Game 70 - 2018 Topps #444 Aaron Altherr

Phillies 6, Cardinals 5 (10)
Game 70 - Monday Night, June 18th in Philadelphia
Record - 38-32, Tied for 2nd place, 3 1/2 games behind the Braves

One Sentence Summary:  Nick Pivetta struck out 13, but the Phillies needed a two-out, two-run walk-off double in the 10th from Aaron Altherr to seal this 6-5 win over the Cardinals.

What It Means:  The Phils have crept back into a tie for second place with the Nationals.

What Happened:  Pivetta was gifted a 4-run lead in the 1st inning on an Odubel Herrera 3-run home run (10) and Andrew Knapp's RBI single.  He departed after 7 1/3 innings having allowed two runs on just four hits and with his team holding a 4-2 lead.

Victor Arano was called on in the 9th to secure the save, and he blew it.  He struck out Yairo Munoz to seemingly end the game, but his wild pitch allowed Munoz to reach and Yadier Molina to score to make it a 4-3 ballgame.  Adam Morgan relieved Arano and allowed a single to Kolten Wong to tie the score.  In the 10th, Jake Thompson allowed a home run to Tommy Pham to start the inning.

2017 Grandstand Reading
Fightin Phils Update #55

Featured Card:  Trailing 5-4 in the 10th, Rhys Hoskins singled and the Cardinals opted to intentionally walk Carlos Santana.  Altherr made them pay with a double to left (misplayed by Marcell Ozuna) and the Phils had themselves a dramatic 6-5 win.  Altherr was only in the game as Nick Williams had been hit square in the nose with a ball caroming off the outfield wall, causing him to exit the game.

Transaction:  Prior to the game, the Phillies made the somewhat surprising move of optioning one-time closer Hector Neris to Lehigh Valley.  Neris is 1-3 with a 6.00 ERA so far this season and his June ERA is 9.45.

Lefty reliever Austin Davis had his contract selected to take Neris' place in the bullpen.  A 2014 12th round draft pick, Davis has baseball card appearances in four Phillies minor league team sets to date.