Phils fight back for a tie as more of the roster gets revealed
Zack Wheeler got his first live action, Rob Thomson tinkered with his fielders and the contestants for bench jobs continued to produce as the Philadelphia Phillies and the New York Yankees played to a 7-7 tie.
The Starters
Kyle Schwarber not only was back in the leadoff spot today after batting second behind Trea Turner yesterday, but he also played first base for the first time this spring. Two strikeouts. He finished 0-3 with a strikeout at the plate, but made no mistakes during his five innings in the field.
Nick Castellanos was back in right field and hit second, collecting a single in three at-bats.
Brandon Marsh reached base three times with two walks and a double off of lefty, Carlos Rodon, in the first inning.
Edmundo Sosa finally played left field and looked comfortable enough in limited opportunities. He also had two hits, including an RBI double off Rodon and an infield single.
Johan Rojas continued to DH and hit an opposite field home run off Rodon in the second inning.
Brandon Marsh, who has consistently struggled vs LHP torches a ball off of Carlos Rodon—102.1 EV | 21° LA | 341 ft | .540 xBA
Johan Rojas, another OF who struggled to hit last year goes yard off Rodon— 98.4 EV | 26° LA | 357 ft | .410 xBA pic.twitter.com/dyhlT1emS7
— Joseph Cammisa (@jcammisabsbl) February 27, 2025
Bench Candidates
Garrett Stubbs got his third start behind the plate and worked a walk, was hit by a pitch, and grounded into a double play.
Christian Arroyo played third and had two hits and an RBI. He is now 4-8 with a home run and three RBI.
In addition to Sosa, this was also Buddy Kennedy’s first trial in left field of the spring. He went 0-2 with two strikeouts at the plate.
Oscar Mercado took over for Castellanos in right and went 0-1 before getting doinked in the bottom of the ninth, stealing second and later scored the tying run.
Organizational Depth
Could Rafael Lantigua be moving up the bench candidates section? He had a big two-run homer in the bottom of the seventh inning and also worked a walk, raising his OBP to .500 in 10 plate appearances so far.
Rafael Lantigua hits his first home run and it’s 6-3 Phillies.
pic.twitter.com/9sYaQVQKuL— Andrew Coté (@acote_88) February 27, 2025
Rodolfo Castro started at shortstop and went 0-2. Cal Stevenson took over for Marsh in center and had a great running catch to save a leadoff double in the top of the sixth inning.
The Phillies’ #75 selection in the 2009 draft and now 34 year old, Kelly Dugan, took over for Rojas at DH and went 0-2 with a strikeout.
Payton Henry subbed in to catch and Carson Taylor took over at first. Henry was hit by a pitch and Taylor worked the walk that brought home Mercado for the tying run.
Pitching
Ho hum outing from Wheeler, striking out four and allowing a single in his two innings of work.
Zack Wheeler cruised through two innings of work against the Yankees in his spring training debut!
The Phillies’ ace struck out four while flashing six different pitches. That fastball is still elite! pic.twitter.com/rcGPjPvYDh
— Pitch Profiler (@pitchprofiler) February 27, 2025
Matt Strahm gave up a walk and then made a mistake with a fastball down the middle that Anthony Volpe sent to the left-center bullpen.
Jose Alvarado, Jordan Romano and Orion Kerkering retired the sides in order in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings.
José Alvarado is still out here chucking 100 mph sinkers like nobody’s business!
Looks like he might have added a new deathball, too! pic.twitter.com/uBzTbDe3RC
— Pitch Profiler (@pitchprofiler) February 27, 2025
Jordan Romano throws a 1-2-3 inning with 2 Ks pic.twitter.com/jbVm4gg1Kl
— Absolutely Hammered (@ah_pod) February 27, 2025
Alan Rangel took the seventh inning and allowed a two-out solo homer to Oswaldo Cabrera.
Max Lazar had a rough eighth inning, allowing a hit, two walks, sac fly, and a three-run homer by Tyler Hardman.
John McMillon again looked like the real deal and pitched a 1-2-3 top of the ninth inning with two straight strikeouts to end it, although the first out was a hard hit fly to the warning track that was nicely hunted down by Kennedy.
Listen, I’m not yet even close to taking the @JackFritzWIP stance that John McMillon is the new Jeff Hoffman … But …
He’s interesting.
Up to 100 in his last outing, two punchies today on a pretty good slider.
He’s interesting. pic.twitter.com/P8aywEinY1
— Mitch Rupert (@Mitch_Rupert) February 27, 2025
Prospects
Aidan Miller went 0-1 but reached base twice via a fielder’s choice and a walk. He is still looking for his first hit of the spring.
Carson DeMartini, the Phillies’ #29 ranked prospect according to FanGraphs, subbed in for Arroyo at third base and went 0-2 with two strikeouts, including the final out of the game with the bases loaded.
Up Next
The Phillies host the Boston Red Sox tomorrow. Lefties Garrett Crochet and Jesus Luzardo will both be making their first appearance for their new clubs.