Phillies salvage series with Giants
Home runs from Nick Maton and Kyle Schwarber helped power the Philadelphia Phillies to a 6-5 win over the San Francisco Giants on Wednesday to avoid a second consecutive sweep. —Alex Carr, Inside the Phillies
Pitching performances:
PHI Aaron Nola: 6.0 IP, 5 H, 5 ER, 5 K
SF Carlos Rodón: 5.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 1 ER, BB, 6 K
Standout bats:
PHI Kyle Schwarber : 2-for-4, HR, 2 RBI, K
PHI Nick Maton: 2-for-4, HR, 3 RBI
SF Wilmer Flores: 1-for-4, HR, 3 RBI
SF Tommy La Stella: 2-for-3, 2B, RBI
MORE: Could the Phillies soon be playing in Wawa Park? —Ben Silver, Inside the Phillies
Joe Girardi out as Phillies’ manager
It had been building for several weeks, but the Phillies have fired manager Joe Girardi. Bench coach Rob Thomson will serve as interim manager until the end of the season.
There was some thought that Dave Dombrowski may allow Girardi to finish the season, seeing as his manager's guaranteed contract expires following the 2022 season. But the Phillies five-game losing streak was Girardi's last straw.
Though Girardi did have a club option at the end of his contract for 2023, that option will be voided.
The Phillies also fired coaching assistant Bobby Meacham, while quality assurance coach Mike Calitri will serve as Thomson's bench coach, per Ken Rosenthal. —Ben Silver, Inside the Phillies
MORE: Is Thomson the “new voice” the Phillies need? —Lauren Amour, Inside the Phillies
Phillies look to build off of Wednesday's win against Angels
The Phillies welcome Shohei Ohtani, Mike Trout, and the Los Angeles Angels to town over the weekend for a three-game series. The Angels are currently riding an eight-game losing streak; Philadelphia will seek to extend that streak and capitalize off of their win on Wednesday. —Declan Harris, Inside the Phillies
Game 1:
PHI starter: Zach Eflin (1-4, 4.60 ERA)
LAA starter: Chase Silseth (1-1, 3.07 ERA)
First pitch: June 3, 7:05 p.m. EST
NBCSP/94.1 WIP
Game 2:
PHI starter: Zack Wheeler (3-3, 3.16 ERA)
LAA starter: Michael Lorenzen (5-2, 3.19 ERA)
First pitch: June 4, 7:15 p.m. EST
FOX/94.1 WIP
Game 3:
PHI starter: Kyle Gibson (3-2, 3.83 ERA)
LAA starter: Patrick Sandoval (3-1, 2.70 ERA)
First pitch: June 5, 1:35 p.m. EST
NBCSP/94.1 WIP
MORE: Why hasn't Utley been considered for Phillies manager? —Ben Silver, Inside the Phillies
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Jean Segura to miss 10-12 weeks
After being hit on the hand with a pitch in Tuesday’s game, it was reported on Wednesday that Jean Segura would miss 10-12 weeks with a fractured right index finger.
Segura will undergo surgery as a result. In his place, the Phillies called up infielder/utility-man Nick Maton, who will split time at second base. Maton has hit .241/.360/.462 with Triple-A Lehigh Valley this season.
Cristopher Sánchez was also called up, while Roman Quinn was designated for assignment. Quinn slashed just .162/.225/.189 in the majors this season, and Sánchez has a 2.70 ERA with 10 strikeouts in 10 innings pitched in Triple-A.
Segura’s offense and defense will be sorely missed by a struggling Phillies team, as the second baseman slashed .307/.352/.446 in May. —Kade Kistner, Inside the Phillies
MORE: The Phillies’ schedule is about to get a lot easier —Leo Morgenstern, Inside the Phillies
Phocus on Phillies’ farm
Thursday’s top stories:
Triple-A: SS Didi Gregorius - 1-for-4, K
After he crushed a home run in his rehab debut, Gregorius managed to tack a single to his line in Thursday's win over the RailRiders. Gregorius' return is highly anticipated, as the Phillies will be without Segura for months. While Maton and Bryson Stott have done well in Segura's absence, one of them will likely be replaced when Didi returns.
Double-A: C Logan O'Hoppe - 2-for-3, HR, 2B, R, 2 RBI, K
Perhaps it's common knowledge at this point, but the Phillies currently boast the hottest catching prospect in all of baseball. After a slower start to the season, O'Hoppe has been scorching for nearly a month and a half. He tore through the tail-end of April, slashed .309/.411/.593 in May, and began June with his ninth home run of the season and a double.
Single-A: INF Kendall Simmons - 3-for-4, R, RBI, K
One of the most dynamic bats in the Phillies' system, Simmons continues to make progress in his ability to make consistent, quality contact. He has some impressive raw power, and churns out some exciting exit velocities, but his swing-and-miss concerns are valid. —Alex Carr, Inside the Phillies
MORE: Alec Bohm has not been the big bat the Phillies need him to be —Leo Morgenstern, Inside the Phillies
Opinion: Should Domínguez be the Phillies' closer?
Perhaps the greatest saving grace for the 2022 Phillies has been the healthy return of reliever Seranthony Domínguez.
His 1.83 ERA across 19.2 innings this season tells you everything you need to know: the righty has been dominant.
Meanwhile, Phillies’ closer Corey Knebel just finished out a rotten month of May, blowing three of seven save opportunities and allowing nine runs across 11.2 innings pitched.
Premium closers are hard to come by, but Domínguez seems to have the makeup for the role. He boasts electric stuff that is effective against lefties and righties, and tends to thrive under pressure. In high leverage scenarios this season, Domínguez has held hitters to a .227 average, alongside a .273 slugging percentage. —Alex Carr, Inside the Phillies
MORE: Knebel has to be better than he was in May —Leo Morgenstern, Inside the Phillies