Saturday, July 10, 2021

Game 86 - 2021 Topps #160 Brandon Workman

Red Sox 11
, Phillies 5
Game 86 - Friday Night, July 9th in Boston
Record - 42-44, 3rd Place, 5 games behind the Mets

One Sentence Summary:  Vince Velasquez was hit often and early, leading to a large hole the Phillies couldn't dig out from, in this 11-5 series opening loss to the Red Sox.

What It Means:  This was Velasquez's shortest start of the season, and by far his worst.  After showing flashes of brilliance in his June 29th start against the Marlins, he's fallen back into his old ineffective ways in his last two starts.  In 14 starts this season, Velasquez is now 3-4 with a 5.24 ERA.

What Happened:  The Phillies trailed 9-3 after three innings and the game was pretty much over at that point.  J.D. Martinez went 2 for 3 with four RBIs, including a three-run home run in the second.  Infielder Ronald Torreyes pitched a perfect eighth inning, retiring the Red Sox on five pitches.

Featured Card:  Brandon Workman pitched the ninth inning for the Red Sox, striking out Alec Bohm and Travis Jankowski.  Workman is back with the Red Sox after the Phillies acquired him this time last year in one of franchise's worst trades in recent memory.  Workman was atrocious with the Phillies, ending his short time with the club with a 1-4 record in 14 games, a 6.92 ERA and with batters hitting .377 against him.  He cost the Phillies a top pitching prospect (Connor Seabold) and Nick Pivetta, who the Phillies will face on Sunday.  I was honestly offended to find Topps had given Workman a Phillies card in their series one offering earlier this year.

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