When the Phillies traded Sixto Sanchez 19 months ago to Miami, the team was not only parting with their top-prospect but also sending a signal that they believed it was finally time to win.
They sacrificed their prized arm to acquire J.T. Realmuto and would sign Bryce Harper five weeks later to finish an offseason that brought them five former All Stars. The Phillies entered last season believing they had a team not only built for that October but for Octobers to come.
But on Sunday — after the Marlins swept the Phillies in a doubleheader — it was Sanchez who found himself closer to October than the Phillies. He opened the doubleheader with a dazzling seven-inning complete game, as the Phillies fell, 2-1. They lost the second game, 8-1.
The losses dropped the Phillies from second to third place in the National League East, as the Marlins passed them in the race for the final guaranteed playoff spot in the division. The Phillies started the seven-game series by losing four of the first six games.
Last September, they collapsed after trading Sanchez as they did not have the playoff team they thought they assembled. And if they collapse again this September, Sanchez will have played a hand. The Phillies signaled that it was time to win, but they’re still waiting for that time to begin.
“I have to tell you, I was motivated to pitch against the Phillies,” Sanchez said.
The Phillies played both games of the doubleheader without Rhys Hoskins and J.T. Realmuto, who suffered injuries on Saturday night. They placed Spencer Howard on the injured list before the game and are still monitoring the status of Zack Wheeler. The season finale is in two weeks and the Phillies are hurting.
They combined on Sunday for just seven hits in 14 innings and just two of which were for extra-bases. They struck out 12 times and had just six chances with runners in scoring position.
There are just 15 games left in the season, but the Phillies did not look like a team with a sense of urgency as the postseason chase heightens. The Phillies are one game above .500 and do not yet know who will pitch Monday in the series finale. Things are not trending in the right direction.
Their lineup for the first game included Phil Gosselin at first base, Andrew Knapp catching, Kyle Garlick in left field, and Ronald Torreyes at shortstop. They used three relievers - Ramon Rosso, Connor Brogodon, and David Hale - to piece together seven innings but their replacement lineup was no match for Sanchez.
He allowed just three hits and one run while striking out four. He has a 1.69 ERA through his first five major-league starts and has struck out 30 batters in 32 innings.
Sanchez has the makings to pitch at the top-of-the-rotation starter, while Realmuto is on his way to hitting free agency. Sanchez said he cried after he was told that the Phillies were trading him. But those tears would be worth it if he has a postseason game to pitch next month.
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September 14, 2020 at 06:59AM
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Former Phillies prospect Sixto Sanchez throws complete game for Marlins as Phillies lose both games of doubleh - The Philadelphia Inquirer
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