Moore gives Phillies a solid start
Moore gives Phils another solid start, strikes out 9 in 41⁄3 innings
PHILADELPHIA >> The Phillies’ search for starting pitching depth hit two fronts Friday.
In Texas, scouts were studying the form of semi-retired Cole Hamels, who was auditioning for a return to the big leagues.
And at Citizens Bank Park, Matt Moore was unloading a fourth consecutive solid start, striking out nine in 4 1/3 innings of a 5-2 victory over the Miami Marlins in the first of two seveninning games.
After a lackluster April and May, and time to recover from a back issue, Moore has helped the Phillies win each of his last four starts. His nine strikeouts Friday were his most in a game since fanning nine Nationals in 2017 for the Giants.
“I mean I’d say my last four starts have been much different than my previous three,” Moore said. “I am the same person, but I think I’m able to get to a different level with myself more often right now, being able to execute pitchers at a higher rate than I was earlier on.
“I am just trusting the target, trusting myself, trusting the mechanics and getting comfortable out there. I think that helped me in my rehab starts and I am just trying to carry that over here.”
With All-Star Zack Wheeler, former All-Star Aaron Nola and Zach Eflin, who wobbled in a Game 2 start, the Phillies feel they have the structure for a pennant-contending rotation. The four and five spots, though, have been problematic.
But Moore, a 2013 AllStar who signed a oneyear, $3 million deal with the Phils after some modest success in Japan, has provided a small, recent boost. Though still unable to supply length, the left-hander has added velocity and pitched with poise.
Since he did not last five innings Friday, even in a seven-inning game, he was not awarded the win. But he was the only Phillies left-hander since 1893 to last fewer than five innings yet strike out at least nine.
“Am I building momentum?” he said. “I think my last few starts have kind of been that way for me, at least from an internal standpoint. I’ve been happy to be able to have a little more control over the innings and not allow them to turn into runaways.”
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After going 1-for-3 with a double in Game 1, Bryce Harper was rested in Game 2 after a battle with what Joe Girardi called “dehydration.”
“He was available tonight if I needed him,” Girardi said. “With dehydration, that can lead to other things, like pulling muscles. We said, ‘Let’s just make sure he is OK for tomorrow.”
Matt Vierling, who was recalled from Allentown to be the permissible 27th man for the doubleheader, started in right in the 7-0 loss.
Girardi sounded confident that Harper would be available to play Saturday.
• • • Scouts from the Phillies, Mets and Red Sox were in Texas Friday to put Hamels through a look-see workout, according to reports.
The MVP of the 2008 World Series, who is on a one-game no-hitter streak as a Phillie, has not pitched full-time since 2019. He did throw three innings last year for the Orioles.
He’s 37, but is lefthanded, gifted and a fourtime All-Star.
“You know he knows how to compete,” Girardi said. “That’s what you know he knows how to do. He knows how to pitch. He knows how to handle the Philadelphia market.
“If it was to happen, I hope it would be a huge addition. We would want him to come in and go undefeated. I know he was a fierce competitor. And that never leaves people.”
Hamels last pitched for the Phils in 2018, tossing a no-hitter before being traded to Texas for, among other players, Jorge Alfaro, the Game 1 starting catcher for the Marlins Friday.
• • • After solving former AllStar Sandy Alcantara in Game 1, the Phillies were overwhelmed in Game 2 to drop back to .500 at 45-45.
The Phils were held to two hits by opener Ross Detwiler, who pitched one inning, Jordan Holloway, who pitched five and Richard Bleier, who finished up in the seventh.
Eflin lasted just 3 2/3 innings and allowed five home runs, including a couple that he’d entrusted to Enyel De Los Santos, who entered in relief and promptly allowed a threerun homer by Jesus Aguilar.
“That’s not me, that’s not what I do,” Eflin said. “And that (start) doesn’t sit well with me.”
The Phillies had won eight of their previous 11.
•• • Vince Velasquez (34, 5.35 ERA) will oppose Marlins right-hander Zach Thompson (2-2, 2.25) Saturday evening at 6:05.
Sunday at 1:05, it will be Zack Wheeler (6-5, 2.26) and right-handed Pablo Lopez (5-5, 3.03).
Wheeler threw three pitches, all for strikes, in the All-Star Game Tuesday.
“I’m happy he got in there,” Girardi said. “He earned it. You don’t ever know when the next time is going to be. I don’t have a problem with him not throwing two innings, I can tell you that.”
•• • Aaron Nola, still on the Covid-related injured list due to contact tracing, was in uniform but still ineligible Friday. He will start Tuesday against the Yankees in New York.
“We have to get him going,” Girardi said.
Nola told reporters that he is not ready to be vaccinated and that it is “a personal choice.”
•• • Bailey Falter was reinstated from the Covid-related IL, and left-handed pitcher Damon Jones was optioned to Lehigh Valley.
Connor Brogdon remained on the Covid list for one more day of contact tracing.
Alec Bohm remains unavailable. The third baseman went on the Covid IL July 11 and was required to miss at least 10 days and pass two virus tests
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Not that he was likely to say much else, but Girardi expressed pleasure with the Phils’ recent firstround draft choice, pitcher Andrew Painter of Christian Academy in Florida.
The 6-7 right-hander played high school baseball with Girardi’s son, Dante.
“They got a great kid,” he said. “I think has a huge upside. He’s athletic. I was always amazed by how well he fielded his position, how he covered the bases, his times to home. He had the ability to throw four pitches at a young age. It’s a kid’s arm that’s been taken care of. He’s been up to 97 and 98 and he’s still a baby.”
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NOTES >> In Game 1, Travis Jankowski had a careerhigh four RBIs, including a broken-bat, three-run double down the first-base line in the first …J.T. Realmuto (who would hit a first-inning double) and Andrew McCutchen started Game 2 after resting in Game 1 ... ... The Fireworks Night attendance was 28,712.