PHILADELPHIA -- Within the brick facade of Citizens Bank Park in South Philadelphia, history occurred Wednesday evening. Beautiful weather in the historic city became the backdrop for another gorgeous outing from the Phillies starting pitcher, Cristopher Sánchez.
Sitting at 44 ⅔ straight scoreless innings, good for seventh all-time, Philadelphia’s left-hander hoisted the team - and a historic feat - onto his six-foot-six-inch frame and carried both as far as he could - setting an MLB record and earning the win.
Sánchez would need to start with just three innings scoreless to move from seventh to fifth all-time (third in the live-ball era) and secure the record for most consecutive scoreless innings by a left-handed pitcher in major league history. He got there without surrendering a hit.
Innings four through six, he scattered two singles. Then came the seventh.
With two outs, including his eighth and final strikeout, the lanky lefty would allow back-to-back hits - a double by Ty France and a single from Jackson Merrill - and the streak…was over.
"You know, at some point it's going to end," interim manager Don Mattingly said postgame. "I think it would have been a lot worse if we didn't win. So getting the win there is a good feeling, but obviously Sanchie puts himself in the history books...I know my vocabulary probably is not good enough for him, right now, but it's just been amazing to watch."
With a smile on his face as France crossed the plate, he stood in the middle of the well-groomed diamond and took in the adulation from the Philly Phaithful. A standing ovation followed, fitting for the moment and for a man who now stands tall atop the franchise’s all-time list - with left-handed history to boot.
His teammates greeted him with excitement and pride, knowing the job wasn't done. "Obviously, these guys love Sanche, and he's been great for us as a team," Mattingly said. "At that point, it's not exactly a six or seven-run lead, you know? We're in a game, and you're still kind of focused on trying to win a game at that point."
Sánchez finished the game with eight strikeouts, due in large part to his season-high tying 10 batters that he started with a 0-2 count. A remarkable run for an outstanding pitcher.
Despite his dominance, there was a chance Cristopher would leave tonight without a win, regardless of what the team was able to do after he left the game.
Almost as if they were not going to let that happen, the Phillies' bats found their slug. Sánchez’s battery mate, J.T. Realmuto, got to work quickly in saving his pitcher’s win. He clobbered his third home run of the season to left field, making the score 2-1.
Mattingly was asked if it felt apropos that his teammates picked him up so quickly, especially after he had done the same for them time and time again. "That was great to see because that kind of game, it's like you don't want it to get away...I think we've wasted one of those before, where he's thrown so well and we don't really score for him. But today it was good to see that."
With two outs, Kyle Schwarber followed suit with a long ball of his own, No. 23 on the season for the team leader. That extra run would turn out to be pivotal. Not only for the sake of Sánchez earning the win, but the team securing a victory in both the game and the series.
Brad Keller would force a run in by hitting a batter with the bases loaded. He was able to battle out of it one batter later - the lead and the win for the starter both still intact.
As has become customary, Jhoan Duran entered the game and slammed the door shut, securing save No. 14 on the season.
Sánchez may have lost his streak, but he and the Phillies won the game - and the series. They have an opportunity to sweep the Padres (again) tomorrow at 1:05 p.m.
