PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES NOTES:
GAME #137 RECAP: The Phillies defeated the San Diego Padres, 9-7, on Labor Day in Southern California … Starter Taijuan Walker (W, 15-5) went 5.0 innings and allowed 4 runs on 5 hits with 3 walks and 4 strikeouts … The Phillies have now won 20 of Walker’s last 25 starts which marks the first time they have done so since they won 20 of Roy Halladay’s first 25 starts in 2011 … The Phillies scored 8 runs in the first 3 innings and had 9 through the 5th … They had 9 extra-base hits on the night and 3 homers (Schwarber, Turner, Sosa) … The bullpen held the lead with scoreless appearances from Jeff Hoffman, Craig Kimbrel and Jose Alvarado.
TRANSACTIONS: Prior to tonight’s game, the Phillies placed shortstop Trea Turner on the paternity list and recalled infielder/outfielder Weston Wilson from Lehigh Valley (AAA) … Wilson, 28, has slashed .259/.364/.531 (.895 OPS) with 80 runs, 17 doubles, three triples, 29 home runs, 77 RBI, 66 walks and 28 stolen bases in 112 games for the IronPigs this year … On Sunday, he hit two home runs against Syracuse and tied Rhys Hoskins (2017) for the most homers in a season in Lehigh Valley franchise history … The Woodland Hills, Calif., resident made his major league debut for the Phillies on Aug. 9 against the Washington Nationals and became the fifth player in franchise history and the first since Marlon Anderson on Sept. 8, 1998, to homer in his first career plate appearance.
TURNED HIM LOOSE: Shortstop Trea Turner was named National League Player of the Week for the games played Aug. 28-Sept. 3 … Over that stretch, Turner slashed .423/.464/1.231 with a 1.695 OPS over 28 plate appearances … Turner scored 9 runs, 8 of his 11 hits went for extra bases (2B, 3B, 6 HR), he had 14 RBI, a HBP, 1 BB and 2 SB … Saturday, Turner tied a franchise record with a home run in five straight games (8/28-9/2) … It was the 8th time in franchise history a player has homered in five straight games (7 total players) … Odubel Herrera did so in 2018, Rhys Hoskins did so as a rookie in 2017, Chase Utley did so twice in 2008, Bobby Abreu did so in 2005, Mike Schmidt did so in 1979 and Dick Allen did so in 1969 … On Friday, Turner became only the fourth MLB player since 1920 (when RBI first became official) to hit a home run and have 3+ RBI in four straight games … Prior to Turner, Chris Davis did so in four consecutive games (4/2-5/13), Hall-of-Famer Bill Dickey did so in five consecutive games (6/20-25/37), and Hall-of-Famer Loug Gehrig did so two times; in four consecutive games (6/21-25/32) and in five consecutive games (8/29-9/1/31) … Turner is the first Phillies player since at least 1900 (Modern Era) to do so … Over his last 28 games (since 8/4), Turner is slashing .362/.395/.767 with a 1.162 OPS, 26 R, 9 2B, 3B, 12 HR, 33 RBI, 6 walks and 4 stolen bases … Turner has hit safely in 26 of those 28 games played since Aug. 4 and he has reached base safely in 27 of those 28 … He has an active 15-game hitting streak (.358 AVG, since 8/19) and an active 9-game RBI streak (since /26) – the last Phillies player with a 9-game RBI streak was Chase Utley (9G streak, May 25-June 3, 2008)
A SLG STORY: The Phillies have homered in 17 straight games (since 8/16) over which they have hit a total of 45 homers and posted a .602 SLG … The 17-game homer streak the second-longest in franchise history, shy of only a franchise-best 18-game home run streak from Sept. 3-22, 2008 – of note, the 2008 Phils hit 25 total home runs during that 18-game streak compared to the 45 hit in 17 games by the 2023 Phils … The Phillies have hit multiple home runs in each of their last seven games (since 8/28) which has set a new franchise record (previous: 6 G, 8/2/69-8/8/69) … It is the longest multiple home run game streak in the majors this year and the longest since the Cardinals had a seven-game streak from July 27-Aug. 4, 2022 … The Phillies just completed a 15-game stretch (8/16-9/2) where they hit 40 home runs and became only the 2nd National League team in the Modern Era (since 1900) with 40+ HR in a 15-game span (also: ATL in 2023, 46 HR) … Over the last 17 games, the Phillies have racked up 89 extra-base hits (39 2B, 5 3B, 45 HR) – they are the first team with as many extra-base hits in a 17-game span since the 2019 Washington Nationals, who also had 89 extra-base hits over 17 games from Aug 13-Sept. 1 that season – That 2019 Nationals team featured Trea Turner, Howie Kendrick and Kevin Long as hitting coach.
FIGHT CLUB: The Phillies are 28-20 in the second half with a .583 winning percentage that ranks T-7th in MLB (with HOU) … Of Philadelphia’s 28 second-half wins, 22 have been comeback wins which leads MLB since the break (next: MIL, 17 comeback wins since ASB) … Overall this year, the Phillies have 40 comeback wins which rank 3rd in MLB behind only CIN (43) and BAL (43) … In the 9th inning, the Phillies have a +17 run differential (53-36) which ranks 3rd in MLB behind only NYY (+22) and TOR (+18) … Philadelphia has seven wins this season when they entered the 9th inning trailing which is T-1st in MLB (with CLE & MIA) … Finally, the Phillies have won 30 games when their opponent scores first in 2023 and have won 19 games since the All-Star Break when the opponent scores first, which is most in MLB since the break (next: CHI and MIN, 14).
LEADING MAN: Since the All Star Break, Kyle Schwarber has posted a .960 OPS in 47 games with 18 home runs and 51 walks with a 23.1% walk rate (221 PA) … Schwarber is up to 109 walks on the year, and is averaging 1.09 walks per game in the second half – the franchise record for walks in a season in 129, set by Lenny Dykstra in 1993 … Schwarber has nine leadoff home runs this season which is tied with Jimmy Rollins (9 in 2007) for the franchise record … Schwarber was put back in the leadoff spot this season on June 2, and since then, he has 27 home runs and 69 walks with an .885 OPS – since June 2, the only two players in MLB with 25+ home runs and 60+ walks are Schwarber and Shohei Ohtani (29 HR, 67 BB)
THEY DON’T BOO NOBODIES: Over his last 17 games (since 8/16), two-time National League MVP Bryce Harper (2015/2021) is slashing .344/.462/.797 with a 1.258 OPS, 17 runs, 3 doubles, a triple, 8 home runs, 17 RBI and 11 walks to only 10 strikeouts over 78 plate appearances – Harper is hitless since his 300th career home run on 8/30 vs LAA (0-for-16) … In the month of August, Harper slashed .361/.452/.784 with a 1.236 OPS in 115 plate appearances over 26 games … Harper’s 1.236 OPS was the 4th highest of his career in any calendar month and the highest since April of 2017 (min. 100 PA) … Only better were May of 2015 (1.379), April of 2017 (1.281) and Sept. of 2015 (1.244) denotes MVP months … Harper had 10 home runs over 97 at bats in August and averaged a homer every 9.7 at bats … He returned from “Tommy John” surgery on May 2 this season, only 160 days after the procedure – from May 2-July 31, he totaled five home runs in 273 at bats, and averaged a homer every 54.6 at bats.
REMEMBER THE FIGHTINS: Since 6/3, the Phils are 51-29 with a +119 run differential (436-317) … Philadelphia’s .638 winning % since June 3rd ranks 2nd in MLB behind only ATL (57-22, .722 win %).
TONIGHT’S STARTER – MICHAEL LORENZEN • RHP #22
2023: 8-8, 3.73 ERA Career: 39-37, 4.03 ERA
LAST START: 8/29 vs LAA: W, 6.0 IP, 8 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 2 HR, 2 BB, 5 SO … Lorenzen vs Anderson … The Phillies defeated the Los Angeles Angels, 12-7, and took another series at CBP … The Phillies blasted five home runs and had a total of 9 extra-base hits on the night (3 2B, 3B, 5 HR)
TONIGHT’S START:
- Quality Control: Lorenzen earned his 11th quality start of the year in his last start … It is the most quality starts he’s had in any season of his career and the first time he has had more than 10 … The Phillies are 3-0 when he has a quality start and his team record on the year when he does so is 8-3 Go the Distance: Last outing marked a career-high 23rd start of the season for Lorenzen … He has surpassed his previous high of 21 starts in his rookie season (2015) … Lorenzen has also tossed a career-high 137.2 IP so far this year, which is the 2 nd time in his career he has surpassed 100.0 IP, along with 2015
It’s About How You Finish: Lorenzen’s opponent average improves every time he goes through the lineup … In his 1st time through, he holds batters to a .265 AVG (49-185), .226 (43-190) his 2nd time, .213 (26-122) his 3rd time and .143 (1-7) in his fourth time through the order … His opponent batting average in the 3rd time through is T-18th best in MLB
Dog Days: Since the start of July, Lorenzen has gone 6-2 with a 2.91 ERA (18 ER, 55.2 IP) … His ERA since the start of July is the 17th best in MLB (min. 45 IP)
- Left in Charge: Lorenzen is holding left-handed batters to a .205 AVG (59-288) this season which ranks T-14th in MLB
- Life in the Fast Lane: This season, Lorenzen’s .199 OPP AVG (30-151) against his 4-seamer ranks T-9th in MLB and his OPP SLG (.306) ranks T-5th (min. 150 PA) … His fastball is averaging 94.3 mph and he has struck out 39 batters with it
- In Play? No Problem: Lorenzen’s .261 BABIP is T-13th for the best mark in baseball among pitchers with at least 100.0 IP (best: Tyler Wells, .206)
- Pitch Usage: 4-Seam Fastball (35.2%), Slider (23.2%), Changeup (22%), Sinker (11.3%), Sweeper (6.9%), Cutter (0.9%) and Curveball (0.6%)
- vs NL West: 4-6, 3 SV, 5.44 ERA (62 ER, 102.2 IP) in 53 games (9 starts) ROAD:
- 2023: 3-4, 3.77 ERA (25 ER, 59.2 IP) in 10 starts
- Career: 18-22, 4 SV, 4.37 ERA (159 ER, 327.1 IP) in 167 games (31 starts)
2023 SEASON:
- No-No Notes: On 8/9, Lorenzen threw the 14th no-hitter in Phillies history and the 13th by a single pitcher … It was the first Phillies no-hitter since Cole Hamels threw one in his last start as a Phillie on 7/25/15 … It was the first Phillies no-hitter at home since Roy Halladay tossed one on 10/6/10 and it was the second Phillies no-hitter at Citizens Bank Park … Lorenzen became the 5th pitcher in MLB history to toss a no-hitter in a home debut and the first since Don Cardwell did so for the Cubs on 5/15/60 … He also became the 6th pitcher in the expansion era (since 1961) to throw a nohitter in his 1st or 2nd start with a club, joining ARI’s Tyler Gilbert (8/14/21 vs SD), SD’s Joe Musgrove (4/9/21 at TEX), BOS’ Clay Bucholz (9/1/07 vs BAL), BOS’ Hideo Nomo (4/4/01 at BAL) and CWS’ Wilson Alvarez (8/11/91 at BAL) Per Elias, Lorenzen became the 7th Phillies pitcher in the expansion Era to throw 8.0+ innings in each of their first two starts with the club and the first since Paul Byrd did so in his first two starts in 1998 … Lorenzen became the fourth pitcher in MLB to do so in the last 20 seasons and the first since Shane Greene did so for DET in 2015 • Was named to the All-Star Game for the first time in his career … Representing the AL, he tossed a scoreless 0.2 IP with 1 hit, 1 walk and 1 strikeout His 3 starts from 7/6-20 marked the first time in his career that he had a 3-game streak in which he tossed at least 5.0 scoreless innings and his 22.2 inning scoreless streak from 6/30-7/27 was the longest of his career … He is one of 11 pitchers this year to have a 3-game scoreless streak with at least 5.0 IP in each game and only Zac Gallen has a longer streak (4) Set a career high for quality starts in a single season on 8/9
SAN DIEGO PADRES NOTES:
Friars mount comeback but fall short to Phils
- Starter Rich Hill was tapped for 6 runs (all ER) on 7 hits in just 1.1 innings…in Hill’s 6 appearances with San Diego so far, he has a 10.71 ERA, with San Diego going 0-6 in those app. Fernando Tatis Jr. hit a 1st inning home run (his 22nd this season), and Xander Bogaerts and Gary Sanchez added doubles…the Padres went 4-for-15 with RISP…Ha-Seong Kim, Manny Machado, and Trent Grisham all had multi-hit games… the largest deficit the Padres have overcome this year was just 4 runs on April 29 vs. the Giants (in Mexico City).
Friars left stranded
- The Padres’ 12 LOB yesterday was their 23rd time leaving 10-or-more runners stranded in a game in ’23, and their 23 such games is tied with the Reds for 4th most, behind the Cardinals’ 24, the Giants’ 27, and the Dodgers’ 27.
Padres are only team in baseball to not have a 4-game winning streak
- SD is the only team in MLB to not have a winning streak over 3 games…the 2016 and ’18 seasons were the only times in SD history in which they went the whole year without a 4-game win streak.
Padres in a stretch of playing 32 games in 34 days
- Today’s game is the Padres 31st in a stretch of playing 32 games in 34 days (from August 4-Sept. 6).
Who’s hot?
- Xander Bogaerts has hit .476 (10-for-21) in his last 6 games since August 30 with 2 doubles and a HR… Manny Machado has compiled 5 hits in his last 2 games, but prior to the last 2, he hit just 8-for-44 (.182) in his prior 11 games…in his last 8 games, Fernando Tatis Jr. has hit safely in 7 of them, going 10- for-32 (.375) with a double, 2 homers, 3 walks, and 7 runs scored.
Who’s not?
- Depite homering in 3 consecutive games from Sept. 1-3 with 4 RBI in that time, Juan Soto is batting just 3-for-17 (.176) in the 5 games this homestand.
Statcast Says…
- San Diego pitchers have induced MLB’s lowest opponent exit velocity at 87.9 mph (ranking T-2nd are the Phillies and Cubs at 88.3 mph)…the Padres’ 36.5& opponent hard hit percentage is also the best, ahead of the 2nd- ranked Phillies (37.4 hard-hit percentage).
60 PEDRO AVILA BASEBALL
REFERENCE RHP
last outing 8/31 vs. SF (3.0 IP, 6 H, 6 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 5 SO) current scoreless streak 0.0 IP (0 g) Pitches: 4-Seam Fastball (33%) Changeup (27.1%) Curveball (22.3%) Sinker (17.7%)
Set for his 10th app and 4th start of the season for SD tonight…it will be his 2nd career start at Petco Park, with his 1st coming last Thurs vs. SF when he allowed career highs in hits (6) and runs (6), but only 1 of the 6 runs were earned due to a season-high 3 errors by SD’s defense…all 6 runs came in his 3rd and final frame.
Allowed 5 ER in his most recent outing last Sat @ MIL, which also all came in a single inning in the 5th frame on 5 hits across 4.1 IP in SD’s 5-4 defeat…his other start this season came on Aug 1 @ COL, when he tossed 4.0 innings of 5-hit, 1-run ball in SD’s 8-5 victory.
6 of his 8 career relief outings have come at Petco Park, where he owns a 1.57 ERA (4 ER, 23.0 IP), 1.00 WHIP and .190 AVG
His last relief outing came on Mon, Aug 21 vs. MIA, when he relieved Wacha in the 6th inning and the 0.2 IP was the shortest outing of his career, having tossed 1.0 IP just once (April 14, 2022 vs. ATL)…has tossed at least 2.0 IP in 11 of his 13 career outings.
Tonight will mark his 6th career start, with the other 2 prior to this season taking place on April 11, 2019 @ ARI and Oct. 1, 2021 @ SF….allowed a combined 2 ER across 9.1 IP in both those starts, posting a 1.93 ERA, 1.39 WHIP and .216 opp. AVG…prior to his ML debut on April 11, 2019, his 1 start for Amarillo (AA) was the highest level at which he had pitched.
Relieved Rich Hill on Thurs. Aug 17 vs. ARI and tossed 4.0-scoreless IP of 1-hit ball, his 4th straight outing (3 relief outings, 1 start) allowing 1 ER-or-fewer across 4.0+ IP… the only other Padres pitcher in SD history to post 3 straight relief outings of 4.0+ IP while allowing 1 ER-or-fewer was Mike Corkins in Aug 1973…that last ML pitcher to do so was OAK’s Daniel Mengden in Sept 2018…Bob Melvin was/is the manager for both Mengden and Avila.
He’s struck out a career-high 7 twice this season, including his 3rd career start Tues, Aug 1 @ COL, in SD’s eventual 8-5 victory.
He’s been recalled twice this season from Triple-A El Paso…in minor league action in ’23, he made 20 app (15 starts) between ELP (19 app) and Fort Wayne (1), going 1-6 with a 8.42 ERA, 7.9 SO/9 IP ratio and .309 AVG across 16 app.
Had 2 stints with the Padres’ ML club in ’22, making the first 2 relief appearances of his MLB career on April 14 vs. ATL (1.0 IP, 2 H, ER, HR, 2 SO, GF) and April 24 vs. LAD (3.0 IP, H, ER, BB, 3 SO).
His 124 strikeouts in 2022 were the most by an El Paso (AAA) pitcher in team history, surpassing the previous record of 121 held by Chris Smith (2015) and Carlos Pimentel (2016).
Underwent Tommy John surgery on September 14, 2019, and he did not pitch in 2020 while recovering.
His 142 strikeouts in 2018 ranked 2nd in the California League and 3rd in the Padres system while his 170 punchouts in 2017 led all SD farmhands.
On August 8, 2017, struck out a Fort Wayne (A) record 17 batters with 0 BB allowed.
Acquired by SD from WSH in exchange for C Derek Norris on December 2, 2016…the Venezuela native was singed by WSH as an international free agent on July 5, 2015.
