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Saturday, July 13, 2024

Game 94 - A's Down Phils; Merrifield Released

2024 Topps #661
Athletics 6
Phillies 2
Game 94 - Friday Night, July 12th in Philadelphia
Record - 61-33, 1st Place, 8 1/2 games ahead of the Braves

One Sentence Summary:  The Phillies offense couldn't take advantage of an Athletics' bullpen game, and Ranger Suarez continued to show signs of fatigue in this 6-2 loss.

What It Means:  The Phillies have two more games to try to get back on track before the All-Star break.

What Happened:  Perhaps suffering from a hangover following the sweep of the Dodgers, the Phillies looked lifeless in this Friday night game.  Suarez labored through six innings, allowing four runs on six hits.  The game was still within reach in the seventh inning with the A's holding a 4-2 lead, but Jose Ruiz gave up a two-run home run to Lawrence Butler and the deficit became unsurmountable.  A's closer Mason Miller made easy work of the final three batters to end the game.

Featured Card/Transaction:  Before the game, Whit Merrifield (inf-of) was released and Weston Wilson (inf-of) was recalled from Lehigh Valley.  Merrifield struggled to get going all season and ultimately ran out of time.  He batted .199 in 53 games, collecting four doubles, three home runs and 11 RBIs.  His 11 stolen bases brought his career total to 212, placing him sixth on the active leaders' list.

Merrifield appears with the Phillies in Topps Series Two, and he's also one of 20 subjects in the Phillies Kids Club set available at the ballpark.  I'm hoping he catches on somewhere, preferably outside the National League East.

Field Report:  Our son's weekend baseball tournament had its schedule completely upended due to the rain, and Jenna and I found ourselves unexpectedly at this game.  We had dinner at Pass and Stow (Asian chicken nachos and chorizo burrito, both new to the menu) and watched some of the game through intermittent sprinkles.  I was sad to realize it's the last time I'll ever see the Oakland Athletics, given their move out of Oakland following the season.

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