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BOX SCORE
Playoffs?
Hey, based on recent history …
The Phillies have 14 more games until the All-Star break, but in practice Saturday was the middle of the season, Match 81. The Phils beat the Nationals in a clapper, 3-2, to improve to 44-37 (see first take ).
Last season, eight teams were 44-37 in the official midpoint season. All eight teams ended up making the playoffs
This fact, together with the way the Phils have fought against the playoff caliber competitions in the last five weeks, has a young team that believes
. Said manager Gabe Kapler, "but certainly the closer we get and the longer we hang out and we are not only in the race, but in many ways in a really strong position, yes, it becomes more tangible.
The Phils have their final series Sunday afternoon against the Nationals, then they play 13 games in a row against the Orioles, Pirates, Mets and Marlins.
These four clubs total 71 games under the .500 mark. Their collective winning percentage of .391 means that the Phillies play the equivalent of a team of 100 losses for two consecutive weeks leading up to the All Star break.
If June was the month to stay alive, July is the month to take
"I felt like we were in a strong position in the month and we knew it was going to be a major test", declared Kapler. "We knew that there would be bumps and bruises along the way, but it was a very difficult road trip when we went to the West, but I think we went hand in hand with some of the best baseball teams. I still have a long way to go, but I think we are in a good position, a strong position.
Saturday's win was one of the best that the Phillies have had all season. If they lost, you would have heard again about the ineffectiveness of the pen. But this time, in front of a crowd of 42,746 spectators at a fireworks party at Citizens Bank Park, the Phils paddock took up the task.
Victor Arano launched two innings without scoring after a Velasquez injury. Tommy Hunter launched the fifth and sixth. Adam Morgan scored a 1-2-3 double and was bailed out by Yacksel Rios after putting the first two men in the eighth. And Seranthony Dominguez, once again, closed the door in the ninth, working around a Daniel Murphy doublé
"It was actually quite rewarding for the players," Kapler said. "Just because when we lost Vinny and our paddock was a little taxed, we thought about how we would get through the game. First, how are we going to play the game, make sure that we had enough and then we fought, we stayed in the game and we scored a few runs, and suddenly we had the impression of being in a position to win the game.
point, this kind of game becomes a playoff game and we are doing everything in our power to win it. "
With the win, the Phils conclude the book on June 13 at 14:14. Definitely, a better score anyone expecting after their victory 1-7 start of the month
A month ago, the idea that the Phillies remain in contention in the second half seemed unrealistic, which looked like an early season which would inevitably lead to the fainting of June
.] But you can not not underestimate the impact of a young team growing through a stretch that included some horrific losses and setbacks. This is not when this extension hits the Brewers, Cubs, Yankees, Nationals, Braves, Dodgers, Giants, Cardinals and Rockies.
"We are starting to have a little taste," Vince Velasquez said. "And we know what will happen."
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