The Philadelphia Phillies placed two of their best players on the 10-day injured list before their Friday home game against the Miami Marlins.
Though Bryce Harper (strained left hamstring) and Kyle Schwarber (strained left groin) were out, the Phillies proved they can still win because of their stellar pitching staff.
After left-hander Cristopher Sanchez tossed his first career shutout in a 2-0 victory, the Phillies will turn to right-hander Aaron Nola as the four-game series continues on Saturday.
“I’m so proud of this kid,” Phillies manager Rob Thomson said of Sanchez. “He’s come so far. Now he’s a dominant pitcher in Major League Baseball.”
On Monday against the host Detroit Tigers, Nola (9-3, 3.39 ERA) gave up six hits and one run over seven innings in an 8-1 victory.
Nola is 5-10 with a 3.58 ERA in 23 career starts against the Marlins.
With Harper and Schwarber out, infielder Kody Clemens was activated from the 10-day injured list and outfielder Johan Rojas was called up from Triple-A Lehigh Valley.
Thomson said that he doesn’t expect Harper and Schwarber to be sidelined for more than two weeks. He added that it’s possible both could return before the All-Star break.
“We’re very fortunate. We dodged a bullet,” Thomson said. “I don’t expect them to be out long.”
Harper said, “Bummed to go on the IL. Never wanted that to happen, obviously. But it was the best decision for our team. Hopefully get back in the smartest way possible and quickest way as well.”
Already without J.T. Realmuto, the Phillies inserted Bryson Stott as the leadoff hitter, and he produced an RBI groundout and a sacrifice fly to drive in both Philadelphia runs on Friday.
One night after an impressive 7-4 victory in the series opener, the Marlins fell flat, managing only three hits. They were shut out for the 10th time this season and continued to struggle against left-handed starters.
“He’s one of the better young pitchers in the league,” Marlins manager Skip Schumaker said of Sanchez.
Miami will look to rebound and take a series lead.
“We’ve just got to act like we’re (the better team),” Marlins outfielder Bryan De La Cruz said. “We’re just focused on trying to do what we’ve got to do.”
Rookie right-hander Roddery Munoz (1-3, 5.80 ERA) is expected to start for the Marlins on Saturday.
In Munoz’s latest start, against the host Kansas City Royals on Monday, he allowed six hits, four costly walks and four runs in six innings.
“The problem is command catches up with him,” Schumaker said. “Putting himself in better situations, count-wise, is going to be the key to his development.”
Munoz said after that outing, “My sinker was a little difficult to locate tonight. There were some pitches that were not exactly where I wanted. I was trying to attack, be very aggressive. They were competing and they won in that situation.”
Munoz has never faced the Phillies.
Marlins center fielder Jazz Chisholm Jr. didn’t play Friday, though he was available off the bench, after being hit by a pitch on his right hand Thursday. Schumaker said that X-rays were negative. It was unclear if Chisholm would be in the lineup Saturday.
–Field Level Media
