THE DURANTULA: Phillies rally late, Jhoan Duran slams the door shut in debut to beat the Tigers 5-4

Welcome to the jungle, Jhoan Durán. The Phillies’ new closer made his debut Friday night in Citizens Bank Park, and let’s just say he made one hell of an entrance.

With The Undertaker’s gong, which I’m officially switching to the Liberty Bell, echoing throughout The Bank, phone lights twinkling across the stands, and literal fire erupting on the scoreboard, Jhoan Durán took the mound with full WWE villain energy and promptly shut the Tigers down on four pitches.

Jhoan Duran. Absolute Cinema.

4 Pitches. 3 Outs.

THE DURANTULA 🕷️#RingTheBell | #Phillies pic.twitter.com/HYIKCUzSJF

— The Liberty Line (@LibertyLinePHL) August 2, 2025

Game. Set. Save No. 17. And most importantly, his first in red pinstripes.

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Philly Fights Back Without Harper

The Phillies didn’t make it easy on themselves. They were down 3-0 after Gleyber Torres hit a meatball from Ranger Suárez into the seats, and it looked like another sleepy night at the Bank.

Then Bryce Harper got tossed in the 7th for arguing a check swing strike three (which, for the record, he went around), and it finally woke the team up.

The Ump Show featuring Bryce Harper.#RingTheBell pic.twitter.com/0thfDjbtKA

— The Liberty Line (@LibertyLinePHL) August 2, 2025

Trea Turner and Kyle Schwarber came through with RBI singles to tie the game 3-3. And even after Wenceel Pérez put the Tigers back up with a solo shot off Orion Kerkering, the Phillies still weren’t done.

The Wild 8th Inning

That’s when Otto Kemp stepped up with a game-tying RBI double, Edmundo Sosa reached on a wild throw that should’ve ended the inning, and Bryson Stott beat out an infield single on an overturned review that gave the Phillies the 5-4 lead.

DOUBLE TROUBLE pic.twitter.com/OcYzjVldLP

— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) August 2, 2025

Hanifee’s error on the Sosa roller was the real backbreaker for Detroit. The Tigers had the inning wrapped… until they didn’t.

Bullpen Looks Legit

I said it yesterday. This bullpen is not a problem anymore.

You’ve got Durán now locking things down in the 9th, and even though Kerkering gave up a run, he still got the W and has been nails all year. Strahm, Robertson, Banks, Luzardo (soon), Alvarado (maybe), and yes Andrew Painter eventually, this bullpen is loaded with options.

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Thomson now has the flexibility to get creative. But make no mistake: when it’s a 1-run lead in the 9th, it’s Durantula time.

Key Moments

• Hanifee’s wild throw kept the 8th alive.
• Stott’s overturned RBI single gave the Phillies the go-ahead run.
• Durán’s four-pitch save slammed the door in the 9th.

Up Next

Game 2 tomorrow night. Zack Wheeler (9-4, 2.56 ERA) takes the ball against Tigers ace Tarik Skubal (10-3, 2.09 ERA). Buckle up.

Philly rallied. The bullpen held. The closer arrived. This is what October baseball can look like if the Phillies keep showing up.

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