Phillies set lowly franchise record in eventual walk-off win

The Phillies won on Friday, but they also set a franchise record for blown saves.

As the final month of the 2021 season approaches, the Philadelphia Phillies still find themselves more than a few games back of the Atlanta Braves in the National League East race.

Their current standing could have been worse after Friday evening’s game against the Arizona Diamondbacks — had it not been for late-inning heroics from Brad Miller and Jean Segura in the 10th and 11th innings, respectively.

Before then, however, two separate Phillies relievers — Connor Brogdon and Ian Kennedy — were credited with blown saves. Brogdon gave up a 2-0 Phillies lead in the sixth inning, while Kennedy blew a 4-2 lead in the ninth thanks to a two-run home run from Diamondbacks first baseman Christian Walker.

Overall, the Phillies bullpen has now blown 27 saves, setting a single-season franchise record. Hector Neris (6 blown saves), Connor Brogdon (4), and Ranger Suarez (3) alone account for nearly half of the figure.

2021 Phillies Blown Saves Leaders (Successful Saves)

• Hector Neris, 6 (12)
• Connor Brogdon, 4 (1)
• Ranger Suarez, 3 (4)
• Sam Coonrod, 3 (2)
• Archie Bradley, 2 (2)
• Jose Alvarado, 2 (4)
• Enyel De Los Santos, 2 (0)
• Brandon Kintzler, 2 (0)
• David Hale, 1 (0)
• Ian Kennedy, 1 (4)
• Neftali Feliz, 1 (0)

The last time the Phils blew at least 25 saves was the previously held record of that figure back in the 2004 season. That year, Tim Worrell (8), Rheal Cormier (7), Billy Wagner (4), Roberto Hernandez (4), Ryan Madson (1), and Todd Jones (1) were credited with blown saves. Nonetheless, Wagner and Worrell recorded 21 and 19 saves, respectively, for the Phillies that year, the first in Citizens Bank Park history.

A silver lining for the 2021 Phillies is that they have been blowing saves at a much slower rate in the second half, than they did earlier in the season. The bullpen blew its 21st save back on June 29. Over the past essentially two months, only six of its save opportunities were unsuccessful.