-Maybe the biggest win of the 2018 season today! In 13 innings, in close to 100 degree July heat, against a division rival, down to no more pitchers available and your last bench player, somehow the Phillies win. Andrew Knapp pinch-hits with one out and hits a titanic home run into the right field upper deck, the first walk-off homer this year for the club.
-Manager Gabe Kapler made all the right moves today. He pulled starting pitcher Jake Arrieta in the 5th inning with the team down 3-0. Arrieta was pissed and stormed off to the clubhouse. But the move paid off as pinch-hitter Carlos Santana walked to help set-up a three-run inning which tied the game. Both teams would not score after that until the lucky 13th.
-In the fateful last inning, after Nick Pivetta pitched in relief in the top of the frame, Kapler rolled the dice with his last available position player and hit Knapp- and the rest was history.So many what ifs...Who would've pitched the 14th? Rios was unavailable after throwing over 40 pitches the last two ballgames. Maybe Siranthony could've gone one inning but not much more. Would a position player have to pitch and a pitcher have to play another position?
-The much-maligned bullpen threw eight scoreless innings of relief on this brutally hot afternoon. Nobodys like Thompson and Hunter stepped up and performed. Neshek saw his first action of the season. Arano chipped in, as did Leiter Jr. and Morgan. They still need bullpen help from GM Klentak but on July 1, they stepped up big time.
-I'm still concerned about the offense. Looking at the box score one would never have guessed that the Phils won. Hoskins went hitless. Herrera is still struggling. Third base is an issue. Alfaro, defensively, is a problem. Despite all the flaws the club is 45-37 going into an easier part of the schedule in July.
-Day off tomorrow and Thursday, which seems to be needed. In-between is a brief two-game series with the lowly Orioles, before the Fightins' embark on a road trip that takes them to Pittsburgh, New York, Baltimore and Miami leading to the All-Star game. Atlanta plays the Yankees in New York this week before heading to Milwaukee. Give the Braves credit for sweeping the Cardinals in St. Louis (Baseball Heaven must be going nuts). The Phillies still need to pick up some ground this week.
-Turns out Kapler would've used Valentin as pitcher if there was a 14th inning. Alfaro would've moved to third base, with Knapp staying in as catcher. Thank God that didn't happen but why do I have this uneasy feeling that with Kapler in charge it will happen before the summer is over?
-Bryce Harper isn't doing himself any favors in this, his free agent season. He is consistently getting beat by high and inside fastballs. Plus his Nationals are fading fast. I'm sure he will get big money during the off-season but he ain't no Mike Trout, that's for sure.I don't think his clueless manager is helping matters by hitting him all over the line-up.
-Seattle is still looming in AL West, while the San Francisco Giants have quietly moved into second place in NL West. Titanic series in New York between the yanks and Red Sox. The rubber game is tonight- a battle for first place in AL East.Meanwhile, the Indians are running away in AL Central and just may clinch their division before anyone else in September. Cleveland was my spring training pick to win the World Series.
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