Philadelphia Phillies (53-46) vs. Baltimore Orioles (62-38)
Game 1 – Phillies tie it in the 8th inning, but Orioles take the lead back in the 9th to win 3-2 – W: Baker (4-4-3, 3.79), L: Kimbrel (6-2, 3.43), S: Perez (1)
Cristopher Sanchez started the opening game of the series and did what he needed to in order to keep the Phillies in the game with a chance to win. In the second inning, he served up a solo homerun to Jordan Westburg, his first of his career but after that he allowed just three of next 14 batters to reach base on one single and two errors by Trea Turner. The Phillies offense again started slow and didn’t take advantage of the opportunities presented to them. They had their first real threat in the bottom of the fifth inning when Cave led off with a single to right field that the Orioles challenged but was not overturned. After an unsuccessful sac bunt from Stubbs and a wild pitch, Rojas singled to put runners on the corners with less than two outs and Schwarber up. He was able to knock in Stubbs and tie the game at one with a deep sac fly. Turner, who already had committed two errors in the game, struck out looking on a pitch that he thought was low. Letting his frustration show, he began to argue and express his displeasure to the ump who promptly ejected him from the game. It was one of the first times we’ve seen Turner show his emotions in this frustrating first season with the Phillies. The every next inning, Sanchez made his second mistake and Mountcastle hit a 451 shot to center field to retake the lead 2-1. Both teams went down in order the next two innings but the Phillies got something going in the eighth. Rojas led off the inning with a single which was followed by a Schwarber walk. Sosa came up in the Turner spot and proceeded to fail to bunt on two attempts. He fought back in the count to 3-2 and lined a hot shot towards third base. Unfortunately, a nice play was made and Rojas got doubled off second. All of a sudden the Phillies had just Schwarber on first with two outs. But Harper then singled to make it first and second and Castellanos hit a clutch 2-out single to tie it up. Harper raced around third but was thrown out at the plate with a good relay throw. The game was tied heading to the ninth. Kimbrel walked Gunnar Henderson and then, with two outs, Colton Cowser hit a double to score the go ahead run. The Phillies attempted a ninth inning rally but fell just shy after getting the tying run on second base. Phillies lose game one and fall 3-2.