Sunday, August 6, 2017

2017 Phillies Team Issue Phillies Phestival #59 Mark Leiter, Jr.

Rockies 8, Phillies 5
Game 108 - Saturday Night, August 5th in Denver
Record - 39-69, 5th place, 25 games behind the Nationals

One Sentence Summary:  Nick Pivetta was hit hard by the Rockies, and a Phillies comeback fell short in this 8-5 loss.

What It Means:  The Phillies are 0-for-August having lost their first five games of the month.  I find myself daydreaming about the offseason, which is a true sign of how bad things are.

What Happened:  Pivetta lasted just 2 2/3 innings, allowing eight runs (six earned) on seven hits.  Daniel Nava and Freddy Galvis both had three-hit nights with Nava contributing a three-run home run (4) in the eighth.

Featured Card:  Mark Leiter, Jr. relieved Pivetta in the third and had a fantastic outing.  In 4 1/3 scoreless innings, Leiter allowed two hits while striking out nine.  It was the highest strikeout total by a Phillies reliever since Lowell Palmer struck out 10 on May 3, 1970.  He became the sixth reliever in Major League history to strike out nine or more without allowing a walk, becoming the first to accomplish the feat since Bruce Ruffin did it (with the Rockies) on September 14, 1993.

This is the sole Leiter Phillies card in my collection to date, which I picked up at the Phillies Phestival in May.

Transaction:  Aaron Altherr can't seem to kick his nagging hamstring injury, and he was placed on the disabled list again.  Cameron Perkins was recalled from Lehigh Valley to take his place on the roster.

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