Game 118 - 2018 Phillies Team Issue 2 #43 Nick Pivetta

Red Sox 2, Phillies 1
Game 118 - Tuesday Night, August 14th in Philadelphia
Record - 65-53, 2nd place, 2 games behind the Braves

One Sentence Summary:  The Phillies line-up produced two hits and Brock Holt launched a pinch-hit home run in the 8th off Tommy Hunter resulting in a 2-1 loss.

What It Means:  The lack of help from the Marlins, a Braves four game win streak, along with the Phillies dropping five of their last seven means the Phillies find themselves in second place for the first time since the 4th of July.

What Happened:  Nick Pivetta made one big mistake - a pitch low and inside to Red Sox catcher Sandy Leon that resulted in a solo home run to right-center and the game's first run.  Rhys Hoskins countered with his 23rd home run in the 5th.  Pivetta lasted six innings, allowing just the one run on three hits while striking out six.  The team's only other hit was an Odubel Herrera single in the 5th.

Featured Card:  Pivetta signed his team-issued photo card for me at June's Phillies Phestival.

Transactions:  J.P. Crawford was sent back to Lehigh Valley prior to the game and the re-invigorated Hector Neris was recalled to help in the bullpen.  The recently designated Jake Thompson was traded to the Milwaukee Brewers for cash considerations.  Thompson never lived up to his potential following his acquisition in July 2015 from the Rangers as part of the Cole Hamels deal.  In 30 games with the Phillies, Thompson went 7-8 with a 4.87 ERA.  He leaves behind a massive amount of Phillies baseball cards as Topps was intent on including him within every set released in 2017, and the Chachi cards listed below.

Ironically enough, the Brewers made room for Thompson on their 40-man roster by designating Alec Asher for assignment.  Asher was one of the other pitchers acquired from the Rangers in the same Hamels deal.

Arrived During the 2018 Season

2018 Phillies Team Issue 2 #44

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.
Jake Thompson (8/14/18) - Traded to the Milwaukee Brewers for cash considerations.

Thompson Complete Chachi Checklist
2016 Chachi #54
2016 Chachi #56 HL - Strikes out 4 in one inning
2016 Chachi Fan Appreciation Day #4
2017 Chachi #41
2018 Chachi #18

Field Report:  Doug and I attended this game, and I believe the game marks a milestone as it was Doug's first game staying in his seat from start to finish.  Granted, the quick pace of the game helped but it was also the first time Doug remembers seeing the ballpark relatively full and somewhat loud.

We had a bunch of Red Sox fans in our section and other than the inning-long discussion taking place in the row behind us about "what is the Phillie Phanatic," the visiting fans seemed mostly well-behaved.