Game 113 - Hill Slams Phils to Win Over Nats

Washington Nationals	3
Philadelphia Phillies	6

2026 Topps Now #518

Monday Night, August 3rd

Citizens Bank Park - Philadelphia, PA
60-53, 2nd Place, 7 1/2 games behind the Braves

One Sentence Summary:  Derek Hill hit a go-ahead grand slam in the bottom of the seventh inning, leading to this 6-3 win over the Nationals.

What It Means:  This was a good vibes win, and Hill's slam is a highlight that will definitely make its way into the 2026 Phillies Video Yearbook.

What Happened:  Aaron Nola followed his recent pattern of pitching well, except for the pair of home runs he allowed over the first two innings, giving the Nationals a 3-0 lead.  He went six innings, allowing six hits, two walks and striking out five.  Kyle Backhus was the beneficiary of the win following Hill's home run and Backhus working out of his self-created jam in the seventh.  Nationals' reliever Andrew Alvarez hit Bryan De La Cruz and walked Bryson Stott to start the bottom of the seventh.  Tom Cosgrove replaced him on the mound and walked Edmundo Sosa to load the bases.  That set up Hill's grand slam, the eventual game winner and the first grand slam of the season for the Phillies.  Bryce Harper added a two-run home run in the eighth.

Featured Card:  There just aren't many Hill cards out there, and he hasn't had any cards so far in 2026 . . . or so I thought.  Topps Now produced this card for Hill, his first card of the season and to date his only Phillies baseball card.

Transaction:  See here for a complete recap of the Phillies deadline day moves.  They played this game with just 25 players, as Seth Johnson (rhp) was traded to the Athletics a few hours before game time.

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Game 96 - All-Star Weekend Begins in Philly!

Philadelphia Phillies	4
Detroit Tigers	2

2026 Chachi #47

Saturday Night, July 11th

Comerica Park - Detroit, MI
53-43, 2nd Place, 2 games behind the Braves

One Sentence Summary:  Cristopher Sanchez recovered from his prior start and showed his All-Star form in this 4-2 win over the Tigers.

What It Means:  We'd learn on Sunday afternoon that Sanchez's next start would be on Tuesday night for the National League All-Stars at Citizens Bank Park.  Pretty cool for that to happen with the All-Star Game in his home ballpark.

What Happened:  Sanchez improved to 11-4, scattering 10 hits over seven innings and striking out seven.  Jonathan Bowlan, suddenly the top set-up reliever, and Jhoan Duran shut down the Tigers over the final two innings.  Duran tied a team record by recording his 24th save prior to the All-Star Break.  In the third, Derek Hill reached on an error and then stole both second and third bases, coming home on a Trea Turner sacrifice fly.  Hill would also make a game-saving catch in the third, executing a full extension Superman-catch to keep the Tigers from scoring the tying run.  In the fourth, the Phillies plated three more runs on a J.T. Realmuto RBI-double and an RBI single from Hill.

Featured Card:  I usually don't post Chachi cards in game summary posts, but the lack of Hill baseball cards is forcing my hand here.  Without his amazing catch in the fourth, this game could have gone a completely different way.  Here's his 2026 Chachi card, and I'll "officially" post it along with the rest of the set following the season.  For now, here's a page where you can view the set's progress to date.

Outside Philadelphia's City Hall

2026 Chachi Friendly Encounters #5

2026 Chachi Draft Pick #1

Field Report:  Jenna and I attended Day One of the All-Star Village at the Pennsylvania Convention Center and had a blast.  It was pretty crowded, but we managed to navigate our way around all of the booths and exhibits, spending a solid few hours taking everything in.  We didn't get any autographs from the many former players making appearances, but Jenna did get to visit with All-Star Kyle Schwarber.

Also on Saturday, the Phillies selected high school shortstop Tyler Spangler in the first round of the annual draft.  Spangler missed his entire senior year at De La Salle High School in California with a bad back, but the Phillies are optimistic his long-term prospects are good.

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Game 82 - Hill, Harper, Wheeler Star in Win Over Mets

Philadelphia Phillies	2
New York Mets	1

2014 Bowman Draft #DP19

Friday Night, June 26th

Citi Field - Flushing, NY
46-36, 2nd Place, 4 games behind the Braves

One Sentence Summary:  Defense (Derek Hill), offense (Bryce Harper) and pitching (Zack Wheeler) all came together for the Phillies in this 2-1 win over the Mets.

What It Means:  They'll try to go for the series win Saturday afternoon.  The Phils have hit their high water mark, so far, for the season, at 10 games above .500.  As a reminder, they were 9-19 on April 26th, leading to the dismissal of Rob Thomson.

What Happened:  Wheeler improved to 8-1, going seven strong innings and allowing a run on four hits while striking out five.  Orion Kerkering and Jhoan Duran, on the way to his 20th save, shut down the Mets over the final two innings.  Three straight hits from the Phillies to open the game led to their first run.  Trea Turner doubled, went to third on Kyle Schwarber's single, and scored on Harper's single.  Harper went 3 for 4 in this game.  In the bottom of the first, Derek Hill ran and leapt over the center field wall, amazingly bringing back what would have been a two-run home run off the bat of Juan Soto.  In the seventh, Hill singled to lead off the inning and would eventually come home on a Trea Turner RBI single to left.

Featured Card:  I was bummed Hill didn't receive a Topps Now card for his amazing catch, and I set out to create a Chachi Now card but couldn't find a good enough high resolution image to use.  My guess is that Topps decided against a card since there wasn't a Getty Images photo of it available.  So instead, here's another card from Hill's past, this one from the 2014 Bowman Draft set.

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Game 81 - Harper Plays the Hero as Phils Win 3rd Comeback in a Row

Philadelphia Phillies	10
Washington Nationals	5

2026 Topps Now #378

Thursday Night, June 25th

Nationals Park - Washington, DC
45-36, 2nd Place, 4 games behind the Braves

One Sentence Summary:  For the third night in a row, the Phillies used the long-ball to take a ninth inning lead, with Bryce Harper doing the honors in this game.

What It Means:  Amazing!  I'd love for the Phillies to win while they're leading the entire game, but these type of wins create energy and momentum.  They find themselves four games back of the division-leading Braves as they open a weekend series against the Mets in Flushing.

What Happened:  Cristopher Sanchez suffered another setback, allowing four first-inning runs, but he'd settle down and allow just one more run through five innings.  The Phils trailed 5-0 when the latest comeback began in the sixth.  The hot Brandon Marsh launched a two-run home run to right center.  In the seventh, Mitchell Parker walked both Harper and Marsh with the bases loaded, making the score 5-4.  Alec Bohm grounded into a fielder's choice, tying the score at 5-5.  In the top of the ninth, Kyle Schwarber singled and was replaced by pinch-runner Garrett Stubbs.  Harper launched his home run, silencing the Nationals fans and giving the Phillies a 7-5 lead.

J.T. Realmuto added an RBI double and Derek Hill capped the scoring with a two-run home run, sending the Phillies to their third thrilling victory in as many days.

Featured Card:  The 2026 Phillies became the first team in MLB history with three go-ahead home runs in the ninth inning in three consecutive games.  Topps Now featured Harper on a card commemorating the feat.  Hard to believe, Harry.

Transaction:  Johan Rojas (of) was activated from the restricted list and placed on the 60-day injured list following his right knee surgery.

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Game 80 - Hill Provides Magic for Latest Comeback Win

Philadelphia Phillies	5
Washington Nationals	4

2022 Topps Update #US72

Wednesday Night, June 24th

Nationals Park - Washington, DC
44-36, 2nd Place, 4 1/2 games behind the Braves

One Sentence Summary:  For the second night in a row, a dramatic ninth inning home run lead to a comeback win over the Nationals.

What It Means:  Fantastic!  The Phils are playing exciting baseball.

What Happened:  Aaron Nola got the start and allowed two solo home runs in his five-inning outing.  The Phillies took a 3-2 lead in the fourth.  Brandon Marsh singled, went to second when Alec Bohm reached on an E4, and came home on a Bryson Stott double.  J.T. Realmuto brought Bohm home with a sacrifice fly and Gabriel Rincones, Jr. singled Stott home a batter later.  The lead lasted until the sixth when Jonathan Bowlan allowed a two-run home run to Curtis Mead.

Again with two outs in the top of the ninth, Kyle Scwarber walked and pinch-hitter Derek Hill cemented his place in Phillies lore with a two-run home run, jubilantly circling the bases.  Jhoan Duran effortlessly struck out the side in the bottom of the ninth, earning his 19th save and giving the Phillies another win.

Featured Card:  Hill doesn't have a Phillies card yet, unless you count his 2026 Chachi card, and I was bummed he didn't receive a Topps Now card for his homer in this game.  This is his first appearance in a Topps set from the 2022 Topps Update release.

Transaction:  Bryse Wilson (rhp) was claimed off waivers by the Chicago Cubs.  The short-timer appeared in one game with the Phillies, pitching two scoreless innings.  Barring some crazy stroke of luck or unintended checklist mistake, Wilson will never appear on a Phillies baseball card.

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Game 69 - Misiorowski Dominates Phillies

Philadelphia Phillies	0
Milwaukee Brewers	6

1970 Philadelphia Phillies Photocards

Friday Night, June 12th

American Family Field - Milwaukee, WI
37-32, 2nd Place, 8 games behind the Braves

One Sentence Summary:  In one of the most dominant pitching performances in recent history, Jacob Misiorowski pitched a complete game shutout against the Phillies, striking out 15 batters.

What It Means:  The Phillies had no shot in this game.

What Happened:  Misiorowski faced the minimum 27 batters.  Kyle Schwarber singled to center to start the fourth but was erased on 4-6-3 double play ground out off the bat of Bryce Harper.  The Brewers starter needed 95 pitches for his masterpiece, and the game took two hours, four minutes to complete.  Misiorowski threw 58 pitches topping 100 mph, and he struck out Schwarber in the first on a pitch that hit 104.5 mph - the fastest pitch thrown by a starting pitcher since pitch tracking started in 2008.

The Phillies went with opener Tanner Banks to help ease Andrew Painter into this game.  Banks allowed a first inning run and Painter allowed five runs over five innings, raising his season ERA to 6.43.  It will be interesting to see how Misiorowski and Cristopher Sanchez continue to measure against each other as the season progresses.  I'll also be interested to see how much longer the Phillies stick with Painter in the rotation.

Featured Card:  The last opposing pitcher to face just 27 Phillies batters was the Expos' Gary Waslewski on July 6, 1969.  Waslewski allowed a hit to Rick Joseph and walked Deron Johnson, but both runners were erased on double plays.

Transaction:  A lat muscle tear suffered by Adolis Garcia in Wednesday's game against the Blue Jays set off a flurry of roster moves prior to this game.  On Thursday, the Phillies acquired Derek Hill (of) and cash considerations from the White Sox for minor leaguers Dylan Campbell (of) and Jose Colmenares (inf).  Jackson Rutledge (rhp) was designated for assignment to make room for Hill on the 40-man roster.  Hill is a veteran of seven big league seasons, and he was batting .213 with four home runs with the White Sox so far this season.  He played in all three recent games against the Phillies, going 1 for 7 with a home run off Jesus Luzardo.  Hill has seen time with the Tigers, Nationals, Rangers, Giants, Marlins and White Sox.

Before this game, Hill was activated and Gabriel Rincones, Jr. (of) was recalled from Lehigh Valley.  Garcia (of) was placed on the 60-day injured list and Steward Berroa (of) was placed on the paternity list.  Rincones started in right and went 0 for 3 in his big league debut, with a pair of strike outs.

2025 Topps Update #US305

2026 Choice Reading Fightin Phils (Series 1) #7

2026 Choice Reading Fightin Phils Top Ten Prospects #5

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