Final: Phillies 3, Blue Jays 2
WP: Adam Morgan (2-3, 4.05) LP: Felix Doubront (1-1, 4.76) SV: Ken Giles (1)
Toronto, Ontario, Canada–The Phillies' bullpen filled in nicely when Jonathan Papelbon, announced MIA in the visitors' clubhouse at Toronto's Rogers Centre, was traded to the Nationals this afternoon, continuing Papelbon's success in three scoreless innings to finish a quality start by Adam Morgan for the Phils' ninth win in ten games since the All-Star Break.
The Phillies had announced early this afternoon that Papelbon would be traded, keeping him off the flight from Toronto until Washington's deal for him was agreed upon around 6 p.m. Eastern. His absence proved not to be a problem, as Ken Giles stepped into the closer role for the Phils and pitched a scoreless ninth to preserve the Phillies' 3-2 lead.
Morgan, starting tonight for the Phillies, allowed a home run to Jays leadoff hitter Devon Travis just two pitches into the bottom of the first, but settled down to allow just four more hits and one more run (on a sac fly by Ryan Goins in the second) over six solid innings of work.
He outlasted Blue Jays' starter Felix Doubront, who sailed through four scoreless frames before running into trouble in the fifth. Ryan Howard's infield single and Darin Ruf's ground-rule double put runners on the corners with none out for Cody Asche, who drove them both home on a double to tie the game. Doubront responded by promptly throwing a wild pitch moving Asche to third, and Andres Blanco, filling in at short, hit a third consecutive double to make it 3-2 and chase Doubront after facing four batters in the fifth.
Toronto relievers Ryan Tepera, the newly acquired LaTroy Hawkins, Brett Cecil, and Liam Hendriks kept the Phillies offense at bay, allowing no hits and no runs for five innings. On the Phillies' side, Jeanmar Gomez and presumably new setup man Luis Garcia pitched a flawless seventh and eighth, respectively, bringing on Ken Giles to close.
Giles gave up a leadoff single to Edwin Encarnacion, but got Chris Colabello and Russell Martin to fly out and line out. Danny Valencia, the Blue Jays' last hope, grounded into a force out at second for the game and Giles' first save of many in his new role for the Phillies.
Jerome Williams, having made one start off the DL, takes on the Blue Jays tomorrow in the second game of the two-game set at 7:07 against knuckleballer R. A. Dickey.
Starting Pitchers
| IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO | HR | ERA | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adam Morgan | 6.0 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4.05 |
| Felix Doubront | 4.0 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 4.76 |
- Morgan: Win; 79 pitches, 50 strikes; 4 groundouts, 8 flyouts; 24 faced batters
- Doubront: Loss; 66 pitches, 41 strikes; 5 groundouts, 0 flyouts; 17 faced batters
Out of the 'Pen
Phillies
- Jeanmar Gomez (7th) : 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 SO, 0 HR, 2.19 ERA
- Luis Garcia (8th) : 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 SO, 0 HR, 3.43 ERA
- Ken Giles (9th) : 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 SO, 0 HR, 1.81 ERA
Blue Jays
- Ryan Tepera (5th): 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 SO, 0 HR, 2.28 ERA
- LaTroy Hawkins (6th): 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 SO, 0 HR, 3.47 ERA
- Brett Cecil (7th): 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 SO, 0 HR, 4.05 ERA
- Liam Hendriks (8th): 2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 5 SO, 0 HR, 2.64 ERA
At the Plate:
Phillies
- Cody Asche: 2-3, 2B, R, 2 RBI, .251 AVG
- Andres Blanco: 1-2, 2B, R, RBI, BB, .276 AVG
- Darin Ruf: 1-2, 2B, R, BB, .250 AVG
Blue Jays
- Devon Travis: 1-2, HR, RBI, .304 AVG
- Russell Martin: 2-4, 2B, R, .263 AVG
- Ryan Goins: 0-2, RBI, .221 AVG
What's Next
- Wednesday, July 29, 2015: at Toronto Blue Jays, 7:07 pm
- RHP Jerome Williams (3-7, 6.28 ERA) vs. RHP R. A. Dickey (4-10, 4.53 ERA)
- TV: CSN; Radio: 94 WIP, 1210 WPHT, WTTM 1680 (Sp.)
Theo DeRosa (@Derosatheo11) is a contributor to Philliedelphia.com.
