MIAMI — There was a time, shortly after Cristian Pache was acquired, when his at-bats would bring a sense of dread. Some fans suggested that a pitcher would have a better chance of getting a hit. The thought of manager Rob Thomson pinch-hitting that version of Pache was unfathomable.
But a lot has changed since then. Pache has worked hard with hitting coach Kevin Long. He’s staying back. He’s using his hips and his lower body more. He’s keeping his head still. And all of that work paid off in a big way — in the form of a game-winning two-run homer — in the Phillies’ 4-3 win on Friday night.
The Phillies’ offense looked largely dormant until the top of the ninth inning. J.T. Realmuto led off with a single, and Alec Bohm doubled in Realmuto following a Bryson Stott strikeout. Josh Harrison struck out, and with two outs, Thomson chose to pinch-hit Pache for Brandon Marsh.
