Adrenaline in my soul: Phillies 2, Rays 1

Kody Clemens saves the day for the Phillies

Kody Clemens played the hero in the ninth inning for the Phillies, lacing a two-out walk-off single to capture a 2-1 win over the Tampa Bay Rays. Philadelphia was no-hit through five innings before Kyle Schwarber blasted a home run in the sixth. The offense scraped just enough together to not waste six dominant innings from Cristopher Sánchez against the team that traded him away.

Don’t take it for granted

Bryce Harper hit a line drive off of the wall with one out in the ninth, but he was caught looking at it and didn’t run out of the box, forcing him to stay on first base for a single. Nick Castellanos then struck out against former Phillies organization member Garrett Cleavinger. Cleavinger, who was acquired by Tampa in the Jose Alvarado deal, then allowed a two-out infield single to Bryson Stott, putting Harper belatedly at second base. Millville’s own Buddy Kennedy then worked a pinch hit walk to being Clemens up with the bases loaded and two outs.

Clemens took a borderline 97 MPH sinker at the top of the zone for ball one before ripping the next pitch past the second baseman and into right field for the walk-off.

How we got there

Cristopher Sánchez delivered his second strong start in the month of September, as he scattered 4 hits across 6 innings with one walk and 4 strikeouts. The Rays never got a runner into scoring position against Sánchez and faced nine 0-2 counts. Sánchez had all of his pitches working, generating 15 total whiffs on 94 pitches, with his changeup leading the way with eight swings and misses. He has now faced his former organization twice in his young career, having allowed one total run in 12 innings across those two starts.

Meanwhile, the Phillies offense was hitless through five and their only two baserunners were walks in the first inning by Harper and Castellanos against Rays opener Cole Sulser. Tyler Alexander entered in the second to pitch in bulk and was perfect through four innings. But Kyle Schwarber finally notched the first Phillies hit of the game in the sixth, blasting a 447-foot home run for his 34th homer of the season.

Orion Kerkering pitched an impressive inning on in relief in the seventh, retiring the Rays 1-2-3 on just 8 pitches including a strikeout. Jeff Hoffman was next up to try and protect the one out lead but things got a little dicey after he struck out the first batter. An infield single from Yandy Diaz and a bloop single from Dylan Carlson put runners at the corners with two outs. But Hoffman ended the threat by striking out Junior Caminero.

Carlos Estévez was tasked with pinning down a 1-0 win, but he allowed a deep fly ball to Brandon Lowe to begin the ninth inning that rolled out of Johan Rojas’ glove over the fence for a game tying home run. It appeared that Rojas had made the leaping catch, but the fence jarred it lose on the way down.

Estévez was able to settle down and retire the next two hitters before taking a 97 MPH line drive off of the left kneecap from Josh Lowe that resulted in a single. But Estévez was able to retire Ben Rortveldt to keep the game tied and set up Clemens’ heroics.

Tomorrow’s matchup

Ranger Suárez (12-6, 2.90) looks to continue rounding back into form and deliver a series win for the Phillies against Taj Bradley (6-10, 4.40) for the Rays.