Phillies drove in 14 runs and cruised to a stress-free win over the Giants originally appeared in NBC Sports Philadelphia
There is apparently no truth to the rumor that after the second round concluded on Saturday night, Rob Thomson left the dugout at Citizens Bank Park and went to his office to watch his beloved Toronto Maple Leafs take on the rival Bruins in Game 7 of his NHL First Round Playoff Game.
But he probably could have done it. . .
Even with the start of the game delayed an hour and 10 minutes by rain, by the time the puck dropped at TD Garden, the Phillies had already chased down Giants starter Keaton Winn, hit and scored five runs in the first and then added four more in the second.
Considering the Phillies’ starter was left-hander Ranger Suarez, the reigning National League Pitcher of the Month, the Phillies had to feel really, really, really good about their chances at that point.
Of course, strange things can happen in sports. There was no guarantee that San Francisco wouldn’t mount a furious rally and pull off an epic comeback victory. Heck, no one expected 18-to-1 Mystik Dan to come from the back of the pack to win the Kentucky Derby.
Not this time. The Phillies managed a comfortable 14-3 victory. They have won four straight and 15 of their last 19 games. And when the standings were published at the end of business, the top of the NL East standings looked like this:
W L PCT GB Phillies 23 11 .676 -- Braves 20 11 .645 1.5The Phillies felt comfortable enough to pinch hit Alec Bohm, who had already extended his career-high hitting streak to 17 games, in the third inning. It was announced as a precautionary move due to tightness in his right hip, discomfort caused by slipping on an awkward swing in his previous at-bat. He should be back in the lineup on Sunday.
“I’m fine. I’ve played much worse,” Bohm said after the game. “It’s nothing that worries me. With the conditions (wet field) and the score, I understand there was no need (to stay in the game).
No, Trea Turner, no problem. Well, at least for one night. Over the next six weeks, there will certainly be times when his unavailability due to a strained left hamstring will be evident. However, in the first game without him this season, they simply overcame his absence.
It was his most runs in a game since he scored 19 goals against the Tigers on July 1 of last year. Every Phillies starter had at least one hit. Each scored at least one run except left fielder Brandon Marsh. Each ran except catcher JT Realmuto and first baseman Bryce Harper.
“We are a strong team and we are quite confident with everyone approaching this area,” Bohm said.
The Giants officially raised the white flag in the bottom of the eighth, bringing left fielder Tyler Fitzgerald onto the field.
Suarez gave up a total of one earned run in his previous four starts. He wasn’t as effective on Saturday night, but several factors could have contributed to that. He was pitching with two extra days of rest. It can be difficult to stay focused on launching with a big head start. Even the greatest pitchers in baseball history haven’t remained as good as Suarez indefinitely.
But the biggest problem could have been the weather. The temperature announced at first pitch was 51 degrees and the game started with a steady drizzle that continued throughout the game. The grounds crew stayed off the field all night, making sure the field remained playable.
In the second inning, Giants designated hitter Jorge Soler hit a pop-up to first that Bryce Harper momentarily missed in the rain before making the catch with a last-second catch. Said Thomson: “The conditions were poor but playable in my opinion. But we prefer to finish the game, because double games also worry me.”
Giants pitchers walked 10. Under these conditions, Suarez giving up three runs in six innings on seven hits and one walk while striking out six is even more impressive. Characteristically, he ignored anything that could be considered an excuse.
“There was nothing that took my focus away from the game,” he said. “It rained throughout the game, but I wasn’t thinking about that. I was thinking about doing my job.
Releasing for the first time in a week? “No, no, no,” he said. “It didn’t affect me in any way. Whatever day they tell me I’m going to release, that’s the day I’m going to release and do my thing.”
Thomson mentioned that after long plays in the first and second rounds, Suarez was able to recover and land strikes. “It’s very difficult for a pitcher to sit down like he did in back-to-back innings and then get back out there and throw strikes. You don’t see that very often and he did that.”
The coach then returned to the clubhouse, where he watched the Leafs lose in overtime.
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