WP: Jonathan Papelbon (2-0, 5.40 ERA) LP: Angel Sanchez (0-1, 7.71 ERA) Attendance: 16,609
The Philadelphia Phillies (13-17) have defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates (15-12), 7-5, in the second-to-last Spring Training game of 2015. RHP Aaron Harang (0-0, 4.80 ERA), who is expected to start Wednesday evening against Boston's Rick Porcello for the second game of the regular season, opposed 2013 Pirates' All-Star, LHP Jeff Locke (2-2, 6.27 ERA).
The first inning of tonight's game was filled with offense for both clubs. The Pirates got out to a 1-0 lead after Harang's sixth pitch, a double allowed to Gregory Polanco to bring home Josh Harrison, who batted .315 last season. The next batter, center fielder and four-time All-Star Andrew McCutchen, then brought home Polanco from second with a single.
It didn't take long for the Phillies' offense to answer back. The bases were loaded for cleanup hitter Ryan Howard in the bottom half of the first, after a single by Opening Day center fielder Odubel Herrera, a walk by Russ Canzler, and a single by Jeff Francoeur. On the fifth pitch of his at-bat, 15th overall for Locke, Howard grounded into a force out to first base, scoring Herrera. The next batter, Canzler, scored on a throwing error by Harrison. Third baseman Cody Asche then gave the Phils' a 3-2 lead with a sacrifice bunt. Manager Ryne Sandberg requested a challenge, believing Asche was safe, however the ruling on the field was not overturned.
Harang allowed a solo home run in the top of the second inning to Pirates' shortstop Jordy Mercer, which tied the game at three.
In the bottom of the fourth, after first baseman Darin Ruf doubled to center field, Asche brought home his second run of the game on a RBI-single, which put the Phillies back on top, 4-3.
The next half-inning, opposing pitcher Jeff Locke singled off of Harang with two outs, which subsequently tied the game at four. This was his final batter faced, as he had 104 pitches, 62 thrown for strikes. Jeanmar Gomez came into the game and struck out Josh Harrison to end the inning.
Gomez threw 1.1 scoreless innings of relief, striking out two batters. He signed as a free agent this offseason after finishing 20 games last season with Pittsburgh, and is expected to make the Phillies' Opening Day roster.
In five innings of work tonight, Locke induced 11 groundouts to the Phillies' offense. He struck out four batters and walked one, allowing four runs (three earned). 49 of his 71 pitches were strikes.
The game remained tied at four until the top of the eighth. Pirates' third baseman Jung Ho Kang led off the inning against Justin De Fratus. and doubled for the third time this Spring. Kang advanced to third after a wild pitch, and subsequently scored after former Milwaukee Brewers' slugger Corey Hart singled on a soft fly ball to center field to give Pittsburgh a 5-4 lead.
This offseason, the Phillies were reportedly one of the rumored teams interested in placing a bid on Kang. Jeeho Yoo of Yonhap News Agency shared to us what he could bring to a Major League ballclub.
Jonathan Papelbon had a 1-2-3 top of the ninth inning on just eight pitches (seven strikes). He struck out two batters, left fielder Andrew Lambo and Kang.
In the bottom of the ninth, with once highly-regarded Marlins' prospect Angel Sanchez on the mound, a throwing error by catcher Tony Sanchez on a sacrifice bunt by Andres Blanco allowed Cesar Hernandez to score and tie the game at five.
With Blanco on second base and a 2-0 count, Ben Revere took Sanchez deep to right field for a walk-off, two-run home run. This is Revere's third career home run in a professional MLB stadium. On May 27 last season, he hit his first career home run after 1,466 at-bats. 101 days later on September 5, Revere hit his second.
Right fielder Jeff Francoeur went 3-4 tonight, including a double. The 10-year, 31-year-old veteran is a candidate to make the Phillies' Opening Day roster as a possible starter in the absence of Domonic Brown, who will start the season on the disabled list.
Just one, final Spring Training game remains, which is set to take place tomorrow (Saturday) afternoon for a 1:05 pm start. RHP David Buchanan (2-0, 1.69 ERA) will oppose RHP Charlie Morton (1-1, 6.46 ERA).
– Starting Pitchers –
|
|
IP |
H |
R |
ER |
BB |
SO |
HR |
ERA |
|
5.0 |
4 |
4 |
3 |
1 |
4 |
0 |
6.27 |
|
|
4.2 |
9 |
4 |
4 |
3 |
1 |
1 |
4.80 |
– Out of the 'Pen –
Pirates
|
|
IP |
H |
R |
ER |
BB |
SO |
HR |
ERA |
|
2.0 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
1.80 |
|
|
1.0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0.00 |
|
|
0.2 |
2 |
3 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
7.71 |
Phillies
|
|
IP |
H |
R |
ER |
BB |
SO |
HR |
ERA |
|
1.1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
0.71 |
|
|
2.0 |
4 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
4 |
0 |
6.75 |
|
|
1.0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
5.40 |
– Scoring Summary –
|
Inning |
Pirates |
Score |
Phillies |
|
|
Top of the 1st |
Gregory Polanco doubles (4) on a line drive to center fielder Odubel Herrera. Josh Harrison scores. |
1 |
0 |
— |
|
Andrew McCutchen singles on a ground ball to center fielder Odubel Herrera. Gregory Polanco scores. |
2 |
0 |
— |
|
|
Bottom of the 1st |
— |
2 |
1 |
Ryan Howard grounds into a force out. Odubel Herrera scores. |
|
— |
2 |
2 |
Darin Ruf reaches on a throwing error by third baseman Josh Harrison. Russ Canzler scores. |
|
|
— |
2 |
3 |
Cody Asche out on a sacrifice bunt. Ryan Howard scores. |
|
|
Top of the 2nd |
Jordy Mercer homers (3) on a fly ball to left center field. |
3 |
3 |
— |
|
Bottom of the 4th |
— |
3 |
4 |
Cody Asche singles on a soft line drive to left fielder Starling Marte. Darin Ruf scores. |
|
Top of the 5th |
Jeff Locke singles on a line drive to right fielder Jeff Francoeur. Starling Marte scores. |
4 |
4 |
— |
|
Top of the 8th |
Corey Hart singles on a soft fly ball to center fielder Odubel Herrera. Jung Ho Kang scores. |
5 |
4 |
— |
|
Bottom of the 9th |
— |
5 |
5 |
Andres Blanco hits a sacrifice bunt. Throwing error by catcher Tony Sanchez. Cesar Hernandez scores. |
|
— |
5 |
7 |
Ben Revere homers (1) on a line drive to right center field. Andres Blanco scores. |
|
– What's Next –
Saturday, April 4*: vs. PIT, 1:05 pm; TV: TCN, MLBN (delay), Radio: 1210 WPHT, 94WIP
Monday, April 6^: vs. BOS, 3:05 pm; TV: NBC 10; Radio: 1210 WPHT, 94 WIP, SBP 1480 (Sp.)
Wednesday, April 8: vs. BOS, 7:05 pm; TV: TCN, ESPN2; Radio: 1210 WPHT, 94 WIP, SBP 1480 (Sp.)
* On-Deck Series (Exhibition), ^ Opening Day
Matt Rappa (@mattrappa) is a contributor to Philliedelphia.com.
