Phils Relish Embarrassing Papelbon

Walkoff win!

For the Phillies it was just another chapter in the psychological undressing of Jonathan Papelbon.  7/28/15 the Phils traded their all-time leading closer (123 saves) and Boston's all-time leading closer (219 saves) to division rivals Washington.  While neither the Phillies or the Nationals were playoff bound last season, it was widely considered that Papelbon (who was 17-for-17 in saves for the last-place Phils at the time) would squash them under his cleat at ensuing divisional contests in coming seasons, while closing for the up and coming Nationals.  Already touting one of baseball's most stocked minor leagues, Washington got off to its best start in franchise history this year at 9-1.  Then came Sunday.

Harper's record power vs. Phils.

Washington was looking to sweep the Phils Sunday after pounding their lights out for two straight nights for a cumulative score of 17-2, giving them 7-straight wins.  It looked like a cinch when defending NL MVP Bryce Harper hit his 6th HR (2nd in NL) and 15th RBI (also 2nd in NL) 428 feet to right center in the top of the 10th inning off reliever Jeanmar Gomez to put Washington on top, 2-1.  

Bryce Harper has now hit HR in 6 consecutive games at Citizen Bank Park.  When Harper hit his solo HR Sunday, he tied Cubs infielder Ernie "Mr. Cub" Banks for a record at Phillies' stadiums.  Banks hit 6-straight at Connie Mack stadium playing against Phillies legendary pitcher Robin Roberts.  No Phillie has ever done it.  The closest was Chase Utley, who hit HR in 5-straight at Citizens Bank Park in 2008. 

Then, Papelbon met his fate in the bottom of the 10th when he faced an unlikely nemesis: SS Freddy Galvis.

"I played behind him, so I know how he pitches," Galvis said of Papelbon, who blew a save by allowing a HR to Galvis in his 1st game back in Philadelphia last September. "I know what his ball does."

With one out, Peter Bourjos (hitting .189) doubled to left off Papelbon (5-5- in saves, 1.80 ERA coming in).  Then with 2-out, Andres Blanco (.308) PH an RBI single to left to tie the game at 2-2, then advanced to second on the throw with veteran base running (at 32, one of the older Phils).  

Galvis isn't exactly, well, Bryce Harper-- or even Andres Blanco for that matter.  Entering the at-bat, Galvis was 0-for-4 with a .205 batting average.  However, he drove a Papelbon 2-strike fastball to left over the head of former Phillies outfielder Jayson Werth (himself no Galvis these days, hitting just .171 at age 36 after hitting .221 last year) to plate Blanco and win the game.  Galvis stomped on 2nd base and players rushed to him from the Phillies' dugout to celebrate.

Still playing, for what it's Werth.

"I just didn't execute," said Papelbon, who was 5-for-5 in 2016 before blowing the save vs. his former team.

Improbably, it wasn't the first time Galvis had beaten Papelbon since the two parted ways.  

In his first trip back to Philadelphia in September, Papelbon surrendered a HR to Galvis (blowing a save opportunity). 

Galvis is now 3-for-3 with a HR, a 2B, a walk and 2 RBIs against Papelbon.

Meanwhile, Papelbon is 1-2 with a 12.27 ERA in four games against the Phillies since joining Washington.

Pivetta: 6-foot-5, 220 pound Rottweiler.

The Phils return for the famed yet infamous closer was Double-A right-hander Nick Pivetta, 7-6 with a 3.02 ERA in 18 games/17 starts between Class A Potomac and Double-A Harrisburg last season.

Pivetta, a 22-year-old Canadian, was a 4th-round draft selection in 2013. He was ranked by Baseball America as the 10th-best prospect in the Nationals' organization.

Papelbon chokes Harper 9/27/15.

Infamously, Papelbon grabbed his crotch in response to Phillies fans' boos after blowing a save during his waning days in Philadelphia.  He added another in a string of career sideshow low-lights when he attacked his superstar teammate-NL MVP Harper in the Nationals’ dugout last season. The fight broke out after Papelbon was vocally critical that the 22-year-old Harper had failed to run out a pop fly. Harper retorted that he would be happy to “fight [Papelbon] right now,” and Papelbon took him up on it. The next inning, Papelbon promptly surrendered a two-run HR.

The Phillies open a 3-game series in Philadelphia against the defending NL champion Mets on Monday.  Noah Syndergaard, the toast of NY this offseason, opposes Jerad Eickhoff Monday in a pitching matchup of two quality young starters off to hot starts.

Tuesday marks the follow-up for sensational starter Vince Velasquez, who etched his name in history by S.O. 16 (albeit Padres) while walking none his last time out.

Mon, Apr 18	vs NY Mets	7:05 PM		Eickhoff (1-1)	Syndergaard (1-0)	250 available
Tue, Apr 19	vs NY Mets	7:05 PM		Velasquez (2-0)	Verrett (0-0)	859 available
Wed, Apr 20	vs NY Mets	7:05 PM		Hellickson (1-1)	Colon (1-1)