Saturday night in Atlanta, Phillies reliever Luis Garcia failed to protect an eighth-inning lead in a loss to the Braves. Manager Pete Mackanin has not backed off using Garcia in the eighth inning and the right-hander has rewarded the skipper's faith in wins over the Washington Nationals on Tuesday and Wednesday night.
Garcia pitched a scoreless eighth inning both nights. The Phillies won Tuesday night's game, 4-1, and claimed a 7-5 win on Wednesday night.
Garcia was tested in the eighth inning of Wednesday night's win. He faced dangerous Ryan Zimmerman with runners on the corners and two outs. Garcia got Zimmerman to look at strike two, a 99-mph fastball, before getting the Washington cleanup man to flail at a slider away for the third strike.
It may have been the game's biggest out.
• One night after registering four scoreless innings and striking out nine, the Phillies' bullpen turned in another scoreless performance of 4 2/3 innings. Over the last 30 games, the Phils' bullpen has given up 30 earned runs in 107 1/3 innings. That 2.52 ERA is the fourth best in the majors over that span.
• Rookie Yacksel Rios was credited with his first big-league win. Hector Neris registered his 20th straight save. Rookie Victor Arano continued to impress.
MLB
• The Phillies showed some resilience in this game. They led, 3-0, after two innings, but trailed, 5-3, after giving up three runs in the top of the fifth. They battled back with three runs in the bottom of the fifth to take a 6-5 lead. Two of the runs came on a two-out triple by Aaron Altherr and one on a two-out double by Odubel Herrera. Rhys Hoskins, who walked and scored a run in the second inning, extended the fifth inning with a two-out walk.
• Rookie right-hander Mark Leiter Jr. gave up eight hits and five runs over 4 1/3 innings. He finished the season with a 4.96 ERA in 90 2/3 innings. He made 11 starts and 16 relief appearances. Leiter was not invited to big-league camp in the spring and had never been on the 40-man roster until he was called up in mid-April. He was a 22nd-round pick in the 2013 draft. Leiter put himself on the map this season and Mackanin believes he can be a valuable long reliever and spot starter next year.
• Before the game, Mackanin talked about the need to add some proven starting pitching in the offseason (see story). The Phillies have gone that route before. It's likely that the Phils will look to shop middle infielders Freddy Galvis and Cesar Heranandez for pitching.
• Herrera had some poor at-bats in Tuesday night's game. In fact, he didn't look very motivated to play. Big difference Wednesday night as he had a single, an RBI double, scored a run and made a spectacular leaping catch against the center-field wall on a drive by Jason Werth leading off the fourth inning. Herrera's double in the fifth broke a 5-5 tie. As he reached second base, he pointed to the dugout and made various jubilant gestures, including the bullhorns that are his signature. Herrera clearly came to play.
• Rookie catcher Jorge Alfaro is well known for two tools — his power bat and his power arm. Still to be determined is whether his strong package of skills will come together to form an impact big-leaguer. Alfaro certainly looked the part in this game. He stroked a two-run double down the right-field line in the second inning, added a single in the fourth, and gunned down speedy Trea Turner as he tried to steal second in a one-run game. Alfaro is still a developing player, but he's out of minor-league options next season and will have to finish his development in the majors. He made a nice showing in this game.
• The Phillies are off on Thursday. They return to work Friday night to begin the final series of the season. The Mets will be in town. Rookie Ben Lively (3-7, 4.35) pitches against Matt Harvey (5-6, 6.60).