While managing the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2013, Don Mattingly oversaw a midseason turnaround that called for a greater escape than the one his Philadelphia Phillies need to make it out of the National League cellar this season.
Two games into his run as the Phillies’ interim manager, there’s optimism the former Dodgers and Miami Marlins skipper can get a team with the largest payroll in franchise history back on track toward the postseason after Rob Thomson’s firing.
Philadelphia has won back-to-back games for the first time since the first week of April. In Game 1 of a split doubleheader against the San Francisco Giants on Thursday, the Phillies emerged victorious in walk-off fashion.
The 3-2 comeback win was clinched with an infield single from rookie outfielder Justin Crawford, who, according to MLB.com’s Sarah Langs, joined Baseball Hall of Famer Scott Rolen as the second Phillies player in the last 50 years with multiple walk-off RBI at 22 years old or younger.
The Phillies (11-19) entered the ninth inning trailing the Giants (13-17) by one run. Facing a 2-1 deficit, Adolis García reached first on an infield single of his own. He scored on a game-tying Bryson Stott triple down the right-field line.
Soon after, with Stott still on third and two outs, Crawford went the opposite way, sending a ground ball to shortstop. Crawford, a 2022 first-round pick of the Phillies, raced to first and beat the throw, plating Stott in the process.
The Phillies’ lone run before that came in the bottom of the first inning, after the Giants staked themselves to a 2-0 lead in the top half of the frame.
Philadelphia designated hitter Kyle Schwarber lifted a 91-mph cutter from San Francisco starter Logan Webb 406 feet into the second deck of the right-field seats.
With that swing, Schwarber became the ninth active MLB player to hit 350 home runs. It was his 10th big fly of the season and 197th dinger with the Phillies, whom he started playing with during the 2022 campaign.
The Phillies, who took the series opener 7-0 on Tuesday, are making up Wednesday’s rained-out game in Game 2 of Thursday’s doubleheader.
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