Phillies Cristopher Sanchez shows he has come a long way with a complete-game victory
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — As recently as two years ago, Cristopher Sanchez was a pitcher in transition, earning some major league time yet frequently shuttling between the Phillies and their Triple-A affiliate in the Lehigh Valley.
He was also trying to establish himself, at both levels, as a starting pitcher, one who has now not only has shown an affinity for pitching for length, but pitching as effectively as anyone in baseball.
The 28-yeaer-old Sanchez showed his stuff again Tuesday night, pitching a complete game, 4-1 victory over the Boston Red Sox. In the course of a 106-pitch gem, he allowed a fourth-inning home run to Rob Refsnyder and also struck out 12 batters and induced 13 ground ball outs.
While only becoming a regular starter late in the 2023 season, Sanchez wiped away his early career inconsistency and became an All-Star last season, and probably should have been one this season. He is 9-2 with a 2.40 ERA, has gone six innings or more over his last nine consecutive outings.
'That just tells me that the work we've been doing since the offseason is working,' Sanchez said of his consistency. 'And that's something I take a lot of pride in.'
With a vulnerable bullpen and usual second-starter Aaron Nola suffering a bad season start before going down with an injury, Sanchez's growth is something the Phillies desperately needed. He has responded with a cool demeanor and an arsenal that includes a high-90s fastball often tempered with a killer change-up.
'He has electric stuff,' Bryce Harper said of Sanchez after the Phillies improved to 58-43. 'He's done a great job for us. Just throws strikes. He's kind of evolved into an ace for us.'
Sanchez also has an understanding with manager Rob Thomson ... he isn't usually a pitcher who asks to come out of a game. Hence, when Sanchez kicked into an unusual celebration after striking out Refsnyder for the second time in the game to end the eighth inning, it turned out this show still had an inning to go.
'No, I always wait for the manager to tell me I'm done,' Sanchez said. 'I wait for him to come to me.'
Thomson went to his second ace starter after the eighth, 'just to see if he was OK.
'He said, 'No, I'm not tired, I'd tell you if I was tired,'' Thomson said. 'So we sent him back out.'
It took only 10 pitches in the ninth for Sanchez to finish out his third career complete game. With it will come yet more recognition that this guy is on the list of potential National League Cy Young Award candidates.
That's a long way from the hopeful pitcher splitting time between the minors and majors just a few seasons ago.
'That was very hard, but I never gave up,' Sanchez said. 'I was staying strong, both mentally and physically, and I was always ready for the opportunity whenever it came.'
___
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
recommended
Item 1 of 2
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
4 minutes ago
- Yahoo
J.T. Realmuto's go-ahead three-run home run (7)
J.T. Realmuto powers a go-ahead three-run home run to left-center, putting the Phillies up 6-3 in the 7th inning
Fox Sports
5 minutes ago
- Fox Sports
New Seattle slugger Josh Naylor plugged into cleanup spot behind Raleigh for debut against Angels
Associated Press ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Pressure is a privilege in the eyes of new Seattle Mariners slugger Josh Naylor. Naylor is looking forward to the opportunity to bat cleanup in his first game with Seattle against the Los Angeles Angels on Friday night. 'I love the word pressure,' said Naylor, a first baseman who was acquired from the Arizona Diamondbacks for two pitching prospects on Thursday. 'I think it's a gift, a position God puts you in because he knows you can handle it.' The left-handed hitting Naylor likely won't win a Gold Glove at first base. But, he has always been able to handle the bat. The 28-year-old Naylor is a career .267 hitter with a .773 OPS in seven big-league seasons. He joins the Mariners after hitting .292 with an .807 OPS, 11 homers, 19 doubles, 59 RBIs, 49 strikeouts and 37 walks in 93 games with the D-Backs this season. Naylor, who played in 19 playoff games with the Cleveland Guardians, is also a career .294 hitter with an .846 OPS with runners in scoring position. He entered Friday with a .298 average (28 for 94) and .810 OPS in those situations this season. That track record earned Naylor a prime position in Seattle's lineup behind No. 3 hitter Cal Raleigh, who entered Friday as the MLB leader with 39 homers and tied for second 84 RBIs. Seattle's No. 5 hitter is Randy Arozarena, who entered Friday with 19 homers and 51 RBIs. 'I think he's a good fit (in the cleanup spot) because of the way he swings the bat,' Mariners manager Dan Wilson said. 'He's a guy who is going to have a great approach in those RBI situations. 'He's been through a lot. I've seen some (of his) postseasons, so he's a guy who brings a lot of valuable experience to the group, and that will do nothing but enhance what has already been a very special season with this group.' Naylor should be a considerable offensive upgrade at first base over Donovan Solano, who is hitting .243 with a .626 OPS, three homers and 20 RBIs in 64 games, and Luke Raley, who is batting .220 with a .691 OPS, four homers and 18 RBIs in 49 games. Utility man Miles Mastrobuoni was optioned to Triple-A Tacoma to clear a 26-man roster spot for Naylor. 'I've heard nothing but great things about this organization, about this team, about how hard they play,' Naylor said of the American League wild-card-contending Mariners, who entered Friday with a 55-48 record. 'They're a tough group. Obviously, the pitching speaks for itself, they're phenomenal on that end. The offense is great, too. 'Raleigh's having such an incredible year. It's super cool to watch from the outside. Julio (Rodriguez) is such a leader, a phenomenal player and athlete — he's a game changer. I'm really excited to be here and be a part of it and to see how I can contribute.' ___ AP MLB: recommended Item 1 of 2
Hamilton Spectator
5 minutes ago
- Hamilton Spectator
New Seattle slugger Josh Naylor plugged into cleanup spot behind Raleigh for debut against Angels
ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Pressure is a privilege in the eyes of new Seattle Mariners slugger Josh Naylor. Naylor is looking forward to the opportunity to bat cleanup in his first game with Seattle against the Los Angeles Angels on Friday night. 'I love the word pressure,' said Naylor, a first baseman who was acquired from the Arizona Diamondbacks for two pitching prospects on Thursday. 'I think it's a gift, a position God puts you in because he knows you can handle it.' The left-handed hitting Naylor likely won't win a Gold Glove at first base. But, he has always been able to handle the bat. The 28-year-old Naylor is a career .267 hitter with a .773 OPS in seven big-league seasons. He joins the Mariners after hitting .292 with an .807 OPS, 11 homers, 19 doubles, 59 RBIs, 49 strikeouts and 37 walks in 93 games with the D-Backs this season. Naylor, who played in 19 playoff games with the Cleveland Guardians, is also a career .294 hitter with an .846 OPS with runners in scoring position. He entered Friday with a .298 average (28 for 94) and .810 OPS in those situations this season. That track record earned Naylor a prime position in Seattle's lineup behind No. 3 hitter Cal Raleigh, who entered Friday as the MLB leader with 39 homers and tied for second 84 RBIs. Seattle's No. 5 hitter is Randy Arozarena, who entered Friday with 19 homers and 51 RBIs. 'I think he's a good fit (in the cleanup spot) because of the way he swings the bat,' Mariners manager Dan Wilson said. 'He's a guy who is going to have a great approach in those RBI situations. 'He's been through a lot. I've seen some (of his) postseasons, so he's a guy who brings a lot of valuable experience to the group, and that will do nothing but enhance what has already been a very special season with this group.' Naylor should be a considerable offensive upgrade at first base over Donovan Solano, who is hitting .243 with a .626 OPS, three homers and 20 RBIs in 64 games, and Luke Raley, who is batting .220 with a .691 OPS, four homers and 18 RBIs in 49 games. Utility man Miles Mastrobuoni was optioned to Triple-A Tacoma to clear a 26-man roster spot for Naylor. 'I've heard nothing but great things about this organization, about this team, about how hard they play,' Naylor said of the American League wild-card-contending Mariners, who entered Friday with a 55-48 record. 'They're a tough group. Obviously, the pitching speaks for itself, they're phenomenal on that end. The offense is great, too. 'Raleigh's having such an incredible year. It's super cool to watch from the outside. Julio (Rodriguez) is such a leader, a phenomenal player and athlete — he's a game changer. I'm really excited to be here and be a part of it and to see how I can contribute.' ___ AP MLB:
