Moniak is on fire, JT Realmuto leads the Phillies to 5-1 victory over Pirates
The Phillies beat the Pirates 5-1 behind JT Realmuto’s 2 RBI day, as the team completed their last home game in Clearwater, Florida in preparation of Opening Day.
Phillies Quick Hits
The Phillies made their final cuts and the Opening Day Roster is set!
Ryan Conway details the new food you can shove down your gullet at Citizen Bank Park.
Phillies will carry both Alec Bohm and Bryson Stott on their roster for Opening Day
Budweiser releases Phillies throwback-branded beer cans
Phillies lost 5-2 to the Yankees thanks to an Aaron Judge 3-run homer.
Spring Training: Pirates @ Phillies
- Phillies Win 5-1
- Winning Pitcher Zach Eflin (2-0)
- Losing Pitcher Zach Thompson (1-1)
JT Realmuto showed off his sweet swing, lacing a single to the opposite field in the 1st inning.
The Best Catcher in Baseball
Tom McCarthy and John Kruk went into detail how Realmuto and other MLB catchers are using an electronic device called PitchCom to deter opposing teams from stealing their signs.
The pitcher wears an audio device in his hat that receives signals from a wrist device (shown above) worn by the catcher. The device has nine buttons that the catcher uses to call pitch type and location.
I had no idea this was already being used in the MLB. But I support any technology that keeps rats like the Astros and Red Sox from cheating and ruining the game.
Nick Castellanos smashed this Zach Thompson sinker off the base of the center field wall putting the Phillies up 1-0.
Zach Eflin had a nice day pitching to a line of 3.2 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 7 K
I had my doubts this offseason that a person as large as Eflin (6’6” 220 lbs), would be able to navigate a seamless return from knee surgery. So far, Eflin has more than alleviated my concern, showing no signs of decreased velocity or evidence that he is favoring his lower body.
In 9.2 innings of work this spring, Eflin struck out eleven hitters, while walking only two and surrendering just one earned run. Although we have yet to see Zach Wheeler this pre season, you could argue Zach was the Phillies most impressive pitcher.
Zach Eflin struck out two Pirates during a scoreless 2nd inning including this nasty curveball to get Diego Castillo.
A surging Mickey Moniak entered the day batting .344 and has become the feel-good story of Spring Training. Moniak dropped this single down the right field line successfully moving a runner from first to third.
It’s honestly incredible that a few simple adjustments including moving Mickey’s feet closer to the plate are behind his complete transformation. This offseason, hitting coach Kevin Long watched every at bat of Moniak’s professional career and instantly recognized changes that would benefit the former top pick. Only two months later the relationship between the two appears to have already paid fantastic dividends.
JT Realmuto continued his big day with a bases-loaded single into left center, driving home two runs and extending the Phillies lead to 3-1.
Realmuto finished the game 2-3, 1 R, 2 RBI and is quietly having a strong spring slashing .371/.421/.571.
In the 3rd inning, Bryan Reynolds drove in a run for the Pirates to cut the Phillies lead to 3-1.
Zach Eflin had a nice day pitching to a line of 3.2 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 7 K
I had my doubts this offseason that a person as large as Eflin (6’6” 220 lbs), would be able to make a seamless return from knee surgery. So far, Eflin has more than alleviated my concern, showing no signs of decreased velocity or evidence that he is favoring his lower body.
In 9.2 innings of work this spring, Eflin struck out eleven hitters, while walking only two and surrendering just one earned run. Although we have yet to see Zach Wheeler this pre season, you could argue Zach was the Phillies most impressive pitcher.
Mickey Moniak with another single through the hole on the right side of the infield.
Moniak finished the day 2-3, with 2 runs bumping his average up to .371.
Kyle Schwarber obliterated this sinker 420 feet over the center field wall to put the Phillies comfortably up 5-1 in the 8th inning.
When he’s on, Jeurys Familia looks like one of the best relievers in baseball. Familia struck out the side in the 8th inning throwing just 12 pitches including this slider-splitter-slider sequence.
Up Next for the Phillies
The Phillies play their last game of Spring Training Wednesday as they take on the Rays at Tropicana Field in Tampa. First pitch is 12:35 p.m.
NBC Sports Philly WILL NOT carry the game. Stick with TheLibertyLine.com for the game recap and all other breaking Phillies news.
