Tuesday, July 22, 2025

Game 100 - Phils Walk It Off on Catcher's Interference

Boston Red Sox  2 
Philadelphia Phillies  3 
10 Innings

2020 Topps Pro Debut #PH-128
Monday Night, July 21st
Citizens Bank Park - Philadelphia, PA
57-43, 1st Place, 1/2 game ahead of the Mets

One Sentence Summary:  For the first time since 1971, a game ended with a walk-off catcher's interference call, giving the Phillies a 3-2 win in 10 innings.

What It Means:  Wild stuff.  The Phillies scored the winning run in the 10th inning without the benefit of a hit.  I'm anxious to see if Topps picks up on the oddity and issues a Topps Now card to mark the win.  (They did not.)

What Happened:  The game was tied 2-2 heading to the 10th.  Max Lazar pitched a brilliant top of the 10th inning to keep the Sox from scoring.  With Jordan Hicks on the mound in the bottom of the 10th, and Brandon Marsh at second as the ghost runner, Otto Kemp led off with a four-pitch walk.  A wild pitch put runners at second and third and Hicks intentionally walked the struggling Max Kepler.  With the bases loaded and a 1-2 count, Edmundo Sosa checked his swing, hitting catcher Carlos Narvaez's mitt.  After a brief replay, catcher's interference was called and Marsh came home with the winning run.

The Phillies had scored twice in the fourth on RBI singles from Nick Castellanos and J.T. Realmuto.  Zack Wheeler gave up a pair of runs over six innings, striking out 10.

Featured Card:  Lazar has been quietly good lately, emerging as a reliever used more frequently in high leverage situations.  Collectors are still waiting for the lanky righty to appear on a Phillies baseball card.

Transaction:  The Phillies officially signed David Robertson (rhp) and optioned him to Lehigh Valley.  He'll warm up with the IronPigs before joining the big club for his third stint.

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