Saturday, April 16, 2022

Game 8 - It's Too Early to Panic, Right?

1996 Pacific
Crown Collection #152
Marlins 7
, Phillies 1
Game 8 - Friday Night, April 15th in Miami
Record - 3-5, 5th Place, 3 games behind the Mets

One Sentence Summary:  The Phillies looked lost again as the Marlins easily won, 7-1.

What It Means:  It's too early to panic, right?  The loss dropped the Phillies to last place in the division.

What Happened:  Let's focus on the few bright spots of the game.  Rhys Hoskins had a pair of doubles.  Simon Muzziotti collected his first big league hit, a line drive to left in the third off Marlins' pitcher Pablo Lopez, and he played stellar defense in center field.  Nick Castellanos hit a solo home run in the eighth.  James Norwood and Jeurys Familia threw two scoreless innings of relief, striking out a combined four batters.  Matt Vierling ended his 0 for 15 to start the season with a pinch-hit single in the ninth.

And now the bad stuff.  Zach Eflin didn't have it.  He lasted four innings, allowing four runs on six hits.  Reliever Nick Nelson didn't look great either.  Nelson pitched two innings, allowing three runs on four hits and three walks, while also hitting a batter.  The Phillies offense was 0 for 9 with runners in scoring position with Kyle Schwarber (.094), Bryce Harper (.138) and Bryson Stott (.190) going a combined 0 for 12 with five strikeouts.

Featured Card:  In celebration of the annual Jackie Robinson Day, both teams wore #42 in this game.  The new twist for 2022 being all teams not only wore #42, but the number is blue and in the style of Robinson's number during his Brooklyn playing days.  The Phillies broadcasters spent time during the game discussing the last active player to wear #42 for the Phillies, reliever Toby Borland.  I'm somewhat surprised this is the first time I've ever featured a Borland baseball card on this blog.

Borland wore the number during his first stint with the club between 1994 and 1996.  When he briefly returned in 1998, he had to assume #39, given #42 had been retired the year before.

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