PHILADELPHIA — Some starters will retire to the clubhouse immediately after their outing is done. Or they’ll get treatment, do a workout, or watch video. Everyone is different. But on Friday night, Cristopher Sánchez threw his final pitch of the night and decided to wait a while.
He walked up the dugout steps, hung his arms over the railing, and watched as his team went to bat in the bottom of the sixth at Citizens Bank Park. The Phillies trailed by a run after Sánchez gave up a two-run home run to Stone Garrett in the second following a throwing error by Trea Turner that put a man on. Regardless, Sanchez went six strong innings, his longest start of the season. When he did find himself in jams, he was able to get out of them. Sixty-three of his 87 pitches were strikes. He allowed six hits, two runs (one earned), and one walk with six strikeouts.
Initially, it looked the Phillies would reward that performance. Trea Turner led off with a single to center field. Nick Castellanos followed with a single to right field to put runners on first and second, and Turner stole third base. But Bryce Harper and J.T. Realmuto popped out and Bryson Stott struck out, and the momentum was gone.
