OAKLAND, Calif. — Through four innings Saturday, there had been exactly one hit off Cristopher Sánchez, the latest pitcher to ride on the Phillies’ fifth-starter carousel.
And if that hit hadn’t literally gone off Sánchez — as in, off his left hand — this story may have been different.
Instead, Sánchez spiked his mitt after absorbing the glancing blow of Esteury Ruiz’s comebacker to open the fourth inning. He stayed in the game, even striking out the heart of the Athletics’ order to side-step a two-on, no-out jam.
