Game 88 - Phils End First Half on High Note in Boston

2019 Topps Now
Road to Opening Day #OD-285

Phillies 5, Red Sox 4
Game 88 - Sunday Afternoon, July 11th in Boston
Record - 44-44, 2nd Place, 3 1/2 games behind the Mets

One Sentence Summary:  Ronald Torreyes and Ranger Suarez were the unlikely stars in this first half finale win in Boston.

What It Means:  The Phillies enter the break at .500 and in second place, only 3 1/2 games behind the Mets.  Among contending teams, they have one of the easiest schedules in the second half and I'm hopeful they're still playing baseball in October.

What Happened:  There was some drama before this game (see Transactions below) necessitating a bullpen game to be started by Brandon Kintzler.  Cristopher Sanchez picked up his first career win with three solid innings of relief, with Hector Neris, Archie Bradley and Suarez all providing steady relief as well.  Torreyes gave the Phillies a 5-1 lead with a three-run home run in the fourth off Nick Pivetta.  Pivetta lasted four innings, giving up five runs (four earned) on four hits before stomping off the mound.

Featured Card:  Suarez notched his second save of the season with a gutsy, seven-out save, getting into some trouble in the eighth but setting down the heart of the Red Sox line-up in order in the ninth.  In 21 appearances so far this season, and 35 innings pitched, Suarez is now 4-2 with a 0.77 ERA.  He's been huge for the Phillies this season and has helped stabilize an otherwise shaky bullpen.

Field Report:  My sister and her family was there and they had a blast in their first visit to Fenway.  They had standing room only tickets in right field, but a special shout out goes to the security guard able to secure them a table in the bleachers.  My nieces were confused as to why everyone was booing the Phillies, but they otherwise had a wonderful time!

Transactions:  In a flurry of moves necessitated by a positive Covid test from Alec Bohm, the Phillies placed Bohm (3b), Connor Brogdon (rhp), Bailey Falter (lhp) and Aaron Nola (rhp) on the Covid-protocol injured list.  Nola was scheduled to start this game, but the Phillies were forced to go to a bullpen game instead.  Brought up on Sunday morning were Damon Jones (lhp), Mauricio Llovera (rhp), Nick Maton (inf) and Sanchez (lhp).

2021 Virtual Phillies Wall / 2021 Season Summary Index / 2021 Chachi Set Checklist