Tuesday, April 6, 2021

Game 4 - 2021 Topps #31 Brandon Kintzler

Phillies 5
, Mets 3
Game 4 - Monday Night, April 5th in Philadelphia
Record - 4-0, 1st Place, 2 games ahead of the Nationals

One Sentence Summary:  Handcuffed by Jacob deGrom through six innings, the Phillies took advantage of his early departure and plated five in the eighth in this come-from-behind, 5-3 win.

What It Means:  The Phillies are 4-0 and the only remaining undefeated team in baseball.  Hard to believe, Harry.

What Happened:  deGrom was nearly unhittable through six innings, striking out seven, but after 77 pitches his night was over.  A quick sequence of events in the eighth saw the Phillies take the lead.  Mets' reliever Trevor May allowed a single to pinch-hitter Brad Miller, walked Andrew McCutchen and allowed another single to Rhys Hoskins to load the bases.  Aaron Loup entered and hit Bryce Harper to allow the Phillies' first run to cross the plate.  J.T. Realmuto singled to tie the game, and then the Phillies scored twice more when Alec Bohm reached on a fielder's choice and Mets' third baseman Luis Guillorme threw wide of the plate.  Didi Gregorius added a sacrifice fly for the fifth and final run.

Matt Moore made his first Phillies start and was the victim of some bloop hits and shaky Phillies defense.  His final line shows 3 1/3 innings, 4 hits, 2 runs, 4 walks and 4 strikeouts.  The new and improved bullpen did its job with Brandon Kintzler, Sam Coonrod and Connor Brogdon combining for 4 2/3 scoreless innings.  Jose Alvarado got into some trouble in the ninth, but eventually locked down the save. 

Featured Card:  Brogdon picked up the win, but it was Kintzler who entered the game in the fourth with the bases loaded and immediately induced an inning-ending double play.  He's in the 2021 Topps set with the Marlins, and with the Phillies not producing a team-issued photo card set this year (yet) this could realistically be the only baseball card he's on this season.

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