Rookie Starter Tyler Phillips Shines Again as Phillies Top Pirates to Avoid Post-Break Sweep
Matt Slocum/AP Photo
In the 16th round of the 2015 MLB draft, the Texas Rangers selected Tyler Phillips, a starting pitcher from Bishop Eustace Prep in Pennsauken, New Jersey. At the ripe age of 17, Phillips chose to pursue a full-time career in baseball, inking a deal with Texas and playing for their AZL team. After bouncing around in the minor leagues for six seasons, he was designated for assignment in July of 2021. A few days later, his hometown Phillies signed him to a minor-league contract, but he was released at the end of the season.
Yet again, however, Phillips persevered. He signed another deal with the Phillies in November 2021, and he clawed his way through the Phillies’ organization. On July 7, he made his major-league debut, throwing four quality innings against the Braves’ potent offense. Six days later, he made his first career start—and earned the win—in the same stadium he attended games at growing up. Today, he tossed six shutout innings and lowered his season ERA to just 2.81.
“He goes after hitters, he throws strikes, and he gets people out,” manager Rob Thomson said after the game. “He’s got great composure.”
In just two weeks, Phillips’ life has changed entirely, and he gets to share these new opportunities with the most supportive fanbase in baseball.
“I don’t even know how to describe the emotional rollercoaster that I’ve been on this past week,” Phillips posted via his Instagram. “What I do know is that I’m incredibly proud and excited to be a Philadelphia Phillie!”
Luckily, the Phillies’ offense had Phillips’ back. Pirates’ starter Marco Gonzales was knocked out of the game after 4.2 innings, allowing two runs on six hits and one walk. Overall, the Phils notched eleven hits, with each of their starters reaching base at least once. They had three hits with runners in scoring position, and three different guys recorded two-out RBI.
Weston Wilson started the scoring in the top half of the second, driving in Edmundo Sosa with a sacrifice fly. Soon after, Garrett Stubbs broke an 0-19 with an RBI single. In the seventh, Trea Turner, Bryce Harper, and Alec Bohm each drive in an insurance run, and Nick Castellanos hit a solo home run in the ninth to give the Phillies’ bullpen a six-run cushion.
And after a game like Friday’s, a six-run lead for the Phillies’ scuffling bullpen was exactly what they needed. Yunior Marte threw a scoreless frame in his first appearance since being recalled, and Jose Alvarado threw a solid inning in a low-leverage situation. Most importantly, he did not give any free passes, which have been his Achille’s heel as of late; before today, he had five walks and a 2.63 WHIP in 5.1 innings.
Collectively, the Phillies’ ‘pen tossed three scoreless innings, allowing only two hits and striking out three.
“We did a lot of little things well today,” Thomson said.
During a time when the Phillies are skidding, they found a way to get a scrappy win, and that’s exactly what great teams do.
Now, it’s up to the Phillies to build on this momentum ahead of a mid-week series in Minnesota. For Tyler Phillips, he plans to focus on one thing: tomorrow.
“I kind of just flush outings week-to-week. After this game today, [I] finish[ed] watching the team win, and then [I’m] on to what I’m working on tomorrow,” Phillips told reporters in the clubhouse. “I have a job to do. I go out there, and I don’t like losing and want to put the team in a position to win.”
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