Counting on a rookie to protect a 2-0 lead is a tough ask, but in the seventh, the Phillies provided some additional run support with a big assist from the Pirates. With two one runner on and one out, Pirates shortstop Oneil Cruz botched a play at second base.
The Phillies took full advantage. Trea Turner followed with an RBI single, Bryce Harper had an RBI groundout, and Alec Bohm added an RBI single to give the Phillies a 5-0 lead.
Nick Castellanos would establish the final margin of victory with his solo home run in the ninth.
After Phillips was done, the Phillies bullpen preserved the shutout. Yunior Marte and Jose Ruiz pitched scoreless innings, and Jose Alvarado contributed what was hopefully a “get right” appearance after his recent struggles.
It was just a single victory in a season that has had plenty of them, but this one felt important. It ended a three-game losing streak and doesn’t leave them reeling heading into the toughest part of their schedule.
And while I don’t want to overreact to a couple of good starts - Phillips wouldn’t be the first rookie to start well and then fade once a scouting report is established - it also provides some hope that the Phillies might have found a solution to the fifth starter situation which has been in flux lately.
The Phillies were scuffling. After being demolished in the final game before the All-Star break, they suffered a couple of ugly losses immediately after the break. Standing between them and a sweep at the hands of the Pirates was a largely unheralded rookie pitcher named Tyler Phillips.
Naturally, Phillips came through. He pitched six scoreless innings, leading the Phillies to a much-needed 6-0 win over the Pirates.
After mostly no-showing Saturday’s game, the Phillies’ offense didn’t do all that much in the early going on Sunday. They managed a couple of runs in the second inning thanks to a sacrifice fly by Weston Wilson and an RBI single by Garrett Stubbs.
Getting runs out of the bottom of the order should have provided a boost, but the bats went quiet again for the next few innings.
The good news is that the Pirates’ offense was even quieter. Phillips held them in check, and only allowed one runner to get as far as second base. He has likely earned himself at least another few turns through the rotation.
Phillies rookie Tyler Phillips prevents the sweep as he plays the role of the stopper in the Phil's win vs the Pirates.
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