Game 115 - Phils Shutout Again; Acquire Bour from Fish

Padres 2, Phillies 0
Game 115 - Late Friday Night, August 10th in San Diego
Record - 64-51, Tied for 1st place, 5 1/2 games ahead of the Nationals

Another Post-Vacation Catch-Up, Part 6 of 7

One Sentence Summary:  The Phillies couldn't figure out Padres starting pitcher Jacob Nix, making his Major League debut, as the offense was shut out for the second game in a row.

What It Means:  The loss dropped the team back into a tie for first with the Braves.

What Happened:  Nix pitched six scoreless innings, bettering Zach Eflin who allowed two runs in his six innings of work.  The Phillies offense produced 8 singles and went 1 for 9 with runners in scoring position.

Featured Cards/Transactions:  In a somewhat unexpected move, the Phillies acquired first baseman Justin Bour (and cash) from the Miami Marlins for minor-league pitcher McKenzie Mills.  Bour, who had been hitting .227 with 19 home runs, is expected to serve as a left-handed bat off the bench during the stretch run.  His baseball cards can be found throughout just about every major 2018 Topps and Panini release.  To make room for Bour on the 40-man roster, pitcher Jake Thompson was designated for assignment.  Hopefully, Thompson clears waivers and ends up back with the IronPigs.

2018 Choice Phillies Top 30
Prosepcts #22

Mills came to the Phillies last July in the deal that sent Howie Kendrick to the Nationals.  He's in the Top 30 Prospects set released by the Reading Fightin Phils this year as card #22.

Finally, the Phillies sent Enyel De Los Santos back down to Lehigh Valley and activated J.P. Crawford from the disabled list.

Arrived During the 2018 Season
Trevor Plouffe (4/23/18) - Signed as a minor league free agent, formerly with the Texas Rangers organization.
Asdrubal Cabrera (7/27/18) - Acquired from the New York Mets for Franklyn Kilome.
Wilson Ramos (7/31/18) - Acquired from the Tampa Bay Rays for a player to be named later or cash.
Aaron Loup (7/31/18) - Acquired from the Toronto Blue Jays for Jacob Waguespack.
Justin Bour (8/10/18) - Acquired with cash from the Miami Marlins for McKenzie Mills.

Departed During the 2018 Season
Drew Hutchison (6/5/18) - Designated for assignment and elected free agency.
Hoby Milner (7/15/18) - Sold to the Tampa Bay Rays.
Zac Curtis (7/31/18) - Designated for assingnment and claimed off waivers by the Texas Rangers, 8/7/18.

Kendrick Shipped to Nationals for Pitching Prospect

2017 Topps Phillies #PHI-16

The trade announcement we were expecting following Friday night's game was that Jeremy Hellickson had been dealt to a contender.  We'd have to wait for that announcement, as the Phillies first announced they had traded Howie Kendrick (and cash) to the Nationals for Class A left-handed pitcher McKenzie Mills and international signing bonus money.

In his half a season with the Phillies, Kendrick was one of their more reliable hitters although he battled several nagging injuries.  In 39 games, Kendrick hit .340 with 2 home runs and 16 RBIs, receiving 24 starts in left field and 10 starts at second base.  His Phillies baseball card legacy (for now) is limited to the team-issued photo card, and cards in the Topps Heritage and Topps Phillies retail team set.  He also shared a Topps Now card with the also departed Michael Saunders.

Coming to the Phillies is 21-year-old McKenzie Mills, an All-Star this year with the Class A Hagerstown Suns.  He's 12-2 with a 3.01 ERA over 18 starts, with an impressive 118 strikeouts to just 22 walks.  He had just been promoted to the High A Potomac Nationals, which makes it likely he'll join Clearwater's roster.  It appears as if the only baseball card appearances to date for Mills have been within Nationals' minor league team sets.

Howie Kendrick Complete Chachi Checklist
2017 Chachi New Additions #2
2017 Chachi #2
2017 Chachi Phillies Phestival #16
2017 Chachi Photo Night #21

Departed During the 2017 Season

• Tyler Goeddel - of (4/5/17) - Claimed off waivers by the Cincinnati Reds.
• Dalier Hinojosa - rhp (5/16/17) - Released.
• Mario Hollands - lhp (5/23/17) - Released.
• Taylor Featherston - inf (6/9/17) - Traded to the Tampa Bay Rays for cash.
• Joely Rodriguez - lhp (6/13/17) - Traded to the Texas Rangers for a player to be named later or cash.
• Jeanmar Gomez - rhp (6/20/17) - Designated for assignment, released on 6/25/17 and signed a minor league contract with the Milwaukee Brewers' organization, 7/15/17.
• Michael Saunders - of (6/20/17) - Designated for assignment, released on 6/25/17 and signed a minor league contract with the Toronto Blue Jays' organization, 6/28/17.
• Pat Neshek - rhp (7/26/17) - Traded to the Colorado Rockies for Jose Gomez, Alejandro Requena and J.D. Hammer.
• Howie Kendrick - lf-2b (7/28/17) - Traded with cash to the Washington Nationals for McKenzie Mills and future considerations.

Arrived During the 2017 Season

• Ty Kelly - inf (4/22/17) - Acquired from the Toronto Blue Jays for cash.
• Casey Fien - rhp (5/9/17) - Purchased from the Seattle Mariners.