Philadelphia Phillies: Top 10 shocking 2020 season stats
By Matt Rappa
9. Phillies String Together 10 Wins Across 11-Game Stretch
The Phillies did not fulfill expectations in 2020. Despite adding Didi Gregorius and Zack Wheeler — and replacing Gabe Kapler with 2009 World Series-winning manager Joe Girardi — to complement fellow stars Aaron Nola, Bryce Harper, and J.T. Realmuto, among others, the team still finished four games under .500.
When the Phillies lost their fifth-straight game on August 22, falling to 9-14 on the year, Harper made a bold prediction that the team would win 9 of its next 10 games, adding that it “needs to happen.” The Phillies did just that — and then some — winning 10 of their next 11 contests.
🔥🔥🔥 Bryce Harper on last place Phillies who have lost a season HIGH 5 straight games
— Jeff Skversky (@JeffSkversky) August 23, 2020
“We need to win. We need to go on a streak and win 9 of 10, it needs to happen”@6abc #Phillies #BryceHarper pic.twitter.com/Q8fpsvVuNQ
The streak was a first for the team since its 102-win season back in 2011, the last time they made the postseason. Hopes were high, as the Phillies turned their season around and improved to 19-15. “This is absolutely a team that can contend deep into the playoffs,” starting pitcher Jake Arrieta told reporters.
Fans know how the rest of the season unfolded. In hindsight, the Phillies somehow stringing together a stretch of 10 wins across 11 games — knowing how historically bad the bullpen was — is why this statistic is “shocking.”
More surprisingly, Harper struggled during the stretch, slashing only .143/.340/.171 with four singles, one double, two RBI, 11 walks and 13 strikeouts.
Through the 11 games, the Phillies won 5-4, 8-3, 3-2, 7-4, 4-1, 8-6, 6-0, 3-0, 6-5, and 5-3. The one loss was a 12-10 defeat to the Atlanta Braves, coincidentally in which Arrieta was charged with the losing decision.