Monday, July 8, 2024

Game 90 - Mercado Roughed Up, Phillips Debuts

2024 Choice Lehigh Valley
IronPigs #24
Braves 6
Phillies 0
Game 90 - Sunday Afternoon, July 7th in Atlanta
Record - 58-32, 1st Place, 8 games ahead of the Braves

One Sentence Summary:  Michael Mercado was roughed up and the Phillies offense was missing in this lifeless 6-0 loss to the Braves.

What It Means:  Not great, but the Phillies still hold an eight game lead in the division with the All-Star Break a week away.  After an off-day on Monday, they'll return home for a three-game series with the Dodgers and then three more games with the Athletics before the break.

What Happened:  Mercado was hit early and often and didn't escape the second inning.  He allowed three long home runs, five runs overall and three walks.  Reynaldo Lopez and three Braves' relievers baffled the Phillies' offense, allowing five hits, and leaving nine runners stranded.

Featured Card:  The sole bright spot in this game was the major league debut of Tyler Phillips, who pitched four solid innings, allowing a solo home run and striking out seven.  Phillips' seven strikeouts are the most by any Phillies pitcher in relief in a debut, breaking the record of six set by Bill Duggleby in 1901.  He struck out the side - Matt Olson, Marcell Ozuna and Travis d'Arnaud - in the bottom of the fifth, his first inning in the majors.  So far, his sole 2024 baseball card can be found in the IronPigs team set.

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