, which is tonight, and offers fans the chance for an exclusive Phillies Phanatic branded paddle and paddle cover.

Tampa Bay Rays 71-72
4th Place in the A.L. East, 11 games behind the Yankees

Rays Probables
Cole Sulser (0-0, 0.00)
Taj Bradley (6-10, 4.40)
Shane Baz (2-3, 3.27)

Rays Leaders
Average:  Yandy Diaz - .279
Runs:  Jose Caballero - 52
Home Runs:  Jose Siri - 17
RBIs:  Yandy Diaz - 64
Stolen Bases:  Jose Caballero - 39

Wins:  Ryan Peipot - 8
ERA:  N/A
Strikeouts:  Taj Bradley - 131
Saves:  Pete Fairbanks - 23

Philadelphia Phillies 85-58
1st Place in the N.L. East, 7 games ahead of the Braves and Mets

Phillies Probables
Cristopher Sanchez (10-9, 3.45)
Ranger Suarez (12-6, 2.90)
Zack Wheeler (14-6, 2.59)

Phillies Leaders
Average:  Trea Turner - .296
Runs:  Kyle Schwarber - 97
Home Runs:  Kyle Schwarber - 33
RBIs:  Kyle Schwarber - 93
Stolen Bases:  Bryson Stott - 29

Wins:  Zack Wheeler - 14
ERA:  Zack Wheeler - 2.59
Strikeouts:  Zack Wheeler - 190
Saves:  Jose Alvarado - 13

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