/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/49548393/usa-today-9287328.0.jpg)
This Phillies team is built on a starting rotation that is among the stingiest in baseball, a bullpen that has its ups and downs, and an offense that struggles to score on a regular basis.
There is a reason why the Phillies have played more one-run games than anyone else in baseball. And you'd think that, given a roster with not a lot of talent on it, the Phils would be losing most of these affairs.
But after Sunday's 6-5 comeback win over the Miami Marlins, their second straight eighth inning comeback in as many nights, these Phillies are showing more grit than we thought they could.
The heroes on Sunday were Tyler Goeddel, the little-used Rule 5 acquisition who hit a game-tying double in the 8th inning, and utility infielder Andres Blanco, who has been nothing short of the team's second-best hitter since coming to the Phillies last year. His go-ahead double followed Goeddel's and gave the Phils their 6-5 lead.
Jeanmar Gomez pitched a scoreless 9th inning for his 11th save in 12 chances. He leads the Majors in saves.
Bet you didn't think you'd be saying that on Mother's Day.
Look, this is a team with no offensive firepower outside of Odubel Herrera and Maikel Franco, and right now, Franco is scuffling. Yet somehow, they managed to come back two straight nights in the later innings and win two of three games from a Marlins team that had won 11 of 12.
With the win, the Phils improve their record to 18-14, thanks to oh so many wins by just a single digit.
The Phillies win. They are 18-14 and 11-3 in one-run games. No other team has more than six wins in one-run games. Just bizarre.
— Matt Gelb (@MattGelb) May 8, 2016
This was the first time the Phillies have scored more than four runs in a game in their last 13, and much of it was thanks to Goeddel, who played his best overall game since joining the Phillies. He had the game-tying double, knocked in two runs and also made a terrific diving catch in left field.
Cesar Hernandez recorded his ninth multi-hit game of the season, most on the team. He's now batting .267 on the season. And while Aaron Nola finally saw his scoreless inning streak halted at 23 innings, the longest streak for the Phillies since Cole Hamels went 24 2/3 innings in June of 2014, he still pitched well, going six innings and giving up three runs on six hits with five strikeouts and one walk.
It's hard to see the Phils continuing to win games like this. But they have a chance to bank a few more victories over the next couple of weeks, with two series against the worst team in baseball, the Atlanta Braves, as well as three against the lackluster Cincinnati Reds and three more against the Fish.
One thing is clear, though. Even though scoring runs is an issue, don't turn off any Phillies games early. They've shown they are pretty darn good "comebackers."