Phillies Down D-backs 7-0

The Phillies jumped on Diamondbacks starter Humberto Mejia early, scoring two in the first and two in the 3rd, taking an early 4-0 lead. Mejia ended up throwing three scoreless innings from there, going 6 in all, but the damage was done. He gave up 3 doubles, a triple, and two homers.

Kyle Gibson shutdown the D-backs offense, going 6 innings and allowing just 3 hits without walking a batter. He only recorded 3 strikeouts, but had 9 ground outs. 3 Phillies relievers recorded the last 9 outs without giving up a run and striking out 6 in the process.

Inning by Inning Recap

T1: Kyle Gibson pitching for the Phillies. D-backs go 3 up 3 down in the first.

B1: Humberto Mejia pitching the Diamondbacks. Odubel Hererra lead off the inning with a rocket off the right field wall for a double. Then Jean Segura hit a groundball just right of the second base bag to Josh Rojas but Pavin Smith inexplicably went for the ball and was too far off 1^st base to get back and Mejia was late breaking off the mound to cover. Rojas opted not to make the throw and right away it was 1^st and 3^rd nobody out for the Phillies. Young players making young player mistakes.

Bryce Harper lifted a broken bat sac fly to right to score Hererra. Didi Gregorius slapped a double into the left field corner to score Segura. Didi was out trying to advance to 3^rd on the throw home but Carson Kelly made a good throw back down to 3^rd. McCutchen ground out to short to end the inning, but the Phillies had a 2-0 lead.

T2: Josh VanMeter hit a two out double that just split the gap between left and center but Daulton Varsho swung at the first pitch he saw, a breaking pitch below the zone and grounded out to Segura to strand the runner.

B2: With one out VanMeter caught a hopper well behind the bag and made a strong throw to first, showing he has a decent arm. It was a 3 up 3 down inning for Mejia on a couple of groundouts and pop out.

T3: Another 3 up 3 down inning for the D-backs. Gibson at 39 pitches, 25 strikes.

B3: With one out Mejia threw a fastball down and in to Herrera’s left hand nitro zone and Herrera hit it high and far into the right field stands for a solo homer. Segura then belted a belt high fastball on a line over the left centerfield wall for a back to back homer and a 4-0 Phillies lead.

T4: An 11 pitch at bat from Ketel Marte ended in a ground out to 1^st. Unfortunately, Pavin Smith couldn’t keep the pressure on Gibson, swinging at three pitches inside off the plate to strike out for the 2^nd out. Kelly grounded out to 3^rd for yet another 3 up 3 down inning for Arizona.

B4: Brad Miller hit a line drive towards right center. Marte dove for the ball but was never close and the ball went all the way to wall for a leadoff triple. That was already the 6^th extra base hit against Mejia so far. (2 HR, 3 DB, 1 TP). He got out of the inning quickly though snaring a line drive back at him by Ronald Torreyes . Then Rafael Marchan hit a line drive to Ahmed who threw over to 3^rd to double off Miller.

T5: David Peralta singled on a groundball into right. After VanMeter popped out Varsho also grounded a base hit into right, advancing Peralta to 2^nd. Ahmed battled to a 9 pitch at bat before tapping out to 3^rd, moving up the runners. Torey opted not to pinch hit and try to score at this point and Mejia grounded out to short. Gibson had to work, but is at 81 pitches and in line to 6 or 7.

B5 Mejia managed to strand a one out single but there was almost another snafu at first. Another ball hit to 2^nd, and Smith went off the bag again. This time he went back to bag, and Mejia had hustled over to first, but they almost collided as Smith caught the ball just in front of Mejia. It’s a process.

T6: 3 up 3 down for the top of the D-backs order again. Rojas, Marte, and Smith are a combined 0-9.

B6: Mejia stranded a one out walk to get through 6 innings on the night. Final Line:

6IP, 8 H, 4 ER, 1 BB, 3 SO, 2 HR, 92 pitches, 60 for strikes

T7: Lefty Jose Alvarado relieved Gibson. 3 up 3 down, 2 K’s.

B7: Caleb Smith came on in relief and recorded a 3 up 3 down inning of his own

T8: Hector Neris pitching, and he struck out the side. 6 of the last 7 Diamondback hitters have struck out

B8: Brett de Geus came on to pitch the 8th and put the game out of slam range, allowing 3 runs, 2 earned on 4 hits. There was also a VanMeter throwing error mixed in there as he short hopped Walker on a throw, diminishing some of my earlier enthusiasm for his throwing from 3rd.

T9: Rojas K. Marte Single. Smith Groundout. Bryan Holaday pinch hitting for Kelly ??

BELLS AND WHISTLES

Hmmm...stick around for post game interviews or go eat dinner.....tough choice.

Fangraphs Box

Win Expectancy Chart

Humberto Mejia. -.192 WPA, David Peralta managed +.014 with a lone basehit

Roll Call

COTD goes to edbigghead, which came about an hour into the game. But I’m also exercising editorial privilege by awarding a runner up award to DC.

The Diamondbacks will go for the series split tomorrow, game time 10:05 A.M. Arizona Time. Madbum goes against Ranger Suarez.