Main takeaways from Phillies’ sold-out intrasquad game

PHILADELPHIA, PA — The Phillies’ fantastic idea of hosting fans for their intrasquad game had a tremendous turnout on Wednesday night: a beautiful, 70-degree night with a technically sold-out crowd of 31,343 at Citizens Bank Park for the seven-inning scrimmage, which ended with a 3-0 victory for the powder blue team over the pinstripes.

The game concluded with a Jhoan Duran scoreless frame, and all of the Phillies players and coaches came out and tipped their caps to the crowd.

It was a great tune-up for when there are roughly 11,000 more fans packed into the ballpark on Saturday night for Game 1 of the NLDS.

The game came with highlights and some troubles. Here were my main takeaways from a fabulous night in South Philadelphia:

• Jesus Luzardo started the game for the powder blues, setting him up to start either Game 2 on Monday or Game 3 on the road Wednesday. He was magnificent. In the first inning, he carved Trea Turner, Kyle Schwarber, and Harrison Bader, getting the trio to strike out swinging. He loaded the bases in his third and final inning, including a throwing error by Edmundo Sosa at shortstop, a base hit from Turner, and a walk to Bader. Luzardo escaped with his ninth strikeout. Yes, all nine outs he recorded came via the strikeout. It was an impressive outing by Luzardo, who allowed just two hits and one walk while throwing 60 pitches. 

• Aaron Nola got the start for the pinstripes. Nola’s NLDS case is interesting. While it is likely he will not make a start in the best-of-five series, it is unclear if he will pitch out of the bullpen or not, which is something he has never done before. Nola went three innings as well on Wednesday, allowing two hits and striking out three batters on 41 pitches.

• The Walker-Walker duo came in for the fourth. Taijuan Walker had the top half, and he was not very good. His first three batters consisted of a walk to Bryson Stott, a base hit to Rafael Marchan, and a walk to Weston Wilson. He escaped the frame without allowing a run, thanks to a sweet 5-2-3 double play turned by Alec Bohm and Garrett Stubbs. In the bottom of the fourth, Walker Buehler did not shine either. He also walked two batters, allowed a home run to Bryce Harper, and an RBI single to Stubbs. If anyone’s case was helped Wednesday night, it was Nola.

• Harper’s home run off of Buehler was no cheapie, who left a center-cut fastball that Harper sent over the 401 sign in dead center field. Harper had a great night, going 3-for-4 with two singles and the home run. He is ready to go for the postseason.

Bryce Harper just homered off Walker Buehler. Powder blues are up on the pinstripes. pic.twitter.com/J4UJNkzKrZ

— John Clark (@JClarkNBCS) October 1, 2025

• The Phillies struck out a lot. 20 times, to be exact. Schwarber struck out twice in a night where he did not reach base, Bader struck out twice, Max Kepler went down on strikes three times and did not get on base, and Wilson and Sosa each struck out twice. Bohm also went 0-for-4 with a strikeout. A lot of those at-bats were uncompetitive. Now, whether this was due to not seeing live-pitching since Sunday or they had never watched tape or studied the pitchers that they were facing, I am not sure. However, we are all too familiar with strikeouts and chasing balls outside the zone in the postseason. Hopefully, they were just getting it out of the way.

• The backup catchers both had good nights at the plate. Stubbs went 2-for-3 with two singles and an RBI. It was Stubbs’ first hits in a major league park in 2025. Rafael Marchan posted a 2-for-3 night with two hard-hit singles, as well. Marchan could get some big at-bats in the postseason, so it was good to see him rope the ball. Stubbs, on the other hand, likely will not make the roster. Yes, Stubbs can remain in the clubhouse and party with the team if they clinch a series. Do not worry, the Chief Vibes Officer will stick around.

• Tim Mayza entered the game in the fifth inning, which I found significant. He struck out Marsh looking, forced Bohm to line out, allowed a pair of singles to Harper and Realmuto, and got Castellanos to ground into a fielder’s choice. The Phillies are short on left-handed relievers. Mayza, despite the two hits, helped his case to make the roster, especially with the struggles of Lou Trivino, who did not appear Wednesday night.

• David Robertson, Tanner Banks, Matt Strahm, and Orion Kerkering all came in out of the bullpen. Banks was the only one who did not toss a scoreless frame, as three hits brought in a run against him.

• Duran came on in the bottom of the seventh. The score was 3-0 in favor of the powder blues, who had already sealed the win in the top half of the frame, but it never hurts to get some extra reps. And certainly never damages to watch Duran’s light show entrance, which was on full display at Citizens Bank Park Wednesday night. Duran’s first batter was Harper, which was very exciting at the time, but only lasted two pitches, as Harper grounded out to second base. Duran allowed a poke single to Realmuto, got Castellanos to ground into a fielder’s choice, and then struck out Sosa to end the ballgame. Duran’s fastball reached 102 mph.

• For the minor league call-ups who participated, they went a combined 0-for-9. Rafael Lantigua played third for the pinstripes and reached on Sosa’s error, and Caleb Ricketts was at first. Donovan Walton manned second base for the powder blue.

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