Game 7 - Luzardo, Realmuto Hand Dodgers First Loss of '25

Los Angeles Dodgers	2
Philadelphia Phillies	3

2024 Topps Archives #84

Game 7

Friday Night, April 4th

Citizens Bank Park - Philadelphia, PA
6-1, 1st Place, 2 games ahead of the Mets

One Sentence Summary:  Jesus Luzardo made it look easy against a potent Dodgers' line-up and J.T. Realmuto gunned down two would-be base stealers in this 3-2 victory.

What It Means:  The Dodgers entered the series with an 8-0 mark, and the Phillies handed them their first loss of the season while wearing their City Connect uniforms in the first home Friday game of the year.

What Happened:  Luzardo improved to 2-0 with seven shutout innings, allowing just a pair of hits, two walks and striking out eight.  Jordan Romano made it interesting in the ninth, allowing a pair of walks and a two-run home run to Tommy Edman, before Realmuto ended the game with a strike down to second to catch Chris Taylor, the potential tying run, stealing.  An inning before, Realmuto ended the frame by throwing out Shoehei Ohtani trying to swipe second.

In the first, Trea Turner doubled, stole third base, and came home to score when pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto threw the ball away on a pick-off attempt.  The Phillies scored two more runs in the seventh after Max Kepler walked, Nick Castellanos doubled, Bryson Stott singled Kepler home and Castellanos scored on a ground-out to second by Brandon Marsh.

Featured Card:  It's going to be a bit longer before I have any Luzardo Phillies cards, so here's a recent card for All-Star catcher Realmuto.  The 2024 Topps Archives set is a 2024 set in name only, as it wasn't released until early January.

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Los Angeles Dodgers at Philadelphia Phillies - Shohei Time

2005 Topps #595

2025 Chachi 2005 Topps Missing Links #11

Friday, April 4th - 6:45
Saturday, April 5th - 4:05
Sunday, April 6th - 1:35


Los Angeles Dodgers 8-0
1st Place in the N.L. West, 1/2 game ahead of the Padres

Dodgers Probables
Yoshinobu Yamamoto (1-0, 2.70)
Roki Sasaki (0-0, 5.79)
Tyler Glasgow (1-0, 0.00)

Dodgers Leaders
Average:  Will Smith - .450
Runs:  Shohei Ohtani - 11
Home Runs:  Tommy Edman - 4
RBIs:  Teoscar Hernandez - 8
Stolen Bases:  Shohei Ohtani - 2

Wins:  Anthony Blade - 2
ERA:  Blake Snell - 2.00
Strikeouts:  Yoshinobu Yamamoto - 14
Saves:  Tanner Scott - 2

Citizens Bank Park - Philadelphia, PA
Saturday is being called Kids Opening Day and all fans 14 and under will receive a Phillies knit hat.  On Sunday, all fans will go home with a 2025 schedule magnet.

Philadelphia Phillies 5-1
1st Place in the N.L. East, 1 1/2 games ahead of the Marlins

Phillies Probables
Jesus Luzardo (1-0, 3.60)
Aaron Nola (0-1, 8.44)
Cristopher Sanchez (0-0, 1.69)

Phillies Leaders
Average:  Kyle Schwarber - .308
Runs:  Kyle Schwarber - 7
Home Runs:  Kyle Schwarber - 4
RBIs:  Kyle Schwarber - 8
Stolen Bases:  J.T. Realmuto - 2

Wins:  Five tied with - 1
ERA:  Taijuan Walker - 0.00

Strikeouts:  Zack Wheeler - 18
Saves:  Jose Alvarado - 1

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Game 6 - Walker Shuts Down Rockies, Phils Sweep

Colorado Rockies	1
Philadelphia Phillies	3

2024 Topps Heritage #384

Game 6

Thursday Afternoon, April 3rd

Citizens Bank Park - Philadelphia, PA
5-1, 1st Place, 1 1/2 games ahead of the Marlins

One Sentence Summary:  Taijuan Walker threw one of the best games of his Phillies career, and Jose Alvarado wriggled out of his own trouble in the ninth as the Phillies won the game, 3-1, sweeping the series against the Rockies.

What It Means:  Now comes the real test as the undefeated Dodgers come to town for a three-game weekend series.

What Happened:  Walker tossed six shutout innings, allowing three hits and striking out four before handing it over to the bullpen.  Alvarado allowed a run on three hits and a walk in the ninth but ended up striking out the side for his first save of the season.  Bryce Harper doubled home Kyle Schwarber in the fifth for the game's first run.  Schwarber hit his fourth home run in the seventh, and J.T. Realmuto scored on a wild pitch in the eighth to give the Phillies a 3-1 lead.

Featured Card:  Good for Walker.  He certainly seems like a good guy, and his tenure this far in Philly has been less than stellar.  He'll likely get at least a few more starts before Ranger Suarez's back is healthy enough for his return.  This is his 1975 Topps inspired card from last year's Topps Heritage set.

Field Report:  Jenna and I opted to skip the second half of our work days to attend our first game of the 2025 season.  As has been tradition in recent years for our first trip to the ballpark of the season, we spent a lot of the game leisurely walking the concourse, taking in the sights, sounds, food and drink.  I signed us up for the Phillies Club 215 (the teen club . . . shhh) so that I could again reap a few Phillies goodies and collect the only team-issued baseball card set now being produced by the club.  After that, we enjoyed lunch at Pass and Stow, perused the team store and found a pair of comfortable Adirondack chairs by the Kona Big Wave Bar where we watched/listened the game.  We'll actually make it to our seats next time.

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Game 5 - Wheeler Wins First of 2025

Colorado Rockies	1
Philadelphia Phillies	5

2025 Topps #218

Game 5

Wednesday Night, April 2nd

Citizens Bank Park - Philadelphia, PA
4-1, 1st Place, 1 game ahead of the Marlins

One Sentence Summary:  Zack Wheeler picked up his first win of the season and Edmundo Sosa stayed hot at the plate in this 5-1 win over the Rockies.

What It Means:  The Phillies will go for a series sweep on Thursday afternoon behind Taijuan Walker, before welcoming the Dodgers to town for a weekend set.

What Happened:  Wheeler allowed a solo home run to Hunter Goodman in the seventh inning, the only blemish during his otherwise spotless performance.  He had allowed two hits prior to that, and ended his outing with 10 strikeouts.

The Phillies scored first in the fourth inning when Kyle Schwarber doubled home Alec Bohm.  With a slim 2-1 lead in the bottom of the seventh, Trea Turner singled home Sosa.  Sosa made it 5-1 Phillies with a two-run double in the eighth.  Filling in for Bryson Stott in this game, Sosa went 3 for 4 to raise his season average to a gaudy .600 (9 for 15) with four doubles.

Featured Card:  Here's Wheeler's most recent Topps flagship card from Topps Series One.

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Game 4 - Sosa Sparks Late Inning Win

Colorado Rockies	1
Philadelphia Phillies	6

2024 Philadelphia Phillies Photocards

Game 4

Monday Afternoon, March 31st

Citizens Bank Park - Philadelphia, PA
3-1, 1st Place, 1/2 game ahead of the Marlins

One Sentence Summary:  Back-to-back doubles by Bryson Stott and Edmundo Sosa in the seventh gave the Phillies the lead for good in this game, supporting a strong outing from Cristopher Sanchez.

What It Means:  We originally had tickets for this game, as it's become an annual tradition for us to get to the home opener.  Having two sons now playing high school sports, and with both their teams, baseball and tennis, kicking off their seasons, we made the easy decision to give away our Phillies tickets and attend their opening day high school game/match.  The Phillies fared better than their high school teams.

What Happened:  Rockies' starting pitcher German Marquez held the Phillies to four hits with nary a run over the first six innings of the game.  Sanchez had allowed a sixth inning solo home run to Hunter Goodman.  The Phillies plated four quick runs in the seventh, all with two outs, with Stott doubling, Trea Turner drawing a walk, Sosa doubling Stott home and Kyle Schwarber hitting his third home run of the season.  In the eighth, Max Kepler and Nick Castellanos hit back-to-back solo home runs to give the Phillies a 6-1 lead.

Featured Card:  Sosa has filled in nicely for Turner the last few days, as the regular shortstop deals with back issues.  Here's his card from the fairly rare and not yet completely checklisted 2024 Phillies Photo Card set.

Transaction:  On Tuesday, the Phillies claimed Brett de Geus (rhp) off waivers from the Miami Marlins and optioned him to Lehigh Valley.  Also, Buddy Kennedy (inf) cleared waivers, declined his assignment to the minor leagues, but then resigned with the Phillies on a minor league contract.

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