Phils empty bullpen to gain ground on leaders
PHILADELPHIA -- With the Marlins throwing a bullpen game, Phillies manager Gabe Kapler knew he was going to have to use his deep bench to create some favorable matchups Saturday night at Citizens Bank Park.Kapler's biggest move came in the second inning when he pulled starting pitcher Vince Velasquez in
PHILADELPHIA -- With the Marlins throwing a bullpen game, Phillies manager Gabe Kapler knew he was going to have to use his deep bench to create some favorable matchups Saturday night at Citizens Bank Park.
Kapler's biggest move came in the second inning when he pulled starting pitcher Vince Velasquez in favor of a pinch-hitter. It paid off.
"We knew Miami was going to put together a bullpen day. We didn't expect to have one ourselves," Kapler said. "But certainly, they were the story of the game for us, putting up zeros for us, each one of them looking out for each other. It was a team win. Everybody contributed."
The Phillies, who are also five games back of the Dodgers in the NL Wild Card race, earned their first series victory since they swept the Marlins in early August. They had played 12 series without winning one entering this weekend.
The seven Phillies relievers --
Kapler made the call to pull Velasquez after the righty gave up four runs in the second inning. Velasquez deployed a lively fastball to strike out out four of the first six hitters he faced, but he allowed two-out RBI hits to
With Miami ahead 4-0, the Phillies loaded the bases in the bottom of the second with no outs.
With Velasquez at 46 pitches, Kapler called on Bour, who lined a single off third baseman
"Bour came in with the bases loaded. Kap making that call in that situation was pretty huge," Velasquez said. "That gave us a little boost in that inning. … And a stellar job by the bullpen."
The Phillies had just four hits in the game off the Marlins, who started lefty
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Hernandez homers: The home run for Hernandez, which came off righty
"I think Cesar has a plan for every at-bat," Kapler said. "... Today I think he saw an opportunity where he was comfortable at the plate and looked to be especially assertive."
Velasquez can't solve Riddle: The largest blow against Velasquez was a three-run double by Riddle, who cleared the bases on a 1-2 fastball over the inside corner from Velasquez. Riddle got caught sleeping on the basepaths to end the inning, but Velasquez did not retire another batter at the plate.
All the damage against him came with two outs, and Kapler said he thought the 26-year-old was "frustrated" on the mound.
"There were some things that didn't go his way and it seemed like he got a little bit frustrated," Kapler said. "If I had to pinpoint it, I'd say frustration got the best of him tonight and therefore we had to go to our 'pen."
SOUND SMART
The Phillies have won 11 of their first 18 games against the Marlins this season and they have won the season series against Miami nine years in a row. The last time the Marlins won a season series against the Phillies was in 2008. The teams went 9-9 against each other in 2009.
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Playing at first base for the second day in a row,
UP NEXT
The Phillies will face the Marlins for the final time in 2018 on Sunday afternoon at 1:35 p.m. ET at Citizens Bank Park.
Stephen Pianovich is a contributor to MLB.com based in Philadelphia.