Phillies Top 5: Highest-Scoring Games vs. Girardi, Yankees

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The Phillies have had many high-scoring games against Yankees teams led by Joe Girardi, who is the favorite to be their new manager for the 2020 season.

Joe Girardi is reportedly the favorite to become the next Phillies manager, succeeding Gabe Kapler after he had just two seasons in the position.

Assuming Girardi beats out fellow experienced managerial candidates Dusty Baker and Buck Showalter for the position, the announcement could come as early as Thursday, an off-day between Games 2 and 3 of the 2019 World Series that features the Houston Astros and division-rival Washington Nationals.

While it is easy to remember, or intentionally forget, the 2009 World Series defeat to the Girardi-led Yankees, there have also been some positive moments opposite the skipper.

Including the 2009 World Series, the Phillies have opposed Joe Girardi-led teams 34 times — 19 while he was with the Florida Marlins (2006) and 15 with the Yankees in 2009, 2010 and 2015 — over the course of his 11-season managerial career.

Specifically, in games the Peoria, Illinois, native led the Yankees, the Phillies went 8-7 (21-13 overall); they slightly outscored their 2009 championship series rival by a combined 82-79, while being slightly outhit, 90-87.

And, among the 34 overall times the Phillies have faced Girardi, they had gone 17-1 when scoring five or more runs. Seven of those 17 wins came opposite the potent, Girardi-led Yankees. Click through to see the top five highest-scoring such Phillies victories.

1: May 22, 2009: Phillies 7, Yankees 3 (Away)

PHILADELPHIA – JULY 08: The Philadelphia Phillies pose for their 2009 team photo at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on July 8, 2009. BACK ROW: Joe Swanhart, Brad Lidge, John Mayberry Jr., Ryan Madson, J.A. Happ, Jayson Werth, Ryan Howard, Sean Bowers. FOURTH ROW: Rick Collins, Jimmy Rollins, Carlos Ruiz, Rodrigo Lopez, J.C. Romero, Shane Victorino, Matt Stairs, Dan O’Rourke. THIRD ROW: Kevin Camiscioli, Jesus Tiamo, Eric Bruntlett, Scott Eyre, Pedro Feliz, Greg Dobbs, Chase Utley, Jamie Moyer, Ali Modami, Duane Wyse. SECOND ROW: Dong Lien, Tyler Walker, Chan Ho Park, Joe Blanton, Cole Hamels, Clay Condrey, Raul Ibanez, Chad Durbin, Chris Coste, Phil Sheridan. FRONT ROW: Mark Anderson, Scott Sheridan, Sam Perlozzo, Rich Dubee, Pete Mackanin, Charlie Manuel, Milt Thompson, Mick Billmeyer, Davey Lopes, Frank Coppenbarger. SEATED ON GROUND: Batboy Rob DiClementi. (Photo by Miles Kennedy/Philadelphia Phillies/MLB Photos via Getty Images) /

Winning Pitcher: Brett Myers
Losing Pitcher: A.J. Burnett
Phillies Total Hits: 14
Yankees Total Hits: 8
Phillies Total Errors: 1
Yankees Total Errors: 0

The game featured the top two home run-hitting teams at that point of the season, and it surely showed in the first-ever interleague game at the new Yankee Stadium, with seven combined homers between the two teams.

Catcher Carlos Ruiz, left-fielder Raul Ibanez, shortstop Jimmy Rollins (leadoff, first-inning) and right fielder Jayson Werth all homered, with Werth’s longshot also being the first to reach the left field second deck at the new venue. Third baseman Alex Rodriguez, shortstop Derek Jeter and first baseman Mark Teixeira homered for the Yankees.

Right-hander Brett Myers prevailed against future Phillies right-hander A.J. Burnett, improving to 4-2 after allowing three runs, eight hits and no walks spanning eight innings and five strikeouts. Right-hander Ryan Madson recorded the final three outs, needing only 12 pitches against his three batters faced.

Each member of the Phillies’ starting lineup recorded a hit except first baseman Ryan Howard, who went 0-for-5 with one run scored and two strikeouts. Five Phillies starters logged multiple hits, including Ruiz (3), Rollins (2), Werth (2), Ibanez (2), and center fielder Shane Victorino (2).

The first-place Phillies’ victory took just 2 hours and 33 minutes before a crowd of 46,288; it was their seventh in a eight-game stretch, while it also ended the Yankees’ nine-game winning streak. The two clubs would meet in the 2009 World Series nearly 160 days later.

2: June 17, 2010: Phillies 7, Yankees 1 (Away)

NEW YORK – JUNE 17: Kyle Kendrick #38 of the Philadelphia Phillies delivers a pitch against the New York Yankees on June 17, 2010 at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /

Winning Pitcher: Kyle Kendrick
Losing Pitcher: Andy Pettitte
Phillies Total Hits: 10
Yankees Total Hits: 4
Phillies Total Errors: 0
Yankees Total Errors: 1

Opposite five-time World Series champion and eventual 2010 All-Star Andy Pettitte, the Phillies outslugged the Yankees — including a four-run ninth inning — en route to an interleague series win in a game that lasted 3 hours and 15 minutes before a crowd of 47,204.

Entering the game, the only Yankee to have previously faced the 25-year-old RHP Kyle Kendrick was first baseman Mark Teixeira (1-12). Through seven solid innings, Kendrick yielded just one run, two walks and four singles, including a RBI base knock to second baseman Robinson Cano. Right-hander Jose Contreras recorded his fifth hole, tossing 1 1/3 scoreless, while left-hander J.C. Romero recorded the final two outs on just four total pitches.

Center fielder Shane Victorino went yard with one on and two outs against the southpaw in the fifth, replacing the injured Jimmy Rollins in the leadoff position. Also, catcher Carlos Ruiz ended his 0-for-23 stretch with a pair of doubles. Every Phillies starter except second baseman Chase Utley logged a hit; Victorino and Ruiz, meanwhile logged multiple base knocks.

For the Yankees, Nos. 1 through 3 hitters, shortstop Derek Jeter, center fielder Curtis Granderson and Teixeira, went a combined 0-for-11 with one run scored, one walk and three strikeouts.

Stellar late fielding plays from third baseman Placido Polanco and right fielder Jayson Werth preserved the win, the Phillies’ first two-game streak for the first time in two weeks.

3: November 2, 2009: World Series Game 5 — Phillies 8, Yankees 6 (Home)

PHILADELPHIA – NOVEMBER 02: Chase Utley #26 of the Philadelphia Phillies after hitting a home run against the New York Yankees in Game Five of the 2009 MLB World Series at Citizens Bank Park on November 2, 2009 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Phillies defeated the Yankees 8 to 6.(Photo by Rob Tringali/Sportschrome/Getty Images) /

Winning Pitcher: Cliff Lee
Losing Pitcher: A.J. Burnett
Phillies Total Hits: 9
Yankees Total Hits: 10
Phillies Total Errors: 0
Yankees Total Errors: 0

Down 3-1 in the series, the Phillies had to win Game 5 in order to prevent the Yankees from hoisting their 27th World Series championship trophy on their own turf.

They did just that, but it wasn’t pretty.

After leading 8-2, the Yankees trimmed their six-run deficit in half in the eighth, and would score again in the ninth to pull within two. Mark Teixeira striking out, as the tying run, handed the Phillies their second win of the series. Brad Lidge was unavailable after struggling in the ninth in Game 4, as Charlie Manuel said he wanted to give his closer a break, if he could.

Second baseman Chase Utley went yard twice, raising his World Series total to a then-record-tying five. His first that game was a go-ahead, three-run home run opposite right-hander A.J. Burnett. Utley’s seventh inning solo home run tied him with Reggie Jackson as the only players to hit five home runs in a single World Series. Eight years later, eventual 2017 World Series MVP George Springer, with the Houston Astros, matched Utley’s and Jackson’s feats.

Both starting pitchers, coincidentally, were Arkansas natives. The Phillies’ Cliff Lee yielded five runs and seven hits spanning seven-plus innings, improving to 4-0 with a 1.56 ERA over five starts that postseason. Third baseman Alex Rodriguez produced a RBI double and two-run double in the first and eighth innings, respectively, against the southpaw.

The Phillies would fall in Game 6 behind eventual Hall of Famer Pedro Martinez at Yankee Stadium, falling short of a third-ever World Series championship. With the Yankees’ eventual win, the organization improved to 9-0 in the World Series when taking a 3-1 lead. The Phillies have not returned to the Fall Classic since.

4: June 22, 2015: Phillies 11, Yankees 8 (Away)

NEW YORK, NY – JUNE 22: Maikel Franco #7 of the Philadelphia Phillies in action against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on June 22, 2015 in the Bronx borough of New York City. The Phillies defeated the Yankees 11-8. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /

Winning Pitcher: Jake Diekman
Losing Pitcher: Michael Pineda
Phillies Total Hits: 18
Yankees Total Hits: 14
Phillies Total Errors: 0
Yankees Total Errors: 0

Playing in his first full season in red pinstripes, the 22-year-old Maikel Franco homered twice — the eighth and ninth of his career. He also produced a career-high four hits and five RBI, and went 2-for-3 with runners in scoring position to help the Phillies snap a 12-game road skid. The Yankees, meanwhile, had won 11 of their previous 13 home games entering the contest.

Franco’s career was trending upward. So much so, that starting pitcher Kevin Corriea said, “He’s got everything you look for in a young player. There’s similarities to [Albert] Pujols.”

During the 12-game such road losing streak entering the game — their longest since 1999 — the Phillies had scored only 22 runs. They scored half of that total in the one game alone, under manager Ryne Sandberg, to snap the skid.

Also in the win, outfielder Ben Revere and shortstop Freddy Galvis each produced three hits, while second baseman Cesar Hernandez and first baseman Ryan Howard each produced two RBI. Chase Utley played as the designated hitter, and went an uncharacteristic 0-for-4 with one strikeout, lowering his season slash line to just .179/.257/.275. He would be placed on the 15-day disabled list with inflammation in his right ankle after the next day’s game.

Yankees starting pitcher, right-hander Michael Pineda, lasted just 3 1/3 innings, allowing eight runs on 11 hits, one walk and zero strikeouts.

As of the conclusion of the 2019 season, this game is one of four in Franco’s career in which he had two home runs.

5: June 23, 2015: Phillies 11, Yankees 6 (Away)

NEW YORK, NY – JUNE 23: CC Sabathia #52 of the New York Yankees reacts after giving up a three run home run against Maikel Franco #7 of the Philadelphia Phillies in the fourth inning during their game at Yankee Stadium on June 23, 2015 in New York City. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) /

Winning Pitcher: Ken Giles
Losing Pitcher: Dellin Betances
Phillies Total Hits: 11
Yankees Total Hits: 13
Phillies Total Errors: 1
Yankees Total Errors: 1

Third baseman Maikel Franco‘s career night on June 22, 2015, against the Yankees would carry over to the June 23, 2015, contest between both teams. He went yard and produced five RBI for the second straight game.

Two of the RBI came in the ninth, when with the game tied, Franco delivered a two-run double to lift the Phillies to the 11-6 win. Earlier in the game, he launched a three-run home run to right against Yankees southpaw CC Sabathia, giving the Phillies the 6-3 advantage. In the game, catcher Cameron Rupp hit his first major-league home run, also against the former Cy Young Award winner.

Sabathia’s final line: 4 2/3 innings, 8 hits, 6 runs, 6 earned runs, 2 walks, 4 strikeouts, 2 home runs allowed.

The game, which began with a 1 hour, 21-minute rain delay, lasted 3 hours and 45 minutes. With the Yankees’ loss, it was just the third time they ever allowed at least 11 runs in three straight contests. The previous occurrence was in 2000. Then-Yankees manager Joe Girardi described the loss: “It’s not enjoyable to watch and it’s not enjoyable to be a part of.”

In total, over Franco’s first two career games at Yankee Stadium, the Azua, Dominican Republic, native went a combined 6-for-8 with five runs scored, three home runs, 10 RBI and one walk.

The Phillies’ 11 runs scored against the Girardi-led Yankees, twice occurring in 2015, was not the most runs they ever produced in a single game against him.

Four times during the 2006 season, while Girardi led the Florida Marlins, the Phillies scored 11 or more runs. Twice that September, they came out on top with 14-run outbursts.

Ironically, the only time the Phillies were ever shut out by a Girardi-led team was not while he was with the Yankees. Rather, with the Marlins on September 10, 2006, a 3-0 defeat in which southpaw Cole Hamels suffered the final losing decision of his rookie season.

Hamels would finish the year 2-0 over his last three starts, posting a 2.66 ERA and 28-to-8 strikeout-to-walk ratio spanning 20 1/3 innings.

His final rookie season loss against Girardi could have had a domino effect on how his career would unfold in the subsequent seasons. Better yet, now-free agent Hamels and Girardi could both be donning red pinstripes come spring training.

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