The Show 20 Phranchise Episode 4

Thursday was a tough day.

I know we’re all disappointed in the wake of a cancelled opening day and that we’re all still dealing with the absence of sports in our own ways. I was still able to find some joy that day by seeing some replays of old classics, watching Field of Dreams, and enjoying Rhys Hoskins pull out the W against Miguel Rojas in The Show 20!

If you weren’t able to find a reason to smile that day, maybe this will help…

The Phrancise is in first place!

Take a look at some recaps from an outstanding 8-game roadtrip.

4/9/2020: Phillies 9, Reds 8, W: Adam Morgan (1-0), L: Raisel Iglesias (0-1), S: Osuna (5)

Have yourself a day, Didi! Gregorius went 3-4 with a double and a home run (3), leaving him just a triple short of the Cycle on the day. Harper and Realmuto each tacked on two-baggers of their own to bring run support to a game that needed every bit of it. Arrieta’s struggles continue as he gave up 7 earned on 9 hits in just 4 innings. The bullpen held strong as Morgan picked up his first win and Osuna slammed the door in the ninth to secure a strong start to the long road trip.

4/10/2020: Reds 7, Phillies 6 (F/11), W: Michael Lorenzen (1-0), L: Brad Peacock (2-1)

It’s a tough pill to swallow when Segura (3), Harper (3), and Realmuto (3) all go yard on the day and we have nothing to show for it. It was a slugfest in the early innings that came down to a battle of the bullpens with 10 total pitchers making appearances in the game. The Reds walked it off in 11 with a solo shot from Tucker Barnhart to bring the series even.

4/11/2020: Reds 8, Phillies 6, W: Raisel Iglesias (1-1), L: Seranthony Dominguez (0-1)

Well, we live by the long ball and die by the long ball. Gregorius stays hot hitting his 4th and 5th home runs on the season, but the Reds hit back with a solo shot from Votto, a 2-run home run from Moustakas, and a 3-run bomb from Casali in the bottom of the 7^th that put the home team ahead for good. Howard gave up 5 earned runs in 5 innings but the loss goes to Dominguez, who lasted less than an inning in relief.

4/12/2020: Phillies 2, Reds 1 (F/10), W: Roberto Osuna (1-0), L: Robert Stephenson (2-1), S: Robertson (1)

The bats weren’t alive, but the Phillies earn a series split with an extra-innings win. Nola had an incredible outing, lasting 8 scoreless innings and striking out 5 with no walks. Osuna blew his first save of the season but gets the win thanks to a 10^th-inning RBI double from Grullon, who got the start while Realmuto took the day off. Robertson pitched a flawless 10^th inning to secure the win as the Phillies head to Milwaukee.

4/13/2020: Phillies 6, Brewers 5, W: Zack Wheeler (2-0), L: Brandon Woodruff (2-1), S: Osuna (6)

A 4-run fourth inning capped off by Alec Bohm’s first big-league home run propelled the Phillies in the opener from Miller Park. Scott Kingery swiped two bases and manufactured a run to extend the lead for the bullpen which held on to secure Wheeler’s second win on the year. The bullpen, anchored by Osuna, continues to prove its value in close games since some early-season personnel moves.

4/14/2020: Phillies 3, Brewers 0, W: Jake Arrieta (1-1), L: Freddy Peralta (0-2), S: Osuna (7)

I don’t know what Jake Arrieta ate for breakfast before this start, but whatever it was, someone needs to make him a LOT more of it. He went 8.2 innings allowing only 5 hits and sitting down 7 Brewers on strikes, while Osuna only needed to face one batter to secure the save. Harper had two doubles but the RBIs came from Segura, Realmuto, and Hoskins as the Phillies take the first two from the Brew Crew.

4/15/2020: Phillies 10, Brewers 4, W: Zach Eflin (1-0), L: Adrian Houser (0-2)

Everybody hits! The first 7 batters in the order each collected at least one hit and the Phillies blew this one open with 14 hits on the day. Harper finished with two singles, a triple, and a home run (4) in addition to Realmuto’s (4) solo shot in a game that looked more like batting practice as the Phillies chased Houser in 4.1 innings and didn’t treat the Brewers bullpen any more kindly. With the win, the Phils secure the series and are guaranteed a winning record on the road trip.

4/16/2020: Phillies 3, Brewers 1, W: Spencer Howard (1-1), L: Eric Lauer (2-1), S: Osuna (8)

Would you look at that, it’s a sweep! The youngster Spencer Howard picks up his first big-league win as he lasted into the seventh inning, striking out five and walking to allowing just one run on five hits. A solo shot for Holt was the only action from the Brewers all day while the Phillies relied on a third-inning 3-run home run from Cutch (2) to secure the win.

Things are looking up and the Phils are on a streak! With seven wins in their last ten games the team looks like they are coming together nicely in mid-April.

Let’s take a quick glance around the league to see how the other divisions are faring through roughly 20 games:

The Phillies return to CBP riding a 5-game win streak for a 3-game set against the Marlins (11-8) and a quick two-gamer against the Rangers (4-15). Remember, we’ll be live-streaming the series opener against the Marlins as Aaron Nola (1-1) takes on Jose Urena (3-0) with the top spot in the N.L. East on the line. Join us at TheGoodPhightTV on Twitch this Sunday, March 29^th at 7 PM Eastern! Go ahead and comment which jersey you’d like to see; will it be the red pinstripes, the blue throwbacks, or the Sunday specials?