Phillies: Sixto Sanchez tosses 1st CG against former team

Sixto Sanchez reminded everybody why he was once the Phillies top pitching prospect

Former Philadelphia Phillies top prospect Sixto Sanchez had quite the start in Game 1 of Sunday’s doubleheader between the manager Joe Girardi-led team and the Miami Marlins at Marlins Park. The 22-year-old pitched all seven innings for the complete game effort of his young career.

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The Phillies offense was only able to produce one run via an Andrew Knapp sacrifice fly RBI. It was not enough to win the game, with the Marlins edging the Phils, 2-1.

Sanchez racked up four strikeouts and allowed the lone run the Phillies scored on three hits and three walks. The San Cristobal, Dominican Republic, native collected the win — his third through five starts of the shortened 2020 season.

It’s safe to say that fans and even the organization are starting to have doubts whether they should have traded Sanchez, along with catcher Jorge Alfaro, as part of the trade that landed them perennial All-Star catcher J.T. Realmuto.

The Phillies were without Realmuto (hip) and Rhys Hoskins (wrist) in Sunday’s Game 1 loss. Adam Haseley, Jean Segura, and Alec Bohm were the only players in Girardi’s lineup who collected a hit. The Phils had three opportunities with runners in scoring position, however, they failed to come through, going hitless.

Ramon Rosso made his first career Major League start for the Phillies in Game 1, after appearing earlier in the season in a bullpen role. He pitched 2 1/3 innings, and allowed each of the Marlins’ two runs scored. Rosso also struck out three batters; and, despite collecting the loss, he looked decent otherwise.

Rosso was called up before Game 1 as the 29th extra man on the roster for the doubleheader. While he failed to earn the win, his first career start provides a promising future for the young rookie in the big leagues.