Paredes helps Phillies finish off sweep of Rockies
Jimmy Paredes has been the most obscure Phillies player since joining the team on June 1. The outfielder rarely played. And when he did, it was not memorable. That changed on Sunday in a 7-6 win over Colorado.
Jimmy Paredes has been the most obscure Phillies player since joining the team on June 1. The outfielder rarely played. And when he did, it was not memorable. That changed on Sunday in a 7-6 win over Colorado.
Paredes started his morning in the team's hot tub, hoping to warm up on a day that would reach 95 degrees at first pitch. It was the hottest game at Citizens Bank Park since 2013. Paredes said he arrived at the ballpark with a chill because of the strong air conditioner at his home. Whatever works.
He ended the day a triple shy of the cycle, powering the Phillies to their first sweep since July 4-6 against the Braves.
Paredes, who started in left field, went 3 for 4 and drove in three runs. He singled in a run in the second and homered in the fourth. His double in the fifth capped the team's three-run rally and gave Paredes his first three-hit game since June 2015.
"You never know when they're going to give you a chance and when they're going to call you to play," Paredes said. "I was ready for my chance. They gave me my chance and I did the best I can."
The win may have come at a price as Adam Morgan, who started for the injured Zach Eflin, left the game in the fourth inning after he was drilled on the left arm by a line drive off the bat of Nick Hundley. Morgan allowed two runs on five hits, walked one and struck out none. The Phillies said the pitcher had a bruised left forearm. He wrapped his arm in a sleeve after the game.
If Morgan is forced to miss time, he would likely be replaced by Phil Klein. The righthander struck out 11 batters in eight innings Sunday with triple-A Lehigh Valley. It was his second straight start with 10 or more strikeouts. He made a spot start for the Phillies on Aug. 3.
"It's not as bad as it sounds," Morgan said. "I guess. It's just a bruise. As long as that bruise goes away, I'm good"
One of Morgan's earned runs was scored against Severino Gonzalez, who was called for a balk before throwing his first pitch. Gonzalez pitched two innings and allowed a homer in the fifth to Charlie Blackmon, who tied the score at 3.
The Phillies quickly regained the lead in the bottom of the inning behind a run-scoring single from Freddy Galvis, Paredes' double, and an RBI single by Cesar Hernandez, who has reached base safely in 21 straight games. Hernandez is batting .329 with an .441 on-base percentage over that stretch.
Odubel Herrera tacked on another run in the sixth, driving home Ryan Howard on a double. Howard chugged from first base and slid headfirst into home. Herrera was tagged out at third when he tried to stretch out his double. It seemed like everyone played a part. All but one of the team's nine starters had a hit.
"Everybody's contributing," manager Pete Mackanin said. I feel like everybody's getting opportunities. When you win a game, the more players that are involved in that game, the happier I am. It unites the team."
Paredes had a chance at the cycle in the seventh, but he grounded out to the shortstop. He was on deck in the eighth, but Galvis struck out. Paredes pulled himself out of obscurity, but his chance at history fell short.
"Next time," Paredes said.
@matt_breen