Friday's White Sox-Phillies game postponed
Saturday doubleheader to be played at 2:05 p.m. CT and 7:15 p.m.
PHILADELPHIA -- Just about the only thing that can completely slow down White Sox rookie catcher Josh Phegley appears to be the rain.
Phegley was scheduled to catch Friday's series opener against the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park and hit seventh, but the contest was called because of inclement weather approximately one hour before first pitch. Friday's rainout will be made up as part of a Saturday doubleheader, with game times set for 2:05 p.m. CT and the nightcap starting at 7:15 p.m.. Both games will be televised on CSN and on MLB.TV.
John Danks gets the call in Game 1, with Jonathan Pettibone starting for the Phillies. Hector Santiago will start the nightcap, facing off against John Lannan.
According to White Sox manager Robin Ventura, Phegley will be behind the plate for Game 1, with a chance to build on his already meteoric rise. Phegley hit the game-winning grand slam off Anibal Sanchez in the sixth inning of Thursday's 6-3 victory over the Tigers, following up home runs hit against the Rays' David Price and the Cubs' Matt Garza.
That's pretty elite company on Phegley's short homer list. But he has proven not to be intimidated through his first week of big league competition.
"The one thing I try to keep in mind is everyone up here has played in the Minor Leagues at some point," Phegley said. "Some of those guys I have seen down there are going to be your next David Prices and guys that throw like that.
"They're smarter, they've got more reps, more experience and their plan is going to be a lot better. One point of emphasis for me is to kind of have my plan and stick to it and do my homework on my end and keep using the same approach."
That approach has impressed Ventura, as he watches Phegley make in at-bat adjustments.
"You have to make adjustments all the time up here, and they're going to figure out how to get you out and you have to figure out how to get a hit," Ventura said. "The longer he's here the harder it's going to get. So far, he's done that, he's done it in-game. He did it with Sanchez, and that's a positive sign."
"It's been a real blessing just how I've started and kind of just fell into place here on this team and kind of doing some good things and helping to pull out some victories," said Phegley, who was MLB.com's 15th-ranked White Sox prospect at the time of his promotion. "It's been nice."
Friday marked the club's sixth postponement this season.