Castellanos, Harper power Phillies in rain shortened 2-2 tie
The Phillies tied the Blue Jays 2-2 in Dunedin on Saturday afternoon behind the timely hitting of Bryce Harper and Nick Castellanos. The game was halted after a torrential downpour in the 6th inning.
Phillies Quick Hits:
Luke Arcaini previews who’s in and who’s out of the Phillies Opening Day roster.
People are still sleeping on the Phillies and their odds to win the World Series.
Bryce Harper paid tribute to fellow NL MVP Mike Schmidt in the 2022 Phillies Media Guide.
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Spring Training: Phillies @ Blue Jays
- Phillies Tie Blue Jays 2-2 (6 innings)
- Winning Pitcher Rain
- Losing Pitcher Rain
- Save Rain
The Phillies chose to throw strictly bullpen arms rather than a traditional starter for today’s game in which the Jays started their ace Jose Berrios.
Bryce Haper pulled this fastball from Jose Berrios into right field for a double, allowing JT Realmuto to reach third base.
Nick Castellanos, who will probably have 120 RBI batting behind Bryce Harper, hit this 86 mph changeup into left center, driving home Harper and Realmuto to put the Phillies up 2-0.
Alec Bohm lined this sinker down the right field line for a single in the 2nd inning. Bohm raised his average to .222 this spring and continues to make his case to make the Opening Day roster. Bohm, who began spring training as the favorite to win the third base job, has quickly fallen behind Bryson Stott and Johan Camargo in the infield pecking order.
Bohm has looked better as of late but would surely benefit from getting everyday at bats in Lehigh Valley rather than struggling to find his groove as a pinch hitter.
One of the keys to the success of the Phillies bullpen, Jeurys Familia, struck out two hitters during a clean 2nd inning of work. Familia is essentially replacing longtime reliever Hector Neris, who managed to blow 12 games last season in which the Phillies set the all-time mark for futility in this area.
I honestly still can’t believe fans were upset when Neris signed with the Astros this offseason.
He sucked ass.
Newly acquired gold glove winning third basemen Matt Chapman sent this changeup from Christopher Sanchez into left field for a solo shot to tie the game at 2-2.
Throughout the offseason, I was begging for the Phillies to trade for Chapman. His glove would have instantly upgraded the left side of the infield and raised the floor of a team many expect to field the worst defense in all of baseball.
But the Phillies were reportedly unwilling to part with either of their top pitching prospects in Mick Abel and Andrew Painter. Alec Bohm, who only a season earlier could have been the center piece of the trade, saw his stock tumble with his sophomore slump in 2021.
I don’t blame the Phillies for wanting to hold on to their recent 1st round picks, but remains a great example of how the Phillies developmental woes have kept them from improving the club outside of free agency.
In the 6th inning dark skies began to form as the temperamental South Florida weather sent both sides to the clubhouse seeking shelter from the storm.
Anyone hoping for the storm to move through the area, would be quickly disappointed as torrential rain pelted the field and forced these poor, wet Blue Jays employees to perform like clowns as buzzed fans cheer them on.
For anyone wondering, this is not fun.
The infield tarp is already heavy let alone with hundreds of pounds of water on top of it. And once wind gusts get underneath the material, the force can literally lift you up off of your feet. In 2011, while working for the Nationals Single-A team, I tore my rotator cuff attempting to wrangle a wind battered infield cover in a scene very similar to this one.
Instead of cheering from your warm, dry spot in the stands, head directly to the nearest concession stand to buy these poor souls (who are probably interns making $0/hr) a cold beer.
Up Next for the Phillies
The Phillies take on Detroit in Clearwater on Sunday at 1:05 p.m.
NBC Sports Philly WILL carry the game!
Mandatory Photo Credit: Philadelphia Phillies
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