Diamondbacks 9, Phillies 8
PHOENIX, June 12 — In the start of a three-game series, the Philadelphia Phillies traveled to Chase Field to play the Arizona Diamondbacks. Phillies left-hander Matt Strahm went up against Diamondbacks left-hander Tommy Henry. With the roof and panels open and an announced crowd of 18,432 the Diamondbacks and Phillies emptied the benches and the bullpens after Corbin Carroll was hit by pitch for the second time. In the end, the Diamondbacks came back from a 5-1 deficit to win, 9-8, on timely hitting and smart base running. The bullpen also combined to toss 4 1/3 innings with three hits and three runs allowed. An overturned call in the ninth sealed Miguel Castro’s seventh save. Of note for the Phillies was catcher J.T. Realmuto, who hit for the cycle.
Start the Game
The Phillies got a first inning single from Nick Castellanos but left him stranded. The bottom of the first saw Ketel Marte single on a line drive to left field. After a strikeout by Emmanuel Rivera, Corbin Carroll was hit by a pitch. Christian Walker walked to load the bases before Evan Longoria hit a sacrifice fly to score Marte. Pavin Smith lined out sharply to center field, ending the inning. Diamondbacks 1, Phillies 0.
Phillies get a Homerun
To lead off the second inning, J.T. Realmuto hit his sixth home run of the season on a fly ball to right-center. That home run had an exit velocity of 101.1mph, a distance of 387ft, and a launch angle of 34 deg. Henry was able to settle down and got out of the inning with only that run. Diamondbacks 1, Phillies 1.
Phillies Figure Out Henry
In the top of third, after Kyle Schwarber struck out swinging, Trea Turner walked, and Castellanos singled sharply to left. With runners on first and second, Bryce Harper was out on strikes, but Realmuto tripled to center, scoring Turner and Castellanos. Alec Bohm doubled Realmuto in.
Josh Harrison singled on a line drive to center field, scoring Bohm. However, Harrison was out at second on the throw, Jake McCarthy to Walker to second baseman Marte to shortstop Geraldo Perdomo.
Bottom of Third
Rivera singled before Carroll was hit for the second straight time. Diamondbacks Manager Torey Lovullo came out to defend Carroll and was ejected by home plate umpire Vic Carapazza after Lovullo pointed his finger at Realmuto. Both benches and bullpens emptied, but cooler heads eventually prevailed. After a fly out by Walker, Josh Rojas was ejected from the Diamondbacks bench.
Smith singled to right, scoring Rivera and Carroll. Phillies manager Rob Thomson replaced Strahm with Yunior Marte, who got Carson Kelly to ground out to end the inning. Phillies 5, Diamondbacks 3.
Bottom of Fourth
After two quick outs from Perdomo and McCarthy, Marte doubled, followed by Rivera, who singled on a sharp ground ball to center, scoring Marte. Carroll finally got to swing and tripled to right, scoring Rivera. Walker ended the inning by striking out. Diamondbacks 5, Phillies 5.
Diamondbacks and Phillies Replace Pitchers
After Castellanos and Harper were out on strikes, the Diamondbacks replaced Tommy Henry with Drey Jameson. It took one pitch for him to get Bohm on a fly to right for the third out in the top of the fifth. Dylan Covey replaced Marte for the bottom of the inning.
The Diamondbacks outslug the Phillies
In the bottom of the sixth, McCarthy singled and took third on a line-drive Marte single to center. McCarthy scored the Diamondbacks’ sixth run on a sacrifice fly from Rivera. Covey was replaced by Andrew Vasquez, who gave up an infield hit to Carroll. After Walker popped out on the infield fly rule, Longoria smashed a three-run home run. The dinger had an exit velocity of 107 mph, a distance of 434 ft, and a launch angle of 29 deg. Smith ended the inning on a deep fly to left. Diamondbacks 9, Phillies 5.
Seventh Inning
In the top of the seventh, after Schwarber walked, Jameson got two quick outs. But Harper doubled on a sharp line drive to center field. McCarthy briefly had in his glove, but the ball fell out, and Schwarber scored.
After a walk to Realmuto, Jameson was replaced by Austin Adams, who gave up a single to Bohm that scored Harper. Adams walked Harrison to load the bases. Pinch-hitter Bryson Stott replaced Edmundo Sosa and, after a mound visit from Diamondbacks pitching coach Brent Strom, Adams got Stott to ground to Marte for the third out. Diamondbacks 9, Phillies 7.
Another Hit by Pitch
In the top of the eighth, Dalton Guthrie was hit by a pitch from Adams. Andrew Chafin came into replace Adams and got Schwarber to pop to Kelly. A ground out by Turner made for the second out. Castellanos walked, putting runners at first and second, but Chafin got Harper to swing and miss a slider for the third out. Diamondbacks 9, Phillies 7.
Bottom of Eighth
The Phillies brought in Jeff Hoffman to pitch the bottom of the eighth. He got Rivera to strike out swinging and Carroll to strikeout looking. Christian Walker closed out the inning on a grounder to short.
Miguel Castro
Miguel Castro came into pitch the top of the ninth and gave up the cycle-clinching double to Realmuto. He got Bohm to ground out and Harrison to pop out before Stott singled to score Realmuto. Pinch-hitter Kody Clemens hit a fly ball to right that initially appeared to be a home run but was correctly overturned as a foul ball. He ultimately struck out. Kelly dropped the pitch but threw it to Walker at first to get the third out and seal the 9–8 win for the Diamondbacks.
Torey Lovullo
Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said afterwards, “Let me say I have the utmost respect for Realmuto. I am out there protecting my player and was told by the home plate umpire I am not allowed out here, and that is why I was tossed.” He added, “You get a whole different outlook watching on TV.” In addition, he said, “This team was not concerned down 5-1, we are a great team and will come back.”
Rob Thomson
Rob Thomson said: “I went out to protect my catcher, and I went out to see what Lovullo was pointing to Realmuto.” Matt Strahm mentioned, “In no way was I throwing to hit Carroll. He is a fine player.”
Diamondbacks Notes
The Diamondbacks have spent 34 days in first place and have won seven of its nine series. … Corbin Carroll earned his first NL Player of the Week honors. … Tommy Henry in innings one through three has limited opponents to a .179 batting average. … Carson Kelly made his debut, and in his first plate appearance got a violation strike. … Geraldo Perdomo has zero errors in 153 chances and has three defensive runs saved. … The Diamondbacks lead the all-time series against the Phillies, 85 wins to 80 losses.
Phillies Notes
J.T. Realmuto is the first Phillies player to hit for the cycle since current Cincinnati Reds manager David Bell in 2004 against the Montreal Expos. He is also the first Phillies catcher to accomplish this feat. … The Phillies are 13-23 on the road and are 12-6 in games decided by one run. … Andrew Painter, who is recovering from his UCL injury, will throw a bullpen session on Tuesday and another on Friday. … Nick Nelson, who has a left hamstring strain, will throw three innings or 55 pitches on Wednesday with Lehigh Valley. … Outfielder Cristian Pache (right knee meniscus tear) and first baseman Darick Hall (right thumb) continue to rehab in Lehigh Valley as well. … Bryce Harper saw 19 pitches in tonight’s game and only saw three fastballs with four curveballs and twelve sliders.
Looking Ahead
The Diamondbacks and Phillies will play Game Two Tuesday, with first pitch at 6:40pm on Bally Sports AZ. Zach Davies (1-1, 4.68 ERA) goes up against Zack Wheeler (4-4, 3.91 ERA).
I really enjoyed reading this recap. I did not know that Realmuto was the Phillies first catcher to ever hit for the cycle. My Phillies need at least two starters if they are going to compete.