A triple play highlighted another successful week for the Philadelphia Phillies. They approach the midway point of the season in control of the National League East with the best run differential in the majors at +122.

Taijuan Walker might not pitch in the starting rotation despite a lucrative contract. Spencer Turnbull might not stay healthy for an entire season.

It doesn’t change the fact that the Phillies are among the elite tier of MLB teams and one of the favorites to win the World Series.

Phillies vs. Arizona Diamondbacks

• Friday 6/21: Loss 5-4
• Saturday 6/22: Win 12-1
• Sunday 6/23: Win 4-1

Phillies vs. Detroit Tigers

• Monday 6/24: Win 8-1
• Tuesday 6/25: Loss 4-1
• Wednesday 6/26: Win 6-2

All stats through the 80th game of the 2024 season on June 26

• Aaron Nola Turns A Triple Play

  Baseball weirdly creates timeless memories over the daily grind of a 162-game season. Phillies fans who tuned in Monday night saw a play they’ll never forget.

  Aaron Nola caught a line drive on the mound off the bat of his former teammate Matt Vierling in the third inning. The two Detroit base runners read the play incorrectly and opened the door for the Nola, Bryce Harper, and Alec Bohm to turn the first 1-3-5 triple play in 95 years.

  Fans remember clutch home runs and overpowering strikeouts. However, they’re much more likely to excitedly anticipate those moments. Nobody watches a game specifically looking for a triple play.

  Nola started the turn so quickly that the live audience probably took as long as the base runners to realize what even happened.

  The conversation in the 97.5 The Fanatic studio shifted to the staff talking about where they watched the Eric Bruntlett unassisted triple play in 2009. The memories were bizarrely vivid, and the same type of conversation will take place about Aaron Nola in 15 more years.

  The Phillies broadcast shared a story about Nola “thanking” Vierling. The veteran Phillies starter sent bottles of bourbon to each of his teammates shortly after Vierling left Philadelphia in the trade that brought Gregory Soto to the Phillies.

  Vierling finally got his favor from a friend playfully mocking him by sending a bottle to his locker to celebrate the triple play.

  Jayson Stark on X (formerly Twitter): "According to the invaluable SABR Triple Play Database, this was the first 1-3-5 trifecta in 95 years!The first since the Tigers turned one on July 11, 1929 against the Red Sox.And the weirdest/wildest part is ...It also happened IN DetroitBaseball! https://t.co/WEkUq3fQ7A / X"

  According to the invaluable SABR Triple Play Database, this was the first 1-3-5 trifecta in 95 years!The first since the Tigers turned one on July 11, 1929 against the Red Sox.And the weirdest/wildest part is ...It also happened IN DetroitBaseball! https://t.co/WEkUq3fQ7A

• Tarik Skubal 'Stuck It' To The Phillies

  The pitching matchup on Tuesday night in Detroit could’ve been a preview of the MLB All-Star Game. Tarik Skubal outdueled Ranger Suarez to bring the Tigers a victory, however.

  Detroit’s 27-year-old breakout lefty struck out seven over seven scoreless innings. He blew his fastball by Phillies hitters in the high 90s with an especially successful approach throwing the high heat. Skubal also mixed in a change-up lower in the zone to keep hitters off balance.

  “He stuck it to the Phillies. He was on top of his game. The Phillies were not up to task.” -Ricky Bottalico

  Skubal got some help in the field behind him while Trea Turner and Bryce Harper couldn’t bail out Ranger Suarez. Both high-priced Phillies stars misplayed balls that were scored hits during a tough fifth inning that accounted for all four of Detroit’s runs.

  Rob Thomson calmed the competitive edge of a frustrated Suarez in the dugout in the sixth inning.

  The Phillies manager praised Skubal’s impressive effort after the game.

  “That’s one of the better performances we’ve seen this year. He’s got really good stuff. He comes right after you. He throws strikes. The secondary pitchers were really good. The heater gets on you. He’s got really good stuff. He should be an All-Star.” –Rob Thomson

  Suarez still leads the majors in ERA at 2.01 while Skubal sits fourth at 2.32.

  

• Quiet(er) Dominance

  The Phillies have won two games in each of their last three three-game series. The victories might not match the outrageous dominance they showed before Memorial Day. However, they indicate that the Phillies can sustain success over a long season.

  The afternoon rubber match win against the Tigers pushed the Phillies a tick ahead of the Cleveland Guardians for the best record in baseball prior to their Wednesday night game.

  Rob Thomson exudes quiet confidence as well as any MLB manager. He repeatedly downplayed the NLCS rematch against the Diamondbacks to keep his team focused, although everybody at Citizens Bank Park was thinking about the revenge factor.

  Which player on the roster flies under the radar with outstanding confidence? It’s the newest long-term member of the starting rotation.

  Cristopher Sanchez signed a four-year contract extension that keeps him with the Phillies through the 2028 season.

  “As much as we like Cristopher, I wouldn’t be telling you the truth if last year at this same time when he first came up, even though we liked a lot of things about him, I thought we’d be sitting here today and he would have enjoyed the success he’s had over the past year.” -Dave Dombrowski

  The fourth starter in the rotation pitched one of his best career games one day after the Phillies announced the news. Sanchez threw seven scoreless innings against Arizona to lower his season ERA to 2.67 after 15 starts.

  He somehow has a better season ERA than Zack Wheeler (2.73).

  The Phillies have the deepest staff in the majors, and it should carry them into contention for the top seed in the National League in 2024.

  97.5 The Fanatic on X (formerly Twitter): "Dave Dombrowski gives his newest long-term asset a big embraceZack Wheeler ✅Aaron Nola ✅Cristopher Sanchez ✅Ranger Suarez ❓📸 Colin Newby | @ToNewbyginnings pic.twitter.com/e4ehBuCOwW / X"

  Dave Dombrowski gives his newest long-term asset a big embraceZack Wheeler ✅Aaron Nola ✅Cristopher Sanchez ✅Ranger Suarez ❓📸 Colin Newby | @ToNewbyginnings pic.twitter.com/e4ehBuCOwW

• Phillies Spotlight Player: Bryce Harper

  	Bryce Harper in 2024	MLB Rank	Bryce Harper During 11-Game Hit Streak (Since June 15)	MLB Average in 2024
  Batting Average	.305	6th	.447	.242
  On-Base Percentage	.402	5th	.480	.311
  Slugging Percentage	.585	5th	.915	.393
  Home Runs	20	t-7th	5	n/a
  RBI	57	t-7th	11	n/a
  On-Base Plus Slugging (OPS)	.987	5th	1.395	.704

  It’s debatable whether or not Bryce Harper should qualify for a short-term spotlight. He’s always a superstar, so why is it necessary to point out in one particular week?

  The reigning NL Player of the Month in May might win the NL Player of the Month in June. He’s been on a tear during his current 11-game hit streak, and most sportsbooks have him as one of the favorites to win his third NL MVP.

  The greatest showman powered the 12-1 Saturday night blowout against the Diamondbacks. He somehow took things to a new level with five RBI in the series opener in Detroit on Monday.

  Appreciate the career of one of the greatest Phillies in franchise history and one of the best superstar personalities in professional sports.

  

• Looking Ahead

  The Phillies will begin a four-game home set against the last place Miami Marlins on Friday. The Fish have been a pest for the Phillies in recent seasons.

  However, they’ve fallen hard since the NL Wild Card Round sweep in Red October. The season unfortunately looked finished just a few weeks after it started for reigning NL Manager of the Year Skip Schumaker.

  If you’re headed to Citizens Bank, remember that the postgame fireworks shows will push the start times up to 6:20pm.

  • Thursday 6/27 at 6:20pm: Zack Wheeler (9-4, 2.73 ERA) vs. Trevor Rogers (1-8, 4.90 ERA)
  • Friday 6/28 at 6:20pm: Cristopher Sanchez (5-3, 2.67 ERA) vs. TBD
  • Saturday 6/29 at 6:20pm: Aaron Nola (9-3, 3.39 ERA) vs. Roddery Munoz (1-3, 5.80 ERA)
  • Sunday 6/30 at 1:35pm: Ranger Suarez (10-2, 2.01 ERA) vs. Yonny Chirinos (0-0, 2.70 ERA)

   

• 97.5 The Fanatic

  97.5 The Fanatic provides weekly news, analysis, and interviews about the 2024 Philadelphia Phillies season.

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