Most nights, the story will be a five-stroke barrage.
Not on this, though.
Rhys Hoskins, Nick Castellanos, and Darek Hall broke through in the first half and JT Realmoto and Kyle Schwarber joined the Power Party later.
But Kyle Gibson stole the show on Friday night.
“It was very fun to catch,” Realmuto said. “That was the most I’ve seen his stuff all season.”
Gibson tackled No Harm in leading the Phillies to a 7-2 victory over the humble Washington Nationals at Citizens Bank Park.
The 34-year-old right-handed pitched baseball perfectly through six innings. He lost his bid for the perfect game when Victor Robles hit a court to miss the seventh game. He then gave up a base kick to Luis Garcia to lose his no-hitting opportunity.
The night was still very special for Gibson. He reached a season high of eight innings, losing only two hits and a run. He walked one and hit four and hit two hits because he’s tired late in the game.
The outstanding performance carried a little extra meaning to Gibson. He missed his earlier start to attend the funeral of his grandmother, Von Gibson, who died at her Indiana home last week at the age of 84.
“She was a really special woman, so proud of all her grandchildren,” Gibson said.
The thrower added that he was inspired by his grandmother’s memory while throwing it.
He said, “No doubt.”
The Gibson gem and display of Phillies’ dramatic power helped make the night the latest reminder that these Phillies might have something special brewing. Since June 1, they are between 37 and 19 years old. (The Atlanta Braves and Los Angeles Dodgers were the only two major teams with better records since then.) The Phils have gone from shipwrecked to contender in the playoff, and currently dominate the third and final place for the NL wild card.
Friday night’s win was the Phillies’ ninth in their last 11 games and propelled them into the top 10 of the season over 0.500 at 58-48.
Phils was 22-29 years old when Rob Thompson took over for Joe Girardi as manager on June 3. Thompson’s first order of business was to meet with the team and tell the players to simply focus on getting to the .500. Once they get there, the focus on getting to five games will be over 0.500, and once they get there, the focus on 10 games will be over 0.500.
Now, they are there.
Thompson became a nominee for this year’s National League Manager.
as temporary leader.
Phillies have won 16 of their last 18 games against the Nationals, dated July 2021. Among them are eight wins in 10 games this season. The Phils still have nine more players to play against the Nats this season, and the mopping up against them will strongly help Phils’ playoff chances. They haven’t been there for 10 years.
“We’re playing baseball better for longer periods of time this season,” Realmuto said. “We feel like the best baseball game is still ahead.”
Gibson received a lot of support early on when the Phils knocked out three first-rounders against Washington’s Josiah Gray. Hoskins and Hull had solo shots and rookie Castellanos followed Realmuto’s hat-trick with a two-round shot, his second in three matches. Realmuto hit Homer twice in the third inning and Schwarber hit the lead at NL 34 in the seventh inning.
In addition to supporting the running, Gibson received an excellent defense from third baseman Alec Bohm, who kept the non-hit show alive with a diving and throwing game through diamonds to finish sixth.
After that play, it’s time to research some harmless facts about the Phillies, just in case. Phils 13 has had no hitter in franchise history. Cole Hummels last played on July 25, 2015, his last start with the club.
Gibson admitted that he started considering the possibility of persuading a non-batting player in the fourth inning.
“I don’t know how men don’t think about that,” he said. “Once you did that during the first time in the standings and didn’t let a primary runner into the fourth inning, I think about that.”
In the end, Gibson didn’t join the harmless club, but he certainly had a night to remember. After giving up the blow to Garcia on the seventh, he was given a standing ovation by a crowd of 22,024.
“That was great,” he said. “I appreciate the cheering on the seventh when I gave up on the hit. It’s always great to have that kind of energy and for the fans to be locked up like that.”
On a very wet night, Gibson was tired at eight, hit the second batter and allowed a second hit and fly-by. Robles hit to finish the inning and punched his glove in victory as he walked down the hill.
Brad Hand allowed a ninth-place finish to the win.
Ranger Suarez and Patrick Corbin will take off on Saturday night in a battle between lefties.
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