Game 127 - 2021 Topps #460 Zach Eflin

Diamondbacks 8, Phillies 7
Game 127 - Thursday Night, August 26th in Philadelphia
Record - 63-64, 2nd Place, 5 1/2 games behind the Braves

One Sentence Summary:  The lowly Diamondbacks delivered the latest crushing blow to a floundering Phillies team in this 8-7 loss to open a four-game series.

What It Means:  The Phillies fell below .500 for the first time since August 1st, when they began their now-distant eight-game winning streak.

What Happened:  Zach Eflin was supposed to return, but was scratched shortly before game-time and Matt Moore was forced into duty.  Moore pitched four innings and allowed four runs on seven hits.  The Phillies offense continued to snooze for most of this game and Jean Segura briefly made it a 4-2 game with a two-run home run in the fifth.  The Diamondbacks scored twice in the top of the sixth off JD Hammer and Jose Alvarado to erase the two-run deficit.  The Phillies scored five runs in the bottom of the ninth to make this game appear to have been a lot closer than it was.  But with the tying run on first, Brad Miller struck out swinging to end the game.

Featured Card:  Rhys Hoskins and now Eflin appear to both be done for the season.  Eflin's knee didn't feel right prior to his scheduled return and on Friday afternoon he was also placed on the Covid-injured list.  It was a bit of a lost season for Eflin who made 18 starts and went 4-7 with a 4.17 ERA.

Transaction:  Eflin (rhp) was briefly activated along with Alvarado (lhp).  Hoskins (1b) was placed on the injured list and Chase Anderson (rhp) was designated for assignment.

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