PITTSBURGH — Before the Phillies game against the Pirates on Thursday night, interim manager Rob Thomson told his players to not take their 40-58 opponents for granted. “Get the lead,” he told them. “Step on the gas pedal.”
Initially, it seemed like his message resonated. The Phillies tallied 15 hits and eight runs in an 8-7 win against the Pirates to take game one of a four-game set at PNC Park this weekend. Starting pitcher Zack Wheeler went seven innings, allowing three hits (including one home run), two earned runs, and three walks with eight strikeouts. Kyle Schwarber hit a three-run home run that traveled 406 feet and nearly left the ballpark. Schwarber, Alec Bohm, Rhys Hoskins, Matt Vierling and Nick Castellanos all had multihit games.
But then the bullpen reared its ugly head. Mainly, Jeurys Familia, who entered the ninth inning with an 8-2 lead, and gave up five earned runs and four hits to make it 8-6. He recorded only one out. Seranthony Domínguez came in after Familia and gave up an RBI groundout that brought in an inherited runner to make it 8-7, but induced a flyout to end the game.
