The Phillies overcame a slugfest in their Grapefruit League opener on Saturday, beating the Blue Jays 14-13 with four runs in the second inning and 10 in the fifth.Several Phillies made their spring debuts, including Whit Merrifield at second base and left field Kolby Allard on City Hill.
Merrifield led off and went 1-3 with a double. Allard started and pitched two innings, allowing two runs and four bases and striking out three.They used the same word Saturday to describe the group the Phillies are in now.”Everybody’s cheering for everybody here. . It’s a great culture to be in,” Merrifield said.”
The culture that’s been built here over the last few years, it’s a great clubhouse from the outside and I thought it was a great place to go,” Allard added. .\ nMerrifield, who was guaranteed $8 million on a one-year contract with a team option, will play an important role for the Phillies. He will play second base, left field, possibly third base, and his playing time will increase if Johan Rojas has offense or if an outfielder is injured.
Rojas had a productive offensive afternoon against the Blue Jays. An RBI single and a two-run triple. It was a nice start. The Phillies only have 30 left until the regular season begins..
“It felt like the first game,” Merrifield said. “Try to put your legs down, get used to the tackles, get used to the speed of the game. I’m 35, I’ve been through it a time or two.”The best hitter’s day. was corner outfielder/infielder Weston Wilson, who went 2-for-2 with a home run.
with a double and four RBIs.Nick Nelson and Dylan Covey battled Allard and Spencer Turnbull for a spot in the Phillies bullpen. a tall man, followed Allard. Nelson was struck out, allowing the first six batters he faced to reach base on five hits and a walk. He gave up four runs in two innings. Toronto scored two unearned runs off Covey.
Whoever doesn’t make the team in this class is in contention to start regularly in Triple-A. Of the four, only Covey is out of league options, meaning the Several Phillies made their spring debuts, including Whit Merrifield at second base and lefty Kolby Allard on the mound. Merrifield led off and went 1-3 with a double. Allard started and pitched two innings, allowing two runs and four bases and striking out three.They used the same word Saturday to describe the group the Phillies are in now.”Everybody’s cheering for everybody here. . It’s a great culture to be in,” Merrifield said.”
The culture that’s been built here over the last few years, it’s a great clubhouse from the outside and I thought it was a great place to go,” Allard added. .\ nMerrifield, who was guaranteed $8 million on a one-year contract with a team option, will play an important role for the Phillies.
He will play second base, left field, possibly third base, and his playing time will increase if Johan Rojas has offense or if an outfielder is injured.Rojas had a productive offensive afternoon against the Blue Jays. An RBI single and a two-run triple. It was a nice start.
The Phillies only have 30 before the regular season begins.would have to move him first if they want to send him down.”I just want to win,” Allard said. “Hopefully I can contribute as much as possible to help the Phillies win as many games as possible.”
Aaron Nola will start Sunday in Clearwater against the Yankees and is expected to go two innings. The Phillies then play road games on Monday and Tuesday in Fort Myers, about a 2.5-hour drive from BayCare Ballpark. David Buchanan starts on Monday vs. The Red Sox with Christopher Sanchez in Tuesday’s game against the Twins..
