PHILADELPHIA Hours before making his first Major League start, Tyler Phillips walked into the Phillies clubhouse wearing a T-shirt and shorts. Reliever Jos Alvarado, sitting in the corner of the room, called out to him.
"Today is your day, " Alvarado said.
Thanks to Phillips solid performance over six-plus innings, combined with timely plays from Johan Rojas and Nick Castellanos, Phillips' debut as a starter went off without a hitch. Rojas hit a home run and made an incredible catch in center fieldhis second of the weekwhile Castellanos drove in four runs in the Phillies' 11-5 victory over the As at Citizens Bank Park.
Though Phillips wasnt quite as dominant as he had been in his Major League debut on July 7, when he struck out seven in relief against the Braves, his performance was more than enough. The New Jersey native allowed four runs on six hits, striking out six and walking none during his six-plus innings on the mound.
Phillips couldve easily been nervous. A Lumberton, N.J. https://www.philliesplayerfanstore.com/jean_cabrera_jersey-277
, native and graduate of Bishop Eustace Prep, just a short drive from the ballpark, he was pitching in front of a sold-out crowd of 44, 231, many of whom were family and friends. They made their presence felt when Phillips jogged out to the mound to start the game, a moment that was set up by Bryce Harper.
"Every time Ive come across the bridge to the field, my heart's been racing, " Phillips admitted. "When I take the mound, its hard to put into words how emotional its been."
After getting a lead, Phillips settled in and retired eight consecutive batters following a leadoff single in the fourth. By the sixth, he needed just seven pitches to finish the inning. Phillips exited the game to a standing ovation in the seventh, despite giving up back-to-back hitsincluding a solo homer to Brent Rooker.
It was almost impossible to keep it together, Phillips said. The standing ovation in Philly, I wasnt expecting it. It was emotional, and I was fighting back tears. To have that kind of support means so much to me.
In the second inning, with a runner on and the Phillies down 1-0 https://www.philliesplayerfanstore.com/kolby_allard_jersey-254
, Phillips avoided more damage thanks to a spectacular grab by Rojas. The center fielder sprinted toward the warning track, making a difficult catch that helped keep the game close.
"I thought it was going to get by him, " Phillips said. "But just when I thought it was over, Rojas is right there to make the play. He said, You know me, I got it. Hes made plays like that countless times in the Minors. That catch was a huge momentum shift."
Phillips outing also made him one of just six players since 1893 to record at least 12 strikeouts and zero walks in their first two appearances. Manager Rob Thomson noted that Phillips earned another turn in the rotation.
He was really efficient, Thomson said. He made an adjustment during the game, going from breaking balls to his sinker, which had great movement. That led to a lot of soft contact and broken bats.
Meanwhile, the Phillies offense came to life after struggling in the series opener. Castellanos and Trea Turner each homered off As starter Mitch Spence, who allowed six earned runs on five hits in just 3 2/3 innings.
The As threatened in both the seventh and eighth innings, but the Phillies bullpen managed to work out of both jams. Harper further extended the lead with a solo shot in the seventhhis first against every MLB teambefore adding a two-run double in the eighth.
The game capped off a dream start for Phillips, who plans to spend the All-Star break at the Jersey Shore with his family. But before all that, he had more pressing matters on his mind.
"Right now, I just want to go get a cheesesteak, " Phillips said with a smile.