On a beautiful 80 degree day in Clearwater, the Phillies found themselves in a Spring Training pitcher’s duel.
Aaron Nola was on the slab for the Phils, while Gerrit Cole started for the Yankees.
Nola’s day didn’t start off great, giving up a home run by Aaron Hicks that led off the game. Outside of that, Nola looked okay, throwing 4 innings giving up 4 hits, while striking out 3. He is still getting in the swing of things, so there’s no need to panic.
As seen but the above filthy changeup, Nola will be ready come Opening Day. He’s just getting warmed up.
The Phillies featured a possible Opening Day lineup, minus the injured JT Realmuto. Andrew McCutchen and Scott Kingery, hitting in the 9 spot, were the only ones who could solve Cole.
McCutchen looked good, going 2-for-2 with an RBI. He hit the ball hard in each of his at-bats, singling to right and left field. Using both fields is a very encouraging sign for Cutch. When he is going right, he’s hitting the ball hard to all fields hard.
He also had a nice outfield assist, throwing out a tagging up Luke Voit at third base. A healthy Andrew McCutchen is going to be interictal if they want a chance to win the NL East. He has looked exactly that to start this spring.
Kingery had a hard hit double off of Cole in the third, which was definitely needed. In 15 at-bats this spring, Kingery has 7 strikeouts, good for a 46.67% K% (I know. MATH!). It’s been a considerable fall for Kingery, who once boasted an above average hit tool. Once in the major leagues, he sold out for power like a lot of today’s players do.
The rest of the lineup, starting and players off the bench, could only muster one hit the entire game. Nick Maton, 12th on Full Scale Philly’s top prospect list, hit a single in the seventh inning, but that was it.
Definitely not a great effort for the Phillies’ today, but hey, it’s Spring Training. They’ll worry me with this play in May.
Other Takeaways:
- Alec Bohm’s confidence playing defense has really impressed me this spring. He has worked his tail off on that part of his game, and it does show. He’ll never win a Gold Glove, but he definitely has improved over at the hot corner
- There were no real moves made in the centerfield competition. Odubel Herrera went 0/2 with a strikeout, and Travis Jankowski went 0/1. Mickey Moniak was hitless too, but he was robbed of a possible single by Jhoulys Chacin. Moniak is definitely making a case to be with the big club, but he needs more at-bats if he wants to start.
- Jojo Romero looked impressive again, throwing nine pitches in a quick innings of work. It’s very possible that the last bullpen spot comes down to Romero and Sam Coonrod. Coonrod looked shaky in his inning of work, giving the possible edge to Romero.
- Matt Vierling made an outstanding play to rob a grand slam in the ninth inning. He is not a top prospect by any means, but he made a leaping grab to steal four runs from the Yankees. The former 5th round pick may never make it to the big leagues, but that’s how you get people to remember your name