Game Recap: Phillies Ride Sanchez’s Hot Start, Win 4-1

With a new contract in tow, Cristopher Sanchez and the Philadelphia Phillies got to work early on Sunday as they took down the Arizona Diamondbacks 4-1 in a rare 11:35 A.M. start. 

The Phillies improve to 51-26 on the season and maintain a 7.5-game lead over the Atlanta Braves in the National League East. 

Striking first

Making his first start since securing a contract extension with the Phillies, Cristopher Sanchez quickly dispatched the first two batters faced in the top of the first. Then he let up a single to Lourdes Gurriel Jr. to give the Diamondbacks their first baserunner of the day. Christian Walker then slugged a line drive to the warning track in center field, where Brandon Marsh made a jumping catch into the wall to end the inning with no damage for the Phillies.

The Phillies’ first baserunner would come in the form of Alec Bohm, who hit a leadoff double into left field to start the bottom of the second inning. On the next pitch, Nick Castellanos scored Bohm on a single into left field, giving the Phillies the early 1-0 lead.

How starters performed

Diamondbacks starter Slade Cecconi only lasted three innings against the Phillies, despite allowing just one run. The Phillies put together five hits off of Cecconi over those three innings.

Meanwhile, Sanchez worked through the Diamondbacks order with little to no issues, pitching seven innings on the day. Sanchez only allowed three hits on the day while striking out four batters.

Even more impressive for the Phillies, Sanchez managed to pitch through seven innings with only 80 pitches thrown. Sanchez’s command was on point on the day, proving he is worth the four-year, $22.5 million contract he just signed with the Phillies. He now owns a 2.67 ERA on the season and is knocking on the door of a potential All-Star Game appearance in a few weeks.

Phillies pull ahead

With one out in the bottom of the sixth, Bryson Stott and Brandon Marsh worked back-to-back walks to put two runners on for the Phillies. Then, with David Dahl at the plate, pitcher Justin Martinez got called on a balk, moving both runners into scoring position. The extra 90 feet would come into play very quickly as Dahl hit a single into right field, scoring both runners.

While the scoring would be finished for the inning, the extracurriculars were not. After a pitching change, Joe Mantiply entered the contest for the D-Backs on the mound and was immediately called on a pitch clock violation. D-Backs bench coach Jeff Bannister was unhappy with the decision, stating so to home plate umpire Ben May before getting ejected from the game.

Following the seventh-inning stretch, Bryce Harper led off the bottom of the seventh by stretching out a double into left field. Bohm was then hit by a pitch before Castellanos popped out for the first out of the inning. With two runners on base, Bryson Stott worked his first hit of the day, a single into left field, to score Harper and increase the Phillies’ lead to 4-0.

Call to the Bullpen

Though Sanchez likely could have returned to the mound for the top of the eighth, manager Rob Thomson elected to go the bullpen, giving Jose Alvarado the ball. Alvarado quickly dispatched the D-Backs in order, striking out Randal Grichuk and Eugenio Suarez in the inning.

Jeff Hoffman then got his turn in the top of the ninth, but found himself behind quickly, allowing a leadoff double to pinch-hitter Geraldo Perdomo, two batters later, after a lineout from Corbin Carroll, a single from Ketel Marte scored Perdomo as the Diamondbacks got on the board with two outs remaining.

Hoffman then faced hot-hitting Joc Pederson, a pinch hitter, striking him out to get the second out of the inning. Gurriel then managed his second hit of the day, putting runners on the corners for the Diamondbacks with Christian Walker due up to the plate representing the tying run.

Hoffman got Walker to bite on a first-pitch slider, forcing into a ground out to third for the final out as the Phillies secured the victory 4-1, earning the series victory over the Diamondbacks.

What’s Next

The Phillies will now travel to Motor City for a quick pit stop against the Detroit Tigers. Monday and Tuesday’s contests are scheduled for 6:40 p.m. start times while Wednesday is slated to begin at 1:10 p.m.