Final Score: Brewers 1, Phillies 0
Sunday evening’s matchup between the Philadelphia Phillies and Milwaukee Brewers started with an on-field birthday party for the most popular mascot in sports. It ended with the Phillies being struck out 16 times, and fans (among others) at Citizens Bank Park making clear how upset they were with the performance of home-plate umpire Ángel Hernández.
What should be noted here is that Hernández — who is in his 31st season as an MLB umpire — had about as bad of a night as you possibly can behind the plate. And while there’s no reason to think this was a product of anything more than someone consistently performing poorly at their job, the Phillies did seem to take the brunt of a brutal performance from the veteran umpire:
Same scenario, only this time with Alec Bohm pic.twitter.com/HgBHu2Jzjs
— Tim Kelly (@TimKellySports) April 24, 2022
This was a really good frame by J.T. Realmuto, but Andrew McCutchen was justified in not liking the call. pic.twitter.com/7jaxwmYyru
— Tim Kelly (@TimKellySports) April 24, 2022
Bryce Harper’s reaction to this called strike one out of the zone (he would go on to strike out swinging) gives you an idea of how the night is going. pic.twitter.com/CeSJ1mPvWC
— Tim Kelly (@TimKellySports) April 25, 2022
Angel Hernandez called this pitch a strike! pic.twitter.com/NGkfMLbb9y
— Tim Kelly (@TimKellySports) April 25, 2022
Kyle Schwarber was rung up after taking back-to-back called strikes that weren’t in the zone. pic.twitter.com/SOLXqKVoYM
— Tim Kelly (@TimKellySports) April 25, 2022
The only real scoring threat that the Phillies posed came in the bottom of the fifth inning. After Matt Vierling singled into center field, the Phillies had the bases loaded with one out. The Phillies weren’t ultimately able to push the first run of the game across, though.
Jean Segura would fly out to third base, in an at-bat that was doomed by a comically-bad strike one call. Rhys Hoskins then missed a seemingly hittable pitch, striking out to strand the bases loaded.
Ultimately, the Phillies weren’t able to score any runs for Nola, and despite the Brewers only having one hit enter the ninth inning, a Christian Yelich sacrifice fly was all they needed to win the game.
Before the game concluded, Kyle Schwarber would be ejected after finally losing his patience with Hernández, who gave Josh Hader a pretty lengthy strike zone to work with in the ninth inning:
Finally, someone’s head exploded. pic.twitter.com/dKXBKaJnfK
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) April 25, 2022
Alec Bohm hit a ball to the right field warning track off of Hader with two outs, but the ball was caught for the final out of the game, dropping the Phillies to 6-10.
The Phillies will open a four-game set with the Colorado Rockies Monday night at Citizens Bank Park. Kyle Gibson will toe the rubber for the Phillies, who will be looking to avenge a series loss in Denver last week.
Postgame Thoughts On Ángel Hernández
Joe Girardi On Hernández’s Performance: “It makes it really hard, right? Because then guys are going to swing at pitches that they normally wouldn’t, because they’ve had them called strikes. But it makes it really difficult, and Lauer is a good pitcher too.”
Kyle Schwarber On His Night Ending In An Ejection, Via Mike McGarry Of The Press of Atlantic City: “It’s a big spot there where you are going against a really good closer and you get a pitch that you don’t think is there and you can be on first base in that spot … in the ninth inning, down one … and that’s what I want. Everyone kind of saw what was going on, and I’m not here to bury anyone, but that was … it wasn’t very good. … Guys were doing a really good job tonight of not saying much and it just got to me where I was gonna stick up for myself, stick up for some other guys.”
Girardi On A Potential Automated Strike Zone: “I wouldn’t mind it, right? You know, I’ve always thought that the umpire should be behind the pitcher. I think you see much better there. And you’re more protected. They have to move to the side a bit because they can’t have 20 concussions … it’s their livelihood too. And I understand why they do it. I often think it’d be much better if you stood behind [the pitcher], and I think you’d see a lot better.”
Girardi On What He Said To Hernández After Schwarber’s Ejection: “It’s gotta be better than that, right? It just does. And I know he’s trying, but…”
Girardi On Whether Umpires Face Enough Repercussions When They Perform Poorly: “I think the repercussions are as we get into the posteason, what they get to umpire, right? I think those are the repercussions. It’s not an easy job, it isn’t. But that’s why I’m kinda for the automated strike zone, because I think it just takes some of it off them”
Shibe Vintage Sports Starting Pitching Performance
- Eric Lauer limited the Phillies to five hits and struck out 13 batters over six innings. Did Lauer benefit from some questionable called strike threes? Yes. But 13 strikeouts over six innings is pretty remarkable regardless of how he got there.
- Aaron Nola turned in one of the better starts of his career Sunday, holding the Brewers to just one hit over seven shutout innings, while striking out nine batters.
Phillies Nugget Of The Game
Sunday was the Phillie Phanatic’s birthday. On this day in 1978, he was born in the Galápagos Islands, making him 44 years old.
Ticket IQ Next Game
- Monday, April 25 vs. Rockies
- 6:45 p.m. ET
- TV: NBC Sports Philadelphia +
- Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP
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