Phillies Morgan, Rodriguez make strong pitches to stay

BRADENTON, Fla. - The Phillies have likely cleared up their bullpen picture after using a pair of games Wednesday to take what could be a final look at the three candidates for the last two relief roles.

Adam Morgan and Joely Rodriguez pitched strong in a 8-2 win over Pittsburgh while Luis Garcia struggled in an 8-2 win over Detroit. Morgan and Rodriguez, both lefthanders, made a strong final push to leave camp on Friday with the team.

Rodriguez started against the Pirates and allowed one hit in two innings. He struck out one and walked one. Morgan allowed one run in three innings. He gives the team a needed long reliever. Garcia started against the Tigers and allowed two runs on five hits in two innings.

"Well, I did my part today," Garcia said when asked about bullpen competition. "That was pitching. I don't know about that."

The final two relief choices will join righthanders Joaquin Benoit, Jeanmar Gomez, Pat Neshek, Hector Neris, and Edubray Ramos.

"Joely pitched well," manager Pete Mackanin said. "It's always an issue about command and control with him. He did a good job. We still don't know exactly what we're going to do. But he pitched well."

Daniel Nava and Brock Stassi each homered in the split-squad game at Joker Marchant Stadium to continue their impressive springs. Nava crushed a long, three-run homer against Detroit's Justin Verlander. Stassi's sixth homer in the Grapefruit League came off veteran righthander Mike Pelfrey.

The Phillies have two available bench spots, with Stassi, Nava, and Jesmuel Valentin still in camp. Stassi appears to have an edge on one of the jobs.

Aaron Altherr hit a towering home run over the batter's eye in center field in the second inning against Pittsburgh. "That made my whole day. We could have lost that game and I would've been thrilled just to see that," Mackanin said. . . . Odubel Herrera singled and walked against Verlander. The walk followed a lengthy plate appearance in which Herrera took some inside fastballs and nearly drilled Michael Saunders with a foul ball. Herrera stepped out of the box each time, which prompted a grin from Verlander. Then, Herrera flipped his bat high in the air to celebrate the walk. "It was just kind of funny, especially the one he fouled off," Verlander said. "It's just one of those ABs." . . . Jeremy Hellickson pitched four scoreless innings in a minor-league game for his final action of spring before he starts on opening day Monday in Cincinnati. . . . Third baseman Cole Stobbe and righthander Sixto Sanchez were named winners of the 2017 Bill Giles Award and Larry Rojas Award, respectively, as the top players in minor-league camp this spring. . . . The Phillies will wear a patch on their uniforms this season to honor the memory of Dallas Green. They will begin wearing the patch in the April 7 home opener.