Wednesday, March 1, 2023

Spring Training Game 5 - Wheeler Perfect in Debut

1999 Sports Illustrated #15
Phillies 7
, Blue Jays 2
Spring Training Game 5 - Tuesday Afternoon, February 28th in Clearwater
Record - 4-1

One Sentence Summary:  Zack Wheeler threw two scoreless innings and Trea Turner had a pair of hits and two more RBIs in this 7-2 win over the Blue Jays.

What It Means:  Five games into the exhibition schedule, and this marks the first game I didn't follow for at least a pitch.  I'll try to get back on track today.

What Happened:  Wheeler struck out two and didn't allow a baserunner, throwing just 19 pitches in his spring debut.  Turner is now 4 for 6 this spring with two runs scored and three RBIs.  Johan Rojas, Vito Friscia, Turner and Nick Castellanos all had RBIs in the five-run fourth inning.  Rojas would make a nice diving catch in center field in this game as well.  Vimael Machin added a two-run double in the eighth for the Phillies.

Featured Card:  Roger Clemens was invited into the Phillies clubhouse by manager Rob Thomson to give the team a pre-game pep talk.  Clemens and Thomson were both employed by the Yankees in the early 2000s, and Clemens' son, Kody Clemens, is trying to make the Phillies' team as a utility player.  One of the all-time greatest pitchers in the game, Clemens' PED use has led to his exclusion from the Hall of Fame so far.  I have two Clemens baseball cards in my Phillies collection, and on both he's paired with another controversial pitcher from the same era - Curt Schilling.  This card is from the 1999 Sports Illustrated set and the pair is included on another card in the 1998 Collector's Choice set.

Camp Head Count:  65

I'll still listing this as 65, even though Bryce Harper won't report for another week or so.

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