Phillies find strangest way possible to win a game

Final Score: Phillies 2, Mets 1

This game had it all: A bench-clearing non-brawl, barely any hits to the outfield and two teams who have no clue how to hit with runners in scoring position. And somehow, the Phillies won despite missing Bryce Harper, Didi Gregorius, J.T. Realmuto and Jean Segura.

The Phillies are now 13-13.

Top Plays

• With winds blowing left to right, Matt Joyce had to run a little farther than he would have liked for a foul ball. He ended up making an excellent diving play on the ball near the netting, which ended up being an important out as the Mets had two on with two out for James McCann in the second inning.

• Odúbel Herrera walked in his first plate appearance at Citizens Bank Park since his suspension for domestic violence in 2019.

• As if Phillies baseball couldn’t have gotten any weirder this week, pitcher Chase Anderson is credited with two runs batted in on a dropped third strike. James McCann, who the Mets pivoted to over J.T. Realmuto, couldn’t find the ball after it got past him. The two runs are unearned as the play was ruled a passed ball.

• With two on and two out in the top of the third, Pete Alonso was right on the first two pitches from Anderson. Props to Anderson and Andrew Knapp for the call because he was able to get Alonso swinging on a cutter after two change-ups, stranding the runners.
• JoJo Romero was the first arm to come in relief of Anderson. He threw six consecutive balls to start the outing. Against Davis, Alec Bohm made a nice diving stop on a ground ball, but some hesitation allowed the Mets to get two runners in scoring position on what should have been a double play. Dominic Smith made him pay with a single to left field to score the Mets’ first run in the sixth.

• Bohm was somewhat able to redeem himself as the next batter McCann grounded right to him. It turned out to be an easy 5-4-3 double play and the Phillies were able to escape the top of the sixth with the lead.
• Jeurys Familia’s lack of command almost cost the Mets a run or two. Andrew McCutchen had the bases loaded with two outs following two walks to Knapp and Roman Quinn sandwiched in between a Herrera fielder’s choice. He struck out looking on a sinker that touched the top of the strike. It was a great call from umpire Jeremie Rehak.
• A wild pitch from José Alvarado put two Mets runners in scoring position in the eighth inning. Once again, the Mets failed to get the runners in as Smith struck out.
• Then things got interesting. Alvarado and Smith exchanged a few words after the Phillies pitcher made his excitement known and then the benches cleared. If you remember, the Mets took exception when Alvarado lost control of his electric stuff back in Queens the last time these two teams faced each other. Tensions boiled over to tonight. Even though the two teams stink at this moment, the Mets-Phillies rivalry is back on.

• Sam Coonrod came in to solidfy a Phillies win in which they had only hit two balls into the outfield. Weird stuff.

Shibe Vintage Sports Starting Pitching Performance

Marcus Stroman: 5 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 8 SO, 64 pitches

The Phillies will avoid Jacob deGrom this time around, but they had the pleasure of facing another Mets ace in Marcus Stroman tonight. The only problem is that his team’s defense is as good to him as the offense is to deGrom. Stroman has allowed a combined six unearned runs in his last two starts, which is not good for a predominantly ground ball pitcher. According to Mets owner Steve Cohen, Stroman was taken out early because of hamstring tightness.

Chase Anderson: 5 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 6 SO, 91 pitches

Here’s the thing: the Mets offense stinks almost as bad as the Phillies offense right now. Like the Phillies, the Mets can’t score with runners in scoring position as they were 0-for-9 against Anderson. It’s the first time he has thrown a pitch in the sixth inning of a start since Aug. 25, 2020.

Phillies Nuggets Player of the Game: Sam Coonrod

I’m not sure if the broadcast caught this but the Phillies’ hype man Sam Coonrod had to be held back during the scuffle in the eighth inning, despite having absolutely nothing to do with anything. Anyway, Coonrod played the role of closer tonight since Héctor Neris was unavailable. He walked Nimmo with two outs, but got Lindor out thanks to a nice play by Hoskins.

Ticket IQ Next Game

• Saturday, May 1 vs. New York Mets at 6:05 pm
• NBC Sports Philadelphia+
• 94 WIP

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